s, or people in Maryland, and to
permit all things to remain as they were before any
disturbance or alteration made by you, or by any other, upon
pretence of authority from you, till the said differences,
above mentioned, be determined by us here, and we give farther
order herein.

"We rest, your loving friend,
"OLIVER, P."

Cromwell was now endeavoring to heal the wounds of civil war, to allay
animosities, and to strengthen his power by a generous and conciliatory
policy, blended with irresistible energy of action. In return for Lord
Baltimore's ready submission to his authority, the Protector apparently
recognized his proprietary rights in Maryland, yet at the same time, he
sustained and protected his commissioners, only curbing the violent
contest that had arisen between Virginia and Maryland respecting their
boundary. His policy as to the internal government of these colonies was
one of a masterly inactivity.

"_To the Commissioners of Maryland._

"WHITEHALL, 26th September, 1655.

"SIRS:--It seems to us, by yours of the twenty-ninth of June,
and by the relation we received by Colonel Bennet, that some
mistake or scruple hath arisen concerning the sense of our
letters of the twelfth of January last; as if by our letters
we had intimated that we should have a stop put to the
proceedings of those commissioners who were authorized to
settle the civil government of Maryland. Which was not at all
intended by us; nor so much as proposed to us by those who
made addresses to us to obtain our said letter. But our
intention (as our said letter doth plainly import) was only to
prevent and forbid any force or violence to be offered by
either of the plantations of Virginia or Maryland, from one to
the other, upon the differences concerning their bounds, the
said differences being then under the consideration of ourself
and council here. Which, for your more full satisfaction, we
have thought fit to signify to you, and rest

"Your loving friend,
"OLIVER, P."[231:A]

Remembering, however, Lord Baltimore's ready submission to his
authority, he nominally, at the least, restored him to his control over
the province.

It