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POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, Resolved, That the council of safety advance eight hundred dollars to Lonwick Weltner, major of the German battalion, to furnish the companies raised in this colony with arms, blankets, and all necessary accoutrements, he to be accountable to the congress, to whom the said money be charged. On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, Resolved, That the brigadiergeneral of the flying camp, if acting in conjunction with the regular troops of this colony, be subject to the command of colonel Smallwood.

On motion, the question was put, That the appointment of military officers be by ballot? Carried in the negative.

On motion of Mr. Fitzhugh, That captain Rezin Beall be brigadier-general of the militia of Maryland to compose a part of the flying camp? The previous question was called for and put, whether the above question be now put? Carried in the negative.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, Resolved, That no military officer be appointed, unless by a majority of the house, consisting of fortyfive members with the president.

The convention proceeded to the choice of a brigadier-general for the flying camp in the room of general Dent who had resigned, when Resin Beall, Esquire, was elected.

On motion of Mr. Gustavus Scott, Resolved, That the seat of every member of this house, who shall hereafter accept a commission in the flying camp, shall be thereby vacated.

The convention proceeded to the choice of a colonel for the battalion raised on the eastern-shore for the flying camp in the room of James Kent, Esquire, when William Richardson, esquire, was elected.

William Whitely, esquire, was then elected lieutenant-colonel of the said battalion.

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

SATURDAY, August 17, 1776.

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

On motion of Mr. Gustavus Scott, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine and adjust the several claims on the treasury; and Mr J. Smith, Mr. Hooe, Mr.Grahame, Mr. Worthington, and Mr. Sheredine, were elected by a ballot a committee for that purpose.

Mr. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, a delegate returned for the city of Annapolis, appeared and took his seat in the house.

On motion of Mr. Plater, Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Gassaway jun. be added to the signers of the bills of credit.

On motion Resolved, That a delegate be elected for Caroline county in the room of Mr. William Richardson, whose seat is vacated by his acceptance of a colonel's commission in the flying camp; that the said election be held on the 26th of this month at Melvill's warehouse in said county, by Foster Goldsborough, Jeremiah Colston, and John White, esquires, or any two or one of them, and that the said election be held and made agreeable to the directions and resolves of the last convention.

Resolved, That Mr. Robert Campbell be appointed adjutant to the eastern-shore battalion of militia for the flying camp.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the convention took into consideration the resolution of congress declaring the united colonies free and independent states, and thereupon Resolved unanimously, That this convention will maintain the freedom and independency of the United States with their lives and fortunes.

Doctor John Hindman was appointed surgeon to the easternshore battalion of miltia for the flying camp.

On reading a petition from Thomas Harwood of Anne-Arundel county, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to receive proposals relating to the establishment of manufactories, and report their opinion thereon; and Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Lowes, Mr. Ridgely, Mr. Ewing, and Mr. Beall, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine and report the state of the accounts and proceedings of the commissioners of the loan office; and Mr. Grahame, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. Carroll, of Carrollton, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

Ordered, That the committee of claims report to the convention the number and denominations of the bills of credit emitted by resolutions of the convention in July, 1775, which have been exchanged by the treasurers of this state for bills of credit emitted by resolution of the convention in December last; also the number and denominations of the former bills of credit now remaining in the hands of the said treasurers.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare a declaration and charter of rights, and a plan of government agreeable to such rights as will best maintain peace and good order, and most effectually secure happiness and liberty to the people of this state.

On motion, Resolved, That the president apply to congress for the sum of ten thousand pounds, to reimburse in part the expense incurred in this state for the continent.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. James Lloyd Chamberlaine, a delegate returned for Talbot county, appeared and took his seat in the house. On motion, the question was put, That the nomination of the committee for preparing a bill of rights, and a form of goverment, be postponed until there is a full representation of this state in convention? Carried in the negative.

On motion of Mr. Fitzhugh, That all questions to be agitated in this house be determined viva voce, and that balloting on any question whatsoever be exploded, as it has a tendency to deceive the good people of this state, and to conceal the conduct of their representatives from them? An amendment was proposed to be inserted after the word exploded, in these words, except in the appointment of committees, on which amendment the question was put, and resolved in the affirmative.

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The question was then put, That all questions to be agitated in this house be determined viva voce, and that balloting on any

question whatsoever be exploded, except in the appointment of committees, as it has a tendency to deceive the good people of this state, and to conceal the conduct of their representatives from thein? Resolved, in the affirmative.

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The convention then proceeded to ballot for a committee to prepare a declaration and charter of rights, and a form of government for this state; and Mr. President, Mr. Carroll, barrister, Mr. Paca, Mr. Carroll of Carrollton, Mr. Plater, Mr. Samuel Chase, and Mr. Goldsborough, were elected a committee for that purpose.

On motion, Resolved, That captain Thomas Bourke's company of the flying camp be added to and compose part of colonel Richardson's battalion.

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

MONDAY, August 19, 1776.

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

On reading a memorial from the officers of colonel Josias Carvil Hall's battalion, Resolved, That the captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, belonging to that part of the flying camp allotted to be raised by this state, are entitled to and shall receive pay and rations from the date of their respective warrants, in lieu of all recruiting expenses, provided such officers have or shall obtain commissions;

or from the dates of their commissions, where no warrants have been previously issued.

A petition from Thomas Wilson of the city of Annapolis, praying a remission of the fine set upon him by the committee of observation for Anne Arundel county, for not having enrolled in some company of militia, was read and referred to the consideration of the committee of observation for Anne Arundel county aforesaid. A petition from Thomas French, late sheriff, and George French, present high sheriff of Frederick county, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The council of safety laid before the convention an inventory of sundry articles taken out of a small sloop, drifted ashore in this state from the British fleet under the command of lord Dunmore, and now stored by order of major Price, which was read.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take the subject matter into consideration, and report in what manner such articles and prizes of the like nature are to be disposed of; and Mr. Paca, Mr. Gustavus Scott, and Mr. Hooe, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On motion, Ordered, That the council of safety be directed to advance the sum of ten pounds to Mr. James Hopkins, to enable him to construct a machine according to proposals communicated to this house.

On motion, Ordered, That the resolution of Saturday, respecting the declaration of independence, be published in the Maryland Gazette.

The council of safety laid before the convention sundry papers and depositions relative to the reverend John Scott, and several depositions taken by George Plater and John Hall, esquires, relative thereto; thereupon it is ordered, that a committee be appointed to take the same into consideration, and report their opinion thereon; and Mr. Samuel Chase, Mr. Jeremiah Townley Chase, Mr. Paca, Mr. Worthington, Mr. Ridgely, and Mr. Chamberlaine, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On reading the depositions laid before the convention by the council of safety against Isaac Costin, Ordered, That the same be taken into consideration on Monday, the 2d of September next. Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

Convention met.

POST MERIDIEM.

Sundry depositions against William B. Townsend of Worcester county, and Joseph Wheland, jr., John Evans, Robert Howith, and

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