linnen be Divided between my two daughters and my Diamond Buckel to be sent home to make to hansome Rings and one little Ring and than they will have two apiece my watch I give Nancy and Betsy my two Snuff Boxes my medals1 and Rings to be Divided between tham Both Some of my old cloaths an'l linnen and my old Stays and Shoes to my white maid ye Rest of my old things to choloe moll Beck and nell and Jenny and I shall be glad if my Dear Mr Ross would give my goddaughter Jane Alicia Rawlings 2 ten pounds and if my cousin Duncombe is a live a Ring and my cousin tho: Knipe a Ring if a live and my girls to write to them Both and I beg m1 Ross will give to ye Church ye gold pall my aunt Sprat Sent me 3 and I beg mr Ross will give to our old friend Gibson * a Ring

[Endorsed in a later handwriting:]

Bequest of

Mrs. Alicia Ross

wife of John Ross

3

This tender letter of advice from his great-grandfather to his grandmother and her sister was probably well known to Francis Scott Key, who spent much of his youth with both of them in Annapolis and at "Belvoir " on Round Bay of Severn River. And a large measure of the goodness of character of all these "good women" in the correspondence came down to him and was reflected in his own life and character.

1 See Mrs. Helen (Wolseley) Sprat's Will, ante. 2 Her husband's niece.

'Nothing is known now at St. Anne's Church, Annapolis, of this gold pall (part of coronation robe.) In the Md. Historical Magazine for June, 1914, page 51,,appears an acknowledgement of its receipt by the Vestry from Mr. John Ross in August, 1746-a month after Mrs. Alicia Ross's death.

John Gibson, Registrar of the Prerogative Office, Annapolis.

Edward Stabler,

BANK RIOT, 1835.

[From the Society's collection.]

Postmaster,

Sandy Spring,

Montgomery Co., Maryland.

Balto. 8 Mo. 12th, 1835. No. 76 So. Calvert Street.

We have seen things awfully strange in this City within a week, I tell thee. On fifth day night a considerable number of folk, good, bad, and indifferent assembled in Monument Square, before the door of Reverdy Johnson (of Bank of Maryland memory). Without much ado they dispersed, because, as they said, that was not the time they intended to operate, That time being fixed for 7th day night. On Sixth day evening the crowd again met, in numbers greater than before. Some unruly spirits now threw a few stones and broke a few glass in R. Johnson's windows. They were again advised to desist, which they did and retired by 10 or eleven o'clock, giving clear indications that they would be punctual to their engagements by the next even. ing. Arrangements were now made, and a few armed men surrounded the property of Johnson on 7th day evening for the purpose of protecting it. The Mob appeared, was beaten off and some three or five killed, and ten or twenty wounded. Finding themselves repulsed at Johnson's, a detachment rushed round to Glenn's (of like memory) in Charles Street. Here they made an effectual and unresisted attack, and very soon had his furniture all in the street, where it was entirely destroyed, by breaking and tareing it to pieces. The Mob now found themselves Masters, and went on unmolested in this part of the town.

In the morning I went there, saw that the House too was greatly injured.

I do not know what Glenn's loss amounts too but when I tell thee his wines alone are said to have cost over four thousand Dollars, I am very sure thee would not pay all his losses for a sum under Twenty Thousand Dollars. The rioters remainedI mean some twenty of them picking at Glenn's House till 6 P. M. when they knocked off. Now what think thee? These twenty persons carried on their unlawful game in the presence of from 2000 to five Thousand persons, who witnessed it and not one word of objection was raised!

All first day it was well understood that distruction was to be the order of the night, yet not one step taken to prevent it by those who should have done so!

But to my narrative. I say the mob boldly declared who might expect them, and accordingly before 9 o'clock in the evening a fire was built before the door of Johnson's house and his furniture was all thrown thereon and distroyed. His house very soon presented a fearful wreck. His loss must be over that of Glenn's-unless indeed P. E. Thomas should happen to find a part thereof to fall on him, as the owner in part of the House. This burning was an improvement on the Glenn plan. By eleven o'clock part of these Beauties passed down Calvert street to Hugh McEldrey's new House. They were about giving it a brush when the carpenter, who was building, appeared and told them if the House was destroyed the loss would fall on him, as he had not delivered the key. They then went to the house he occupied, which by the by he had left during first day, having taken a hint that his presence might be more agreeable to the mob, than theirs would be to him. So the owner of the house telling them the loss would not fall on McEldrey if they destroyed anything there, they went off, and found the House of Jesse Hunt (our poor frightened Mayor). His furniture was soon consigned to the flames, as had been that of Johnson.

