competent teachers and keep them. They seem to have insisted upon a mathematical education being given the scholars and purchased books for an extensive course in the subject. "Resolved on Sept. 18, 1730 the visitors purchased of Mr. Bodingfield Hands a circumforontor with a ball socket, a brass protractor to the same radius, protracting scale and a book called the practical surveyor, and on the same day further resolved to purchase of Bodingfield Hands Brown's quadrant in box wood, a book called the "Use of the Triangular Quadrant, Gunter's Sector in Brass, Universal Ring, Dyal in Brass, a Protracting Scale for which they agreed to allow the said Hands 25% on the first cost, the said Hands procuring from some proper person in England a certificate of costs of such instruments and books. Also ordered the following books: Davis Quadrant, The Arches and Venar, to be of boxwood and the other part or limbs of Brazil or some other heavy wood. A store staff four feet long and three crosses of light colored woods, large nocturnal of boxwood for both bears, Gunter's scale of boxwood, a sliding Gunter two feet long when shut, commonly called "Seth partridges sliding rule" to be made of boxwood and the edges to be filled with mathematical lines; a dyalling scale of boxwood, a mathematical scale of boxwood, two feet long; a pair of globes, the diameter whereof not to exceed fifteen inches nor less than twelve inches. Whole art of navigation by Capt. Danl. Newhouse; mariners compass rectified by Mr. Wakely, Parson's Arithmetick, Wallis' Algebra, Scarborough's Euclid, Theosaphis Spericks, Gregory Astronomy, Casewell's Trigonometry, Streets Caroline Table, Mercator's Chart and Plaine Chart for the whole world, Treatise on Dyalling, a pair of long steel point compasses and a pair with three points, Mollineux's Dioptricks, Wells's Geography and Map." "May 15, 1742, a bill of exchange of James Holliday, treasurer of Eastern Shore, for nine pounds, two shillings and seven pence sterling was sent to James Buchannan, merchant in London for the purchase of the following books: Greek books, Dr. Samuel Clark's Edition of Homer's Illiad, Dr. Wells's Edition Diomysius Geography, Leusden's Greek Testament cum versione Latina; Roman Classics in poetry, Horace, Virgil, Terrances Comedies, Ovid's Metamorphisis. "Roman Classics in prose: Sallust of the Jugurthine Wars and Catelinies Conspiracy, Caesar's Commentaries, Lucius Florus Epitome of Roman History, Tully's Oration Select, Dr. Wells's Maps Ancient and Modern, Robertson's Greek Lexicon, The Cambridge Dictionary, Dr. Kennett's Roman Antiquities, Dr. Potter's Archaeology, two volumns." The books to be well bound, lettered on their backs, and on their covers to be inscribed the words: "Queen Anne's County School." The last master of the school was appointed March 17, 1787, and was Thomas Wright. With what success he met we are unable to say, for from this time on the struggle of the school for an existence seems to have grown very acute. Part of their land was taken possession of and enclosed by Robert Wilson; a law suit was instituted; and great difficulty was experienced in getting any money with which to pay a master and keep the school in any condition. Finally as a last resort, the visitors appealed to the General Assembly in the following manner: "Gentlemen: As differences have arisen upon the extension of the lines of our free school land and other matters relative to the said school, which, to have to determine in a course of law will be very expensive and tedious, and our finances are illy suited to, and as they can be well adjusted by arbitration, or the lines be settled in the mode pointed out by a late Act of Assembly for ascertaining boundaries, but conceiving we do not possess powers adequate to those ends; we request you will move and use your endeavors for a law to enable the visitors of this free school to refer any matters of difference they may have to the determination of man and to avail themselves in their corporate capacity of the aforesaid act of Assembly, if they should apprehend those measures or any of them proper. We are, Gent. V&." This did not bring the desired result. Whether this was on account of the lack of interest or because the visitors of the free school of Queen Anne's County were not as good "lobbyists" as are the visitors of the schools and colleges of today, we cannot say. The aid needed did not come. The Legislature passed an act creating an Alms House and directed the Visitors of the Queen Anne's County school to turn over to the Trustees of the Alms House all of the school property. "On May 12, 1791, we find the following minutes: "Messrs. Charles Blake, Arthur Emory, Richard Bennet Carmichael and John Hindman met at the house of Edward Downes and delivered to Mr. Charles Blake one of the Trustees of the poor of said county, all the books, records and other documents respecting the property of said school.” August 27, 1729, Rev. John Long. August 26, 1730, Rev. James Cox, Rector of St. Paul's, June 28, 1733, Joseph Earle. July 22, 1734, James Earle. March 29, 1737, William Tilghman. September 25, 1730, Edward Tilghman. March 7, 1738, Robert Lloyd. August 25, 1739, Robert W. Wright. February 25, 1740, James Tilghman. February 29, 1743, Rev. William Richard Harrison. February 25, 1746, Thomas Harris. Dr. John Jackson. July 15, 1758, Jaines Holiday. April 30, 1761, Rev. Alexander Malcolm. Rev. John Barclay, Dr. John South. Rev. Hugh Weile. ADMIRAL COCKBURN'S PLAN. In the large collection of Cockburn Papers recently purchased by the Library of Congress, there is probably no single item of equal interest and importance to the following secret letter from Rear-admiral Cockburn to his commander-in-chief Admiral Cochrane. Writers on the history of the War of 1812 have indulged in much speculation as to who first suggested the attack on Washington, and this question is now settled in favor of Cockburn, than whom few military commanders have been more thoroughly hated and vilified; contemporary American prints paint him as an inhuman monster, though as long apprenticeship to the trade of war is not conducive to the cultivation of the Christian graces, it is quite likely that Admiral Cockburn was a fair average specimen of his profession and his age. His experience in the waters of the Chesapeake and its affluents made his tactical opinion unusually valuable at a council of war, and his abilities as a strategist are clearly shown in this report. Speculation as to what might have been is always futile; but it appears highly probable that had Cockburn's suggestions been accepted in their entirety, Baltimore attacked from the land ward would have fallen an easy prey to the victorious British army. After the disgraceful rout at Bladensburg when the demoralized militia was scattered in every direction, without leaders and without defenders, Baltimore was really within the grasp of the invaders. It is evident that at the council of war the Cockburn plan was, happily for us, modified and a great opportunity thrown away.-EDITOR. Secret. Albion off Jerome Point. Chesapeake, 17 July, 1814. In answer to that part of your secret letter of the 1st. instant which regards the landing and commencing of operations of the English army, which you inform me is to be soon expected in this country, and on which points you desire me to communicate my opinion. I feel no hesitation in stating to you that I consider the Town of Benedict in the Patuxent to offer us advantages for this purpose beyond any other spot |