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displace, nor could properly have any influence towards displacing any individual of either of those bodies, however unequal he might be to his public station. But that such representations being indeed false, the calumny might have proved highly prejudicial to the cause of America in general and to this province in particular.

That this convention are therefore of opinion, that justice would well warrant a more exemplary punishment to be inflicted on the said Samuel Purviance for his said misdoings; but that in consideration of his active zeal in the common cause, and in expectation that he will hereafter conduct himself with more respect to the public bodies necessarily entrusted with power mediately or immediately by the people of this province, and will be more attentive to propriety, this convention hath resolved, that the said Samuel Purviance for his said conduct be censured and reprimanded, and that Mr. President do from the chair censure and reprimand him accordingly, and that he be thereupon discharged.

And thereupon, the said Samuel Purviance, junior, being called in, and being at the bar of this house, Mr. President communicated to him the resolve of convention, and did censure and reprimand him accordingly.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to view and value the linen manufactured and transmitted to the council of safety by Edward Parker, of Cecil county, in pursuance of his engagement with the convention at their session in December last; and Mr. Hooe, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Chamberlaine, and Mr. Contee, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose. Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Met according to adjournment. Mr. Rumsey has leave of ab

sence.

The committee for that purpose appointed, bring in and deliver to Mr. President, a report on the memorial of Edward Lloyd, esq. which was read and ordered to lie on the table..

On reading a second time the proceedings of the committee of observation for Prince George's county, relative to the Rev. Mr. John Eversfield, Resolved, That in consideration of the age and infirmities of the said John Eversfield, and his want of abilities to exert any dangerous influence, that he be discharged, on paying the expenses of his confinement.

Mr. T. Johnson brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report from the committee appointed to consider of and report proper alterations or additions to the resolutions of convention, for en

couraging the making of marine salt, which was read a first and second time, and thereupon the convention taking the same into consideration, Resolved, That a public salt work be erected on or near the bay near the mouth of Potowmac, and another on the seaboard of this province; and that the said works be carried on on the public account, under the management and direction of such persons as shall be appointed by the council of safety for the time being; and that any sum of public money, not exceeding the sum of five hundred pounds, may, by order of the said council of safety, be expended in erecting and carrying on each of the said works. And that for encouraging private people to set up and carry on salt works, the council of safety for the time being may, on proper security, and such terms as they approve of, advance of the public money any sum or sums not exceeding five hundred pounds, for erecting and carrying on each of two or more salt works in this province; so that such advances for the encouragement of private salt works exceed not in the whole fifteen hundred pounds common money; and that no public money be advanced for erecting and carrying on salt works under the resolution of convention held at Annapolis the 26th day of July last.

On reading a second time the report from the committee appointed to consider the proposals of Henry Hollingsworth, the convention took the same into consideration, and thereupon, Resolved, That the sum of five hundred pounds be advanced to the said Henry Hollingsworth, out of the public treasury, he giving bond in double that sum, conditioned for the payment of the sum so advanced in good substantial gun-barrels, that will stand the usual proof, well bored and ground, § of an inch in the bore, and 31 feet in the barrel, at twenty shillings per barrel, and good substantial well manufactured and finished steel bayonets, at eight shillings per bayonet, in four months after the date thereof; and upon the completing the said or any subsequent contract for the like purpose, a sum not exceeding five hundred pounds on the like condition be advanced by the convention or council of safety, so long and as often as they shall think the public exigency will require it.

Resolved, That as a laudable desire to attain a competent knowledge in the art of making salt-petre, and to diffuse this knowledge as extensively as possible, appears to this convention to have been the motive that induced the said Henry Hollingsworth to incur the expense of thirty pounds, in employing a certain John Mingle, a man of reputed skill in the said business, and he being further encouraged thereto by the advice and concurrence of some of the members of this house, that the said expense be allowed in his general account as supervisor of the salt-petre work in Cecil county.

The convention took into their consideration a report from the said committee on the terms offered by Elisha Winters of Chester town in Kent county, and came to the following resolutions thereon, to wit.

