George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 2, 17th edition.

[68]

Once, indeed, Rhode Island was betrayed into

Chap. XI.}

inconsistency. There had been great difficulties in collecting taxes, and towns had refused to pay their rates. In 1671, the general assembly passed a law, inflicting a severe penalty on any one who should speak in town-meeting against the payment of the assessments. The law lost to its advocates their reelection in the next year, the magistrates were

1672.

selected from the people called Quakers, and freedom of debate was restored. George Fox himself was present among his Friends, demanding a double diligence in ‘guards against oppression,’ and in the firm support ‘of the good of the people.’ The instruction of ‘all the people in their rights,’ he esteemed the creative power of good in the colony; and he adds,— for in his view Christianity established political equality, —‘You are the unworthiest men upon the earth, if you do lose the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free in life and glory.’¹

For Maryland, the restoration of the Stuarts was the restoration of its proprietary. Virginia possessed far stronger claims for favor than Rhode Island and Con-

1661. April 30.

necticut; and Sir William Berkeley himself embarked for England as the agent of the colony. But Virginia was unhappy alike in the agent whom she selected and in the object of her pursuit. Berkeley was eager