The dissensions in the colony being thus adjusted by compromise, a circumstance occurred which proved that the democratic leaven had leavened the whole lump. On the 12th of March, 1660, the very day before the burgesses of Virginia asserted their right to independent legislation, the representatives of Maryland met in the house of one Robert Slye, and declared themselves a lawful assembly independent of any other power, refusing even to acknowledge the rights of the upper house; and Fendall, on this occasion acting in the spirit of Berkeley in Virginia, bowed to the supremacy of the people; and the supreme people, hoping thus to secure a long tranquillity, passed an act making it felony to disturb the order which they had established. Nor was the order disturbed. On the Restoration, Lord Baltimore’s claims were fully confirmed, and Philip Calvert was appointed governor. Fendall was tried for treason, and found guilty, but with that clemency which had on former occasions been evinced by Lord Baltimore, a general pardon was proclaimed to him and all other political offenders, and mercy and peace once more restored to Maryland their wonted blessings. Spite of all her internal sorrows and dissensions, Maryland had grown and prospered. In 1660 her population amounted to about 10,000; a strong patriotic sentiment was alive in the hearts of all—Maryland was their country, the country and the home of their children. CHAPTER VI. COLONISATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. The early unsuccessful attempts of the Plymouth company to obtain a settlement in what was then called North Virginia, have already been related. In the first instance, in 1606, the Spaniards captured the vessel which they had sent out; in the second, the hardships of a severe winter, with a few trying though by no means extraordinary casualties, discouraged the colonists so far that Popham, their president, being dead, and Gilbert having by the decease of his brother become heir to his property, they determined to return to England with what speed they could, and accordingly the ships, which the following year visited the infant colony with supplies, carried them back. Returned thus to England, they reported very unfavourably of the country, and exaggerated their own sufferings to furnish an excuse for their want of courage and perseverance. The Plymouth company, though much dissatisfied, especially as the American fisheries and fur trade were now carried on with great success, many ships annually visiting those northern coasts, and occasionally even wintering there, were unable, after these failures, to excite any further public interest in their schemes.