read, the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole to consider of the same; Mr. Plater in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Plater reported, that the committee according to order, had taken under their consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety, thereupon, but not being able to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will to morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider further of the said letters and proceedings.

Convention adjourns till to morrow morning at 9 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, May 15, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

On reading a letter from captain John Allen Thomas of the fifth independent company of regular troops, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to enquire into the conduct of Mr. Robert Cummins, and the reason why he has not supplied the troops with rations as regulated at the last convention, agreeable to his contract with the council of safety and Mr. Scott, Mr. Hooe, Mr. Plater, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Barnes, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

Whereas, it is necessary that the peace and good order of the province should be maintained as much as possible, and it appearing to this convention that sundry officers appointed for that purpose have refused to take upon them the respective trusts to which they have been appointed, alleging scruples to take the usual oaths to the government during the unhappy differences with Great Britain,

Resolved, That the said oaths be dispensed with during the said differences, and that the persons already appointed, or who may hereafter be appointed, do qualify themselves for their trusts, by taking the respective oaths of office to which they are or may be appointed; and all persons concerned, either in administering or taking the said oath of office, independent of the said oaths to the government, may rest assured that proper care shall be taken, upon the settlement of those differences, an event we most ardently wish for, to indemnify them against any penalties directed by any laws to be inflicted on persons acting as aforesaid, without having first taken said oaths.

Ordered, That captain John Bonnett's company of militia in the upper district of Frederick county, be assigned a company of

light infantry to col. John Stull's battalion, and that the council of safety issue cominissions to the officers of said company.

A memorial from the Baltimore independent company of militia, praying leave to continue and be considered as an independent company of militia, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, being read, the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole to consider of the same: Mr. Plater in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Plater reported, that the committee had according to order taken into their consideration the late intercepted letters to govornor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, thereupon, but not being able to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will in the afternoon resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider further of the said letters and proceedings.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

Convention met.

POST MERIDIEM.

The petitions of Seth Paddock and Daniel Adams of the province of Massachusetts Bay, were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, thereupon, being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till to-morrow.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock.

THURSDAY, May 16, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

The petition of Hunlock Palfrey of New England, and a petition from the freemen belonging to the 29th battalion of militia, were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Nicholas Harwood was appointed assistant clerk to the convention.

Ordered, That he qualify himself as such, by taking the oath of office and secrecy as directed to be taken by the clerk.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee of five persons be appointed, to consider of and report proper alterations or additions to the resolutions of convention for encouraging the making marine salt; and Mr. T. Johnson, Mr. Plater, Mr. Chaille, Mr. Handy, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Jordan, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider and report proper alterations or additions to the resolutions of convention for erecting a powder mill, and that the same committee also examine the accounts of the supervisors of salt-petre works, and report thereon; and Mr. T. Johnson, Mr. Rumsey, Mr. Ringgold, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Hooe, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

Certificate of Mr. Harwood's qualification was produced and

filed.

On reading a second time the proceedings of the committee of Calvert county, on the complaint of Joseph Wilkinson against James Weems, Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, at 9 o'clock in the morning; and that the clerk transmit copies of the above resolution to the said Joseph Wilkinson and James Weems, respectively.

On motion, Resolved, That one shilling per day be allowed as a ration for the militia of this province when called into actual service.

On reading a second time the memorial of the Baltimore independent company, now commanded by captain John Street, Resolved, That the same be granted.

On reading a second time the recommendation of field officers and petition for commissions for said officers from the captains Gist Vaughan, Micijah Merryman, John Stevenson, son of Edward, John Forster, Stephen Gill, son of John, John Talbott, Edward Cockey, and John Cockey, Resloved unanimously, That the same be rejected, Mr. Mackall has leave of absence for a few days, Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Met according to adjournment.

The petition of Charles Lansdale of Prince George's county, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. George Brent, a member for that district of Frederick county which lies to the west of Licking creek, appeared and took his seat in the house.

On hearing and considering the petition of James Hutchings,

and the allegations and proofs offered in support thereof, as well as the allegations and proofs offered by Samuel Purviance in defence of his conduct, Resolved, That the said Samuel Purviance acted in a public character, and that the pressing emergency on which he thus acted, renders his conduct blameless.

Resolved, That the said Samuel Purviance be allowed all just and reasonable expenses attending the complaint exhibited against him by the said James Hutchings.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to ascertain the same; and Mr. Plater, Mr. Beall, and Mr. J. T. Chase, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

A petition from John M'Fadon of Baltimore town, relative to the establishment of a linen manufactory, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, thereupon, being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till Saturday next.

Convention adjourns till Saturday morning, 9 o'clock.

SATURDAY, May 18, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on Thursday, except Mr. Mackall and Mr. Smith. The proceedings of Thursday were read.

A letter from James Duane, Esq., enclosing resolutions of congress, and a memorial from the freemeen of North Susquehanna hundred in Cecil county were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Griffith brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report from the committee appointed to consider of the several petitions relative to proceedings of committees of observation against non-enrollers, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Griffith, Mr. Currer, and Mr. Letherbury have leave of ab

sence.

The convention, agreeable to the order of the day, took into their consideration the charges reported against Samuel Purviance, jr., of Baltimore town, and on hearing Mr. Purviance and the several witnesses by him produced, Resolved, That the said Samuel Purviance, since the rising of the last convention, hath usurped a power to direct the operations of the military force of this province, (at a time when the council of safety, to whom the same solely and

properly belongs in the recess of convention, was sitting and might without inconvenience have been applied to.)

That the said Samuel Purviance being, at the time of his writing the said letter and giving the said instructions, chairman of the committee of Baltimore county, did write the said letter and give the said instructions under color of his said office of chairman and as if at the request of the said committee; whereas the said committee were not consulted thereon nor made acquainted therewith. That the said Samuel Purviance, by writing and speaking, and particularly by a letter by him written to the president of the congress, some time about the middle of April last, hath unjustly represented the convention and council of safety as irresolute and afraid to execute the trusts reposed in them, and endeavored to draw a suspicion upon them of a want of spirit and zeal in the execution of their duty.

That the order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, thereupon, being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till Monday next.

Convention adjourns till Monday morning, 9 o'clock.

MONDAY, May 20, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on Saturday, except Mr. Griffith, Mr. Currer, Mr. Letherbury, Mr. Tyler, and Mr. Lloyd. The proceedings of Saturday were read. Mr. Smith appeared in the house.

The convention being informed that Elisha Winters of Kent county, was willing to contract for the making a quantity of fire arms for the public,

Resolved, That the terms offered by the said Elisha Winters be referred to the committee appointed to consider of the proposals of Henry Hollingsworth.

The president laid before the convention a letter from the deputies of this province in Congress, enclosing the following resolutions, to wit:

"IN CONGRESS, May 15, 1776.

Whereas, his Britanic majesty, in conjunction with the lords and commons of Great Britain, has, by a late act of parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these united colonies from the protection of his crown-And whereas no answer whatever, to the humble petitions of the colonies for redress of grievances and recon