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CITIZENSHIP AND SITFFRAGI: IN MARYLAND. 7
tion, so unusual in those days. This came to Lord Baltimore's notice.
Desiring
to attract settlers, in the "Commission annexed to the Conditions of Planta-
tion," of July 2, 164:3, he authorizes the Governor, "~to make any person
or persons of French, Dutch or Italian discent, as you shall think fit,
l~-.~-~d who
either are already planted, or shall 1~4:after come and plant in our said
Prov-
ince, Capable of our said last, onditions of Plantation ;" on condition
of their taking the oath of fealt. , and he gives " Power to Grant Lands
there-
upon within our said Province unto their and every of them ^ in the same
and in as ample manner- T as you are '" authorised to Grant any Lands
to any Adventuror or Planter of British or Irish diseent."'
These foreigners carne in some numbers and soon gave the Province the
composite character it had in 1774, when Eddis wrote'- : "'The Colonists are
composed of advc-ntarers, not only from every district of Great Britain and
Ireland; but from almost every other European government, where the princi-
ples of liberty and commerce have operated with spirit and efficacy." For
some years, the forei~-hers were content to remain as aliens; but soon they
desired more rights and, when the troubled times of the Commonwealth were
over, then- began to apply to the Proprietary for Letters of Denization.
Blackstonel says that ".X denizen is an alien born, but who has obtained,
ex donatione res, letters patent to make hint ~ln English subject, a high
and incommunicable branch of the royal prerogative. "' He relay take lands
by purchase or devise, which an alien may not; but caxlnot take by hiher-
itance ; for his parent, through whom he rrlnst claim, being an alien, had
no
inheritable blood; and therefore could convey none to the son. And upon
a, like defect of hereditary blood, the issue of a denizen, born before
deni-
ration, cannot. inherit to him; but leis issue born after may. * `- * No
denizen
can be of the Privy Council, or either House of Parliament., or have any
office
of trust, civil or _military, or be capable of any grant of lands, &c.,
from tile
Crown.'
Denization in Maryland seems to have conveyed wider privileges than at
Common Law. Let us examine the first grant of denization, to Ailgustine
Herman of Bohemia Manor, on January 14. 1660-1.
` Whereas' Augustine Herman, late of Manhatarls, Marcllant, haveilig of
long tylne used the trade of this our Province, ha.th besought vs to grant
unto
MITI leave to transporte hinlselfe and family into this our Province here to
inhabit, and for our satisfaction and the benefitt of trade, hath drawne a
1lapp of all the Rivers. Creekes and Harbours therevlito belonging; know y
ee
that Wee, willing to Ov a due encouradglilent tot men of his profession and
to
reward all such as leave well deserved from vs, doe hereby declare him,
tile said
Augustine Herman, to be a free Denizen of this our Province of Maryland, and
doe further, for vs, our heires and successors, straightly enjoyne,
constitute,
0) Council 1, p. 232.
(2) Letters, from Md. P. 59.
(3) Commentaries, Vol. I. p. 394. See. also, C. P. Daly's pamphlet
"Naturalization."
(4) Council I, p. 398.
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