On motion, Resolved, That the council of safety be empowered to fit out as soon as may be, three vessels with a number of guns, not exceeding ten each, and also any number of armed boats not exceeding six, for the service and defence of this colony, and to order such of the vessels in the service of this colony as they may think necessary, to cruise on the eastern-shore, for the protection thereof.

On motion, Resolved, That the council of safety be enabled to pay to the officers of the two companies of rifle-men raised in this province last summer, and employed in the continental service, or their representatives, the difference between the pay they were ent titled to at the time they engaged in the service, and the establishment afterwards made, for the time they served before that establishment took place.

Resolved, That a new convention be elected for the express purpose of forming a new government, by the authority of the people only, and enacting and ordering all things for the preservation, safety, and general weal of this colony.

Resolved, That there be four representatives chosen for each of the districts of Frederick county, as described in the proceedings of the session of July last, two representatives for the city of Annapolis, and two representatives for the town of Baltimore in Baltimore county, and four representatives for each county in this province except Frederick county aforesaid; but that the inhabitants of Annapolis and Baltimore town be not allowed to vote for representatives for the respective counties, nor shall the resolution be be understood to engage or secure such representation to Annapolis or Baltimore town, but temporarily, the same being, in the opinion of this convention, properly to be modified, or taken away, on a material alteration of the circumstances of those places, from either a depopulation or a considerable decrease of the inhabitants thereof.

That all freemen above twenty-one years of age, being freeholders of not less than fifty acres of land, or having visible property in this colony to the value of £40 sterling at the least, and no others, be admitted to vote for representatives to serve in the said convention for the said counties and districts, and the town of Baltimore aforesaid; and that all freemen above twenty-one years

of age, owing a whole lot of land in the said city of Annapolis, or having a visible estat cof £20 sterling at the least, within this province, or having served five years to any trade within the said city and being a house-keeper, and no others, be admitted to vote for representatives to serve in the said convention for the said city, provided such person shall have resided in the county, district, city, or town, where he shall offer to vote, one whole year next preceding the election.

That all elections of the said representatives be free, and that the same be made viva voce in the manner heretofore used in this colony, without any regard to any act of parliament or other qualifications than before mentioned. And to prevent any violence or force being used at the said elections, no person shall come armed to any of them, and that no muster of the militia be made on the day on which any of the said elections shall be held, nor shall any battalion or company of the militia, or any ten men thereof, give in their votes immediately succeeding each other, if any other voter who offers to vote objects thereto; nor shall any soldiers in the pay of this province be suffered to collect at the time and place of holding any of the said elections, so as in any manner to impede the freely and convenient carrying on such elections.

Resolved, That no person holding a commission or office in the regular forces of this province, shall during the time of his holding the same, be eligible as a representative aforesaid; nor shall any person who shall hereafter accept of any commission or office in the land or sea service, or shall enlist in the regular forces raised or to be raised for the continental service, or the service of this or or any other colony, be eligible as a representative as aforesaid, or hold any office or place in the civil department, or have a right to vote at any election, during the time he shall hold such commission or office in the military forces, or being therein enlisted as aforesaid. That any person qualified as aforesaid to vote, may be elected a member of the intended convention, provided he be above 21 years of age, and shall have resided in the colony one whole year preceding the election.

That no person who has been published by any committee of observation, or the council of safety of this colony, as an enemy to the liberties of America, and has not been restored to the favour of his country, shall be permitted to vote at the election of members for the said convention.

That the intended elections for all the said counties and districts, be made on Thursday the first day of August next, but if any of them should not be finished on that day, then the judges of such

election may adjourn the same from day to day, omitting Sunday if necessary, till the same is finished. That the said elections for all the said counties, except Frederick, Charles and Cecil, be held at the places of holding the county courts of those counties respectively; that the elections for the districts of Frederick county be held at the places appointed for the elections of representatives in the same districts respectively, by resolutions of the convention of July last; that the election for Charles be held at the house of Bennet Hanson Clements in said county; that the election for Cecil county be held at the head of Elk river; and that the elections for Annapolis and Baltimore-town be held on Monday the fifth day of August next at some convenient place in the said city or town, and may be adjourned as the said other elections.

Resolved, That Abraham Barnes, Hugh Hopewell, and Henry Tubman, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for St. Mary's county.