Resolved, That the sum of eight hundred and and fifty-five pounds common money be advanced to the said Elisha Winters out of the pulic treasury, he giving bond in double that sum, with sufficient security, conditioned for the delivery of 600 stand of muskets, three quarters of an inch in the bore and 3 feet in the barrel, to be well stocked with walnut, and well finished, with strong substantial double bridled locks, strong brass mounting, substantial steel bayonets and ramrods, and swivels for slings, agreeable to a sample this day produced to the convention, at the rate of four pounds five shillings common money for each musket so finished; the said muskets and accoutrements to be delivered to the order of the convention or the council of safety of this province for the time being, in the following proportions, to wit. Forty per month for the first three months from the date of the contract, and the residue in nine months thereafter, in proportions of not less than fifty per month; the said Elisha Winters to be furnished in due time, by order of the convention or council of safety for the time being, with barrels and bayonets, of the dimentions and quality as aforesaid, at the Head of Elk river in Cecil county, at the rate of twenty shillings common money each for the barrels, and eight shillings like money each for the bayonets, That a further sum of four hundred and twenty-seven pounds ten shillings like money be advanced him, upon the delivery of three hundred of the said muskets and accoutrements as aforesaid; and upon the delivery of the residue as aforesaid, that the further sum of four hundred and twenty-seven pounds ten shilling be paid him as the balance of the amount of the said six hundred muskets and accoutrements, at four pounds five shillings common money, deducting the cost of the barrels and bayonets as aforesaid.

On motion, Resolved, That all persons employed in the manufacturing or repairing of arms for the public, or in repairing arms for the use of the militia by order or appointment of any field officer of the militia, and all persons who are personally employed in erecting or working of powder mills, or in working in any public saltpetre or marine salt works, carried on for the use and on account of the public, shall, during the time they are actually so employed, within one year next following, be exempt from attending on musters.

Resolved, that no muskets or rifles, except by the owner thereof on his removal to reside out of this province, or any gun barrels,

gun locks, or bayonets, be carried out of this province, without the leave of the council of safety for the time being.

On reading a second time the petition of Charles Landsdale of Prince George's county, Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee appointed to examine the several claims on the treasury.

A memorial from Henry Ridgely of Elkridge, in Anne Arundel county; a memorial from Stephen Gartrill of said county; and a petition from Isaac M'Hard of the city of Annapolis; were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

The committee for that purpose appointed, bring in and deliver to Mr. President, the following report to wit.

"The committee appointed to view and value the linen manufactured and sent to the council of safety by Edward Parker of Cecil county, do report, that seven pieces of linen delivered in to the commissary of stores, containing 281 yards, are of the value of three shillings and six-pence currency per yard, and that one peice containing 21 yards, is of the value of two shillings and three-pence currency per yard.

All which is submitted to the honourable convention.
Signed per order of the committee,

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Which was read and agreed to.

N. HARWOOD, clk."

Sundry remonstrances and petitions from the fifth and 20th battalions of militia in Queen Anne's county, were read and ordered to lie on the table.

The convention took into consideration the proceedings of the committee of observation for Calvert county, in the cause of James Weems, and it appearing that the facts stated in the said Weems' letter to the said committee, on the 26th day of February last, are true, Resolved, That the said James Weems was not guilty of a breach of the resolve of congress referred to in the proceedings of the said committee, and that the said committee erred in the determination by them made.

A petition from the officers and privates thereunto subscribed of a company of militia in Linganore, in the middle district of Frederick county, against their captain Basil Dorsey, 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 to-morrow.

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

THURSDAY, May 23, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Bond. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine into the expenditure of the money placed in the hands of Mr. William Lux, as agent for the ship Defence; and Mr. Ringgold, Mr. Beall, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Murray, and Mr. Turbutt Wright, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

Mr. Baird has leave of absence.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider of the expediency of exempting the masters and scholars of public and others schools from attending on musters; and Mr. Plater, Mr. Scott, and Mr. T. Johnson, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continen. tal congress, and of the couucil of safety of this province, thereupon, 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 governor 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.

POST MERIDIEM.

Met according to adjournment. Mr. Stull has leave of ab

sence.

Mr. Ringgold brings in and delivers to Mr. President, a report from the committee appointed to report proper alterations and additions to the resolutions of convention for erecting a powder-mill, and for the examination of the accounts of the supervisors of public salt-petre works; also a report from the committee appointed to examine into the conduct of Mr. Cummins, and the reason why he has not supplied the troops with rations, agreeble to his contract with the council of safety; which were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

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