OF BALTIMORE. 3

was one of those vices, which we inherited from our trans-
atlantic fore-fathers; for the term of the successive Sheriff's
office, were for three years—a period perhaps, short enough,
and indeed may be said to contain the principle of rotation,
as it is accompanied by intervals of supervening disquali-
fication.

In 1723 a free school was established in Baltimore County,
and an endowment given to it; free schools in other counties
having been previously created.

In 1683 ports of trade were established by acts of assem-
bly in Baltimore county, one on Patapsco near Humphrey's
creek, another on Bush river, on the town land near the Court
House. The next year another town was laid out on Middle
river, and two years after, one on Spesucia creek, and an-
other on Gunpowder at Westbury's point, but that on Middle
river was suspended. The stranger who takes up our map
to look for these towns, instinctively inquires, "Where are
they?" and echo answers, "Where are they?"—the historian
replies, some lived but on record, and those which were, are
now no more.

In 1712 the seat of justice was at Joppa, which continued to
be the county town for 50 years from the period of its being
established. As late as the first quarter of the 18th century,
the produce raised on the borders of the Patapsco was in-
sufficient for the loading of ships in any reasonable time, and
they therefore while receiving their cargoes remained off
North Point, where they were convenient to receive the
productions of other parts of Maryland bordering on our nu-
merous navigable rivers.

In 1733 application was made to the legislature for ground
to lay out a town on what is now called Moale's Point, which
application was defeated by Mr. Moale, who happened to be
a member of that body. The motives which actuated him
have been assigned, but as with those we desire to have no-
thing to do, whether they be selfish or otherwise, we shall
content ourselves by saying be they what they may, they
were short-sighted and injurious to his interests, and are
still felt by his highly respectable heirs, who were thus de-
spoiled of immense values, which otherwise would have en-
sued to the ample estate of their grand parent.
Disappointed in locating the town on Whetstone Point, on
the property of Mr. Moale, the men of that day, to whom we
are indebted for our goodly city, defeated in their first pro-
ject, were not to be thus repressed in their laudable spirit of
commercial enterprise; the county commissioners, and others
memorialized the legislature to that effect, and in 1729, that
body passed an act, entitled, " An Act for erecting a town on
we north side of Patapsco, in Baltimore County, and for laying
put into lots, 60 acres of land in and about the place where John
Flemming now lives.

I This indeed looks like a "beginning, " of a town in good
earnest Here is the designation of location and object—the
where and the whereabouts. "—And we are, therefore, in-
spired with the curiosity to inquire, where did this veritable