resumed the chair, and Mr. Worthington reported, that the committee had, according to order, taken into their consideration the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state, and had come to several resolutions thereon, but not having had time to come to a conclusion, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will on to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the same. Mr. Earle appeared in the house.

On reading and considering the petition of sundry inhabitants of Washington county, setting forth, that by a late resolve of convention the election for fixing the place for the court house of Washington county was to be held at Hagerstown, which would be so distant from many of the inhabitants of the said county that it would be very inconvenient for them to attend, and praying that the election might be held for one or more days at Skipton or Old town; thereupon the question was put, That for the ease and convenience of the inhabitants of the upper part of Washington county, the election for fixing the place for the court house of the said county shall be held two days at Skipton, beginning on the sixth day of November, and that Andrew Bruce, Lemuel Barret, and Thomas Warren, or any two of them, be judges of the said election, and give due notice to the inhabitants of the said county; and that the judges appointed to hold the election at Hagerstown, and those appointed to hold the election at Skipton, meet together as soon as conveniently may be at Hagerstown, and there examine the said polls, and declare the said election according as the majority of voters may appear to be on both the said polls? Resolved in the affirmative.

Mr. Stull,

NEGATIVE.

Mr. Beall.

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

TUESDAY, October 22, 1776.

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

A petition from William Richardson, setting forth, that he at the time of the alarming appearance of a hostile fleet under the direction of lord Dunmore, on the thirteenth of July last, observed a sloop drifting towards the shore within about a mile and a half of his dwelling house, and a barge from the fleet rowing towards her, which soon scuttled the said sloop; that he went off with his own negroes, intending to board her and save every thing on board the said sloop he possibly could; that he accordingly saved and brought away a mainsail, topsail, and gib, a quantity of old iron, thirty-six pair of iron hinges, and fifty-three cow hides; and that all the said articles were sent for and taken away by captain Uriah Forrest; and praying to be authorized to receive a moiety of the said articles procured by him as aforesaid, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Agreeable to the order of the day the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state; Mr. Worthington in the chair. After some time spent therein Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Worthington reported, that the committee had, according to order, taken into their consideration the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state, and had come to several resolutions thereon, but not having had time to come to a conclusion, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will on to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the same. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, October 23, 1776.

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

The

On reading the petition of Jane Conn, wife of Hugh Conn, a private in captain Fulford's company of artillery, Ordered, That the said Hugh Conn be discharged from the service of this state, on his procuring an effective man in his stead.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, Resolved, That the council of safety

be empowered to give a bounty of twenty dollars to each able seaman, and ten dollars to each landsman, who shall enlist to serve in the marine service of the state during the war, or until discharged by the supreme authority of this state; and that the council of safety may also order any vessel now fitting, or which shall be fitted under the resolutions of convention, on such cruize as they may think fit; and further the council of safety may retain any men who shall voluntarily offer and subscribe articles for a cruize only, without any bounty or wages, and any prizes which may be made, as to those who go on bounty and wages, shall be divisible according to the resolutions of Congress, two-thirds to the public, and onethird to the crew; but as to those who shall enter for the cruize without bounty or wages, the division shall be one half to the public, and one half amongst the crew, according to the common practice of privateers.

The convention having received information, that a number of the inhabitants of Caroline county had marched down into Dorchester county, and committed sundry depredations in the said county, by entering the houses of the inhabitants thereof, and in a violent manner taking and carrying away their salt, and that sundry of the inhabitants of Dorcherter county had joined with them in committing such unwarrantable depredations and outrages,

Ordered, That the committees of Caroline and Dorchester counties make immediate enquiry into the causes of the said disorders, and, if they judge it necessary, to send under a sufficient guard to this convention, or in their recess to the council of safety, such persons as shall appear to them to have been most active therein, and that the committees of Caroline and Dorchester counties do apply to brigadier-general Hooper, to order out such part of the militia under his command as they may judge necessary to bring the said offenders to justice.

Mr. John Ennalls has leave of absence.

Whereas, justice may in many instances require that individuals of this state enlisted in the service of the continent or of this state should be discharged, it is therefore Resolved, That the council of safety may discharge any such person either absolutely or conditionally on such terms as to them may seem proper.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state; Mr. Worthington in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Worthington reported that the committee had according to order, taken into their consideration the de

claration of rights, and form of government for this state, and had come to several resolutions thereon, but not having had time to come to a conclusion, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will on to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider further of the same. Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. Sprigg appeared in the house.

Resolved, That three companies of artillery, each company to consist of ninety-two privates, four serjeants, four corporals, one drummer, and one fifer, commanded by one captain, one captainlieutenant, and two lieutenants, be immediately raised; one of the said companies to be stationed at Baltimore town, and the remaining two companies to be stationed at the city of Annapolis. That the non-commissioned officers and privates be enlisted in the service of this state for the war: That the officers receive the pay and rations established by the convention from the date of their commissions; that the non-commissioned officers and privates receive their pay and rations from the day of their enlistment: That to encourage the speedy enrollment of the said companies, each noncommissioned officer and soldier shall, during their continuance in the service of this state, be annually clothed at the expense of this state, and for that purpose shall be entitled to receive a coat, waistcoat, and breeches, of coarse cloth, two white linen shirts, two pair of stockings, two pair of shoes, and a hat, and they shall not be compelled to march to any placé out of this state.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, Resolved, That the council of safety issue warrants to recruiting serjeants for the enlistment of men to serve in the artillery companies, according to resolutions of this day, and that such serjeants may enlist any men already enrolled in any company of camp militia not under marching orders. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

THURSDAY, October 24, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. John Ennalls. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. T. Wright appeared in the house.

The petition of William Richardson was read a second time and referred to the council of safety.

Mr. Dickinson appeared in the house.

On reading a letter from Robert Peter and Thomas Richardson, of the sixteenth instant, to Thomas Johnson, esqr., and by him

communicated to the convention, relative to the ferry over Potowmac river, Ordered, That the clerk be directed to give notice to the said Robert Peter and Thomas Richardson to attend this convention on Friday the first of November next, and to bring with them the ferrymen of the said river, that an enquiry may be made into the facts set forth in the said letter.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state; Mr. T. Wright in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Wright reported, that the committee had, according to order, taken into their consideration the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state, and had come to several resolutions thereon, but not having had time to come to a conclusion, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will on to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider further of the same. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

FRIDAY, October 25, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Marbury and Mr. Shriver have leave of absence on account of particular private business.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the declaration of rights, and form of government for this state; Mr. T. Wright in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Wright reported, that the committee had, according to order, taken into their consideration the declaration of rights and form of government for this state, and had come to several resolutions thereon, but not having had time to come to a conclusion, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this convention will on to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the same.

Mr. Carroll has leave of absence till Wednesday next, on account of the indisposition of his family; Mr. T. Smyth has leave of absence for a few days on account of particular private business. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

SATURDAY, October 26, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Marbury, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Schriver, and Mr. T. Smyth. The