They now went after Dr. [Frederick E. B.] Hintze. The Dr. lives in Gay Street. He had killed one of the Mob on seventh

day night as he said, and the great man had done more than that in his own conceit, He had really rode over many more. This boasting had inflamed them, so to him they went. His wife appeared before them. She declared the property was not the Doctor's but all belonged to her, having been inherited from her father. They now went to Cpt. Benzinger,' he was a Captain whom they didn't fancy, to him they gave sorrowful demonstrations of ill will, as also to Willie,2 in Franklin street for no higher offence than doing his duty as a soldier. But now thee shall hear what was much worse as to distruction of property, than what relates to a dozen Captains or Soldiers. To my friend Jno. B. Morris in South Street they now pushed. His furniture was all destroyed by fire and House greatly injured; I should be within bounds were I to say his loss is greatest of any.

From John's they went-I mean a party, under the command of their leader called "Black Hawk" to Light street wharf in search of McEldrey's Lumber yard. At the gate they were overheard by Cpt. Carver 3 who is my author that they stated on examining the premises that it would not do to set it on fire as they had intended owing to the destruction that must ensue to the owner of the adjoining yard. Black Hawk ordered them away one third still remained, intending as is concluded, notwithstanding his orders, to fire the yard-their leaders returned and commanded them to desist, but to go up Pratt Street and finish the work of the night on Evan T. Ellicott; so up they went. * Saw Evan Poultney who confessed his sins, to which they replied "for the present" they were satisfied and then went to work at Evan T. Ellicott's. I now say what I saw.

Did thee ever see corn husked by about 50 spirited negroes? Just as the corn flies from their hands, so did Evan's furniture

'Matthias Bensinger or Bentzinger.

2 Capt. Joseph Willey, hardware dealer, No. 7 Franklin St. Capt. Jacob Carver, piano maker.

N. B. I am told this story about Evan confessing his sins is a lie got up by his enemy. Evan was not there. I thought strange of this part of the story. What man circumstanced as Evan Poultney would stand in his senses before such amiables as these!

go on a burning fire that ascended half to the top of the House: An engine kept it from going to the roof. At about 4 they blew their horn and quickly retired, after spending with the latter director but about an hour and a half, at most not 2 hours. Thy friend Wm. E. Bartlett.5

My first sheet brings us down to a little past 4 o'clock on second day morning when I saw this outrageous proceeding terminate at Evan's-from thence I went to the other places of distinction. At Johnson's I saw about twenty operators, as much interested in the work of distruction, as ever they were taken up in the salvation of their souls. Not a hand was raised -as at Glenn's, so here-5000 Persons stood looking on men and boys, some of them, I am sure not over ten years of age, hauling and pulling at all parts of the house; it reminded me of a set of wood peckers on an old dry tree, 30 slow did they advance their work. In sickning disgust I crept down to my store, not knowing what to expect. The City was then in and under the controul of a Mob; not a step being taken to arrest their course. But deliverance was at hand! Our Brave and worthy Citizen Genl. Smith was here. He rallied some of the Blood royals. These carrying the Star Spangled banner waiving over their heads, marched through the streets and thus collected a pretty considerable band. They adopted a course which being executed by sun down of second day, we had an assurance that the Laws of good order were again in force. We are now, thanks to Genl. Smith and his worthies, thanks to the good people of this insulted City, again safe. The City is alive all night—at every corner you may see large companies of worthies marching to and fro, and a mob man, as such, cannot be seen.

William E. Bartlett, druggist.

6

When Genl. Smith organized the meeting at the park some of the Company proposed some Resolutions. The Genl. in a firm voice said "Resolutions? I tell you what kind of resolutions suited a mob during the Revolutionary War. They were Powder and Ball. These are the kind we now want" and they were of course adopted.