Letter of Transmittal. xi

Bernard C. Steiner, in Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and
Political Science, Series XVI, pp. 397-402).

In the dispute over the pay of the Anglican clergy, Samuel Chase, William
Paca and the Rev. Jonathan Boucher, Rector of St. Anne's, in Annapolis,
played a prominent part ("William Paca, Signer, Governor, Jurist," by Albert
Silverman, in Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol. XXXVII, 3-5; History of
Maryland, by Thomas Scharf, Vol. II, 126-127).

Although it was not known in Maryland until December, 26, 1771, Frederick
Calvert had died at Naples, Italy, during September, 1771 (Maryland Gazette,
Dec. 26, 1771; Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial Series, 1766-1783, p. 556).
This brought about the succession of Henry Harford, Calvert's illegitimate
son, as the new Lord Proprietary. Had the death of Frederick Calvert been
known sooner in Maryland, the Assembly elected in January, 1771, which
met during October-November, 1771, would have been dissolved. However
it was not known until about a month after that Assembly had been prorogued.
Although the death of Frederick Calvert was reported on December 26, 1771,
Governor Eden, as stated above, continued to prorogue the General Assembly
elected in January, 1771, to June 15, 1773. When, however, on April 29,
1773, Eden received a new commission from Henry Harford appointing and
continuing him Governor, he at once declared the Assembly elected during
January, 1771, dissolved and called for the election of a new House of Dele-
gates (Maryland Gazette, Apr. 29, 1773). This election was held during May,
1773 (ibid. May 20, 27, June 3, io, 24, 1773).

The result of this election was a victory for those opposed to Governor
Eden's policies, especially his Proclamation of November 26, 1770. Even in
Annapolis the anti-administration forces won. After the polls were closed,
according to an account appearing in the Maryland Gazette, on May 20, 1773,
a mock funeral was held in that town. Citizens marched to a gallows to which
a copy of the hated Proclamation was suspended and then cut down and buried
accompanied by a discharge of musketry. For a discussion of this Proclama-
tion and other controversies in Maryland prior to the Revolution, see "The
Background of the Revolution in Maryland," by Charles A. Barker, Yale Uni-
versity Press, pp. 329-377.

The new General Assembly convened on June 15, 1773, and remained in
session a comparatively short time, that is, until July 3 when Governor Eden
prorogued it. He gave as his reason for doing this the absence of so many
members "and the little Prospect of any further Benefits accruing from a con-
tinuance of the Session at this Season ....." (pp. 333, 390).