That George Dent, Samuel Hanson, and Warren Dent, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Charles county.

That Charles Graham, William Allnut, and Daniel Rawlings, jr., esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Calvert county.

That John Cook, William Beans, and Nathaniel Magruder, esqrs. or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Prince George's county.

That John Weems, Thomas Watkins, and Thomas Dorsey, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Anne Arundel county.

That Noah Hart, Christian Orndorff, and Ely Williams, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for the upper district of Frederick county.

That Christopher Edelen, William Luckett, jr., and David Shriver, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for the middle district of Frederick county.

That Jonathan Wilson, Zadok Magruder, and William Luckett, sen., esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for the lower district of Frederick county.

That Andrew Buchanan, Thomas Gist, and James Gittings, esqrs. or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Baltimore county.

That Amos Garrett, Thomas Johnson, and William Webb, esqrs. or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Harford counties.

That Elisha Hall, sen., William Rumsey, and Thomas Savin, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Cecil county.

That John Page, William Bordley, and William Rogers, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Kent county,

That Thomas Ringgold, Jonathan Hall, and Nathaniel Wright, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Queen Ann's county.

That John Goldsborough, Henry Banning, and William Perry, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Talbot county.

That Bartholomew Ennals, Daniel Sulivane, and Henry Hooper, Q. S. esrqs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Dorchester county.

That Foster Goldsborough, Jeremiah Colston, and John White, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Caroline county.

That Thomas Hayward, Andrew Francis Cheney, and Thomas Bruff, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Somerset county.

That Benton Harris, John Selby, and Thomas Martin, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Worcester county.

That the mayor, recorder, and aldermen of the city of Annapolis, or any three or more of them, be judge of and hold the election for the city of Annapolis.

That James Calhoun, John Merryman, and William Aisquith, esqrs., or any one or two of them, be judge of and hold the election for Baltimore town.

That if any of the said elections cannot be carried on for the want of judges, the committee of observation for the county in which such election is to be made, shall appoint judges, who shall qualify, and proceed as aforesaid.

That a clerk or clerks be appointed by the said judges for taking the polls at the said elections.

That every judge of the election, before he proceeds to take or receive any vote, shall take the following oath or affirmation, to wit: "I, A. B. do swear or affirm, that I will permit all persons to vote, who shall offer to poll at the election now to be held for

county,

city, or

town, who in my judgment shall, according to the resolutions of convention, be entiled to poll at the same election; and that I will not admit any person to poll

at the same election, who before his voting shall be objected against by any candidate, or any two of the electors, if such person is not in my judgment qualified to vote as aforesaid; and will in all things execute the office of judge of the said election, according to the best of my knowledge, without favor or partiality. So help me God."

And every clerk before he enters any vote on the polls, shall take the following oath, to wit: "I do declare, that I will well and faithfully, without favor, affection, or partiality, execute the office of clerk of the election for county, the city of Annapolis, or Baltimore town, according to the best of my knowledge. So help me God."

That the said judges certify under their hands and seals to the convention, on the day appointed for their meeting as aforesaid, the names of the members chosen in their county, district, city, or town, respectively.

Resolved, That nine persons be elected by ballot a council of safety, and be and continue such until the intended convention shall make further order therein, and that until that time, they, or any four or more of them, having taken the oath prescribed by the December convention, shall have and exercise the like and same powers as the present council of safety had or might exercise under the resolutions of the several conventions heretofore held for this colony. And may, on good ground for suspicion, cause any person to be arrested and put to security for his good behavior and appearance at the next convention, or may order any such suspected person to remove to and continue within any particular place or limits within the province they shall assign, or commit him to close prison until the meeting of the convention.

Resolved, That on the said first day of August next, this present convention shall be dissolved, and all the power and authority thereof cease and determine. And that the delegates elected shall meet at the city of Annapolis, and hold the next convention on Monday the twelfth day of August.

Whereas, it is represented that a number of people residing on the south and west sides of the lines lately run by commissioners, under the decree, order or commission of the high court of chancery of Englaud, although they were formerly under the government of Pennsylvania and the three lower counties, are lately excluded therefrom, and are desirous of being under the government and protection of Maryland; therefore, Resolved, That all the land on the south and west sides of the said lines be henceforth taken and accepted as within the jurisdiction of Maryland, and as part of