The accession of James II. produced no change in the state of Virginia; but the suppression of Monmouth’s rebellion sent over to her a number of truly noble, though involuntary exiles. These were the men who, by sentence of the infamous judge Jefferies, were condemned to transportation, and sent over for sale to the labour-market of the American colonies. The courtiers of James rejoiced in this harvest of blood; and Virginia, smarting from her own wounds, received the exiles with mercy. These political convicts were, many of them, men of family and superior education, accustomed to the conveniences and elegancies of life; and, as regarded them, the government of Virginia received injunctions, under the signature of the monarch; “take care,” said they, “that these convicted persons continue to serve for ten years at least, and that they be not permitted, in any manner, to redeem themselves by money or otherwise until that time be fully expired. Prepare a bill for the assembly of our colony with such clauses as shall be requisite for this purpose.” But Virginia had suffered too much not to sympathise with her noble transports. She had no wish to make the yoke of their suffering any heavier. In December, 1689, the exiles were pardoned. America, in every one of her colonies, was benefited by the intolerance and the oppressions of Europe. Hence she derived her best population; hence her clear instinct of liberty, and the courage and energy which bore her through the struggle for its attainment.

In the fourth year of James II., “the Northern Neck was assigned to Culpepper, with many privileges, on account of the loyal services of his family. The only daughter and heiress of Lord Culpepper, marrying Lord Fairfax, this splendid territory came into his hands.”

The state of Virginia did not improve under James II.; and so oppressive was the government found to be, that the first assembly convened after his accession, called in question the monarch’s right to negative such of their proceedings as did not meet with his approbation; the king was displeased, and censured “the disaffected and unjust disposition of the members, and their irregular and tumultuous proceedings.” The assembly was dissolved by royal proclamation, and James Collins loaded with irons and imprisoned for treasonable expressions. But the council stood firm to their principles of obedience and conformity, and pledged themselves to bring the state to submission. Beverley, a royalist and former adherent of Berkeley’s, and for a long time clerk of the assembly, in whose soul the despotism of the time seems to have called forth a germ of liberty, fell under the strong resentment of the king; and being disfranchised, and a prosecution commenced against him, he died soon afterwards, a martyr to those very principles for which Bacon had struggled, and which he then had opposed.

The principles of Bacon indeed were, under the severity of the present rule, becoming the principles of the whole of Virginia, as the noblest essences are only brought out by extreme pressure. The measures of the king for the erection of forts for the defence of the colony were very coolly received. The spirit of the colony was shown by the new assembly, which was now, in 1688, convened, and for the turbulent and unmanageable disposition of which, it was very soon dissolved by the council. Discussion, so long fettered, once more asserted its liberty; the scattered dwellers along the river banks passed from house to house the kindling cry of liberty. The whole colony was about to rise once more; and Effingham, alarmed at the position of affairs, hastened to England, followed by Philip Ludwell, as his accuser in the name of the people. During his absence, Nathaniel Bacon, the elder, president of the council, assumed the temporary administration. But before either the accused or the accuser reached the English shores, James had abdicated, and that Revolution had taken place, which for the moment cast the affairs of Virginia into the shade.

CHAPTER XIX.
MARYLAND UNDER CHARLES II.

With the Restoration Maryland became once more a proprietary government. Philip Calvert assumed the administration as deputy of Lord Baltimore, and clemency drawing a veil over late offences, the colony enjoyed tranquillity. The spirit of Lord Baltimore was broad and tolerant; a large benevolence marks his legislation; and the persecuted and the outcast had ever a secure home in his province. “From France came Huguenots; from Germany, from Holland, from Sweden, from Finland, from Piedmont, came the children of misfortune, to seek protection under the tolerant sceptre of the Roman Catholic. Bohemia itself, the country of Jerome and Huss, sent forth its sons, who at once were made citizens of Maryland with equal franchises.”[[7]]

Though Maryland in many respects resembled Virginia, yet in others she was strikingly different. The spirit of her people was more active and enterprising, and hence, availing herself of her sea-coast, her traffic at this time was not inconsiderable.

In 1662, Charles, the eldest son of Lord Baltimore, took up his residence in the colony as governor. Misunderstandings with the Indians were adjusted, and the colony gradually extended. The Navigation Act, however, pressed heavily upon its commerce; Dutch vessels could no longer export its tobacco to Europe; and following the example of Virginia, a tax of 2s. per hogshead was laid on all exported tobacco, one-half to serve as a colonial revenue for governmental purposes, and the other as a revenue for the proprietary—an arrangement which is said to have been advantageous to the colony, while it was equally so to Lord Baltimore.

Maryland, like Virginia, under these restrictive commercial laws, suffered from the over-production of tobacco, and black slaves, as being cheaper, were preferred to white labourers; an act, therefore, was passed in 1671, for encouraging the importation of negroes, which in consequence of the interrupted trade with Holland had now almost ceased.

Lord Baltimore, by his prudence, moderation and wisdom, had been by far the most successful of all proprietary governors; and now in his old age he began to reap a rich harvest, not only of honour and respect, but of wealth, from the colony “which he had planted in his youth, and which crowned his old age with gratitude.” One thing only Lord Baltimore failed in, and this was an acknowledgment of those principles of popular liberty and popular rights which were the fundamental principles of the Anglo-American colonies. The leaven, however, was already working in Maryland under the paternal sway of Lord Baltimore, and nothing but his own virtues prevented it effectually leavening the whole lump.