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house, or in the neighborhood of Tobacco houses, or in some other public and convenient place in each county, at the public expense, for the making crude nitre; that thus, besides the advantage immediately accruing from carrying on so many works in different parts of the province, the good people thereof may be generally instructed in the art of making crude nitre; and as a further inducement thereto, and that this art may be still more extensively diffused and practised, that a liberal price ought to be allowed for all crude nitre manufactured in private families; that all the crude nitre, whether made by individuals, or at the county manufactories, be carried to one refinery, where the same may be purified by a skilful refiner in large quantities without waste, and made fit for manufacturing into gunpowder.

That seventeen hundred pounds common money be appropriated, one hundred pounds to be placed in the hands of a discreet and active person in the lower district, and one hundred pounds in the hands of a discreet and active person in the middle district of Frederick county; and the residue thereof, one hundred pounds for each other county, to be placed in the hands of a discreet and active person in each county, who shall be called a supervisor; and that so much of the said one hundred pounds as may be necessary, shall be laid out by the said supervisor in purchasing, procuring, and setting up, proper kettles, tubs, and other necessary utensils and conveniences, for manufacturing rough nitre, at some such place as aforesaid, in his county; and also in erecting a rough shed convenient thereto, under which the earth, from which the ley shall have been drawn, may be placed, that the same may become again impregnated with nitre.

That each of the said supervisors be empowered to lay out the residue of his one hundred pounds, in hiring laborers to assist a skilful workman, who shall be employed in each of the said works, and in procuring and removing earth impregnated with nitre fit to be used at the said works.

That the supervisor of each of the said works employ a skilful workman to carry on, direct, and manage the process of making crude nitre at the said works respectively; and that the same supervisor pay to the said workman one shilling common money, for each pound of good crude nitre that he shall manufacture and deliver at the same works, as his wages and reward for his skill and labor.

That the said workmen show and explain to those who will attend the work, and may be desirous of instruction, the method and process of making crude nitre.

That each supervisor pay to any person who shall deliver to him good crude nitre, manufactured at any place within this county, other than the said public work, for the use of the public, after the rate of two shillings common money for every pound thereof.

That as soon as a contract shall be made for building a powder mill, pursuant to the resolution of the late convention, a public work be erected convenient thereto, under the management of a skilful person, for purifying nitre. And the several supervisors shall, from time to time, send all the crude nitre which shall be made at the said works, and otherwise come to their hands as aforesaid, to the said public refinery.

That each supervisor draw from the treasurer of his shore, as well the said one hundred pounds, as the sum of two shillings common money, and no more, per pound, for all crude nitre by him sent to and delivered at the said refinery.

That each of the said supervisors render an account of his transactions to every convention, by the third day of every session thereof; and that on such account he be allowed all the said disbursements, the actual expenses of sending the crude nitre to the refinery, and for his trouble the sum of two pence for every pound of rough nitre made at the works under his care, and the sum of one penny for every other pound of crude nitre by him collected as aforesaid, and sent to the said refinery; and that he pay the balance of the money in his hands into the public treasury for the use of the public, if so ordered.

That it be strongly recommended to such of the good people of this province, whose circumstances and conveniences will allow them to pursue the following directions, to place in open houses, or sheds admitting the air, but excluding the rain and sun, the stalks and trashy leaves of tobacco, trodden straw, the sweepings of stables mixed with rich mould, collected from the floors of barns and out houses, and from time to time to sprinkle with urine, brine, or water, this collection of various substances, so as to occasion the fermentation and speedy putrefaction thereof, that the whole mass, when perfectly rotten and digested, may be dug, stirred up, and thoroughly blended, and thus left without further damping, so loose and light, as to attract more readily, and be more plentifully impregnated with nitre for future use.

Mr. Jeremiah Jordan was appointed supervisor for St. Mary's county. Mr. Thomas Sernes for Charles county. Dr. Edward Johnson for Calvert county. Mr. Richard Richardson for Anne Arundel county. Mr. Daniel Clark for Prince George's county. Mr. Thomas Richardson for the lower district, and Mr. Charles

Beatty for the middle district of Frederick county. Dr. Charles
F. Weisenthall for Baltimore county. Mr. Amos Garrett for Har-
ford county. Mr. Henry Hollingsworth for Cecil county. Dr.
John Scott for Kent county. Mr. William Hemsley for Queen
Anne's county.
Mr. James Benson for Talbot county. Mr. Tho-
mas Ennals, B. W. for Dorchester county. Mr. Joshua Clark for
Caroline county. Mr. George Day Scott for Somerset county.
And Mr. Joshua Townsend for Worcester county.

That upon the death or refusal of any supervisor, the committee of observation for the county where such death or refusal shall happen, are required immediately to nominate and appoint some other discreet and active person in his place.

Mr. Beatty brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report from the committee appointed to consider and report the most effectual method of establishing a gun lock manufactory, and the expense thereof, which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. Tolley appeared in the house.

The petition of Patrick Graham of Charles county was read a second time and granted.

Mr. Johnson brings and delivers to Mr. President the form of a commission for the officers of the militia of this province; which was read a first and second time, and agreed to, and is as follows: The delegates of the freeman of Maryland in convention, to We, reposing especial truth and confidence in your fidelity, courage, good conduct, and attachment to the liberties of America, do by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the trust reposed in you, by disciplining all officers and soldiers under your command; and we do hereby strictly enjoin and require them to obey you as their And you are to

observe and follow all such orders and directions as you shall, from time to time, receive from this or a future convention, or from the council of safety of Maryland for the time being, according to the rules and regulations established by this or a future convention. This commission to be in force until revoked by this or some future convention of the delegates of the freemen of Maryland, or by the council of safety of Maryland, for the time being, according

to the powers and authorities in such council of safety to be hereafter vested by such convention.

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MAT. TILGHMAN, President.

Ordered, That 2500 copies thereof be immediately printed. Mr. Chamberlaine brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report from the committee appointed to examine into facts contained in the memorial preferred by the justices of Frederick county, which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

The convention took into consideration the report from the committee appointed to consider and report the most effectual method of establishing a gun lock manufactory, and the expense thereof; and thereupon Resolved, That a gun lock manufactory be established in Fredericktown in Frederick county, or in the neighbourhood thereof. That twelve hundred pounds common money be appropriated for erecting and carrying on the said manufactory, and be subject to be drawn out and applied for that purpose by three commissioners, who shall, over and above, have power to draw out of the public treasury any sum of money, not exceeding one dollar, for every good musquet lock, made at the said manufactory and delivered pursuant to the orders of the convention, or council of safety in the recess of the convention.

Resolved, That Mr. Charles Beatty, Mr. James Johnson, and Mr. John Hanson, jun. or any two of them, be commissioners for the above pupose.

Resolved, That the said commissioners, or any two of them, be directed to purchase ground, not exceeding one half acre, in or near Fredericktown, sufficient for erecting shops for the said manufactory; which ground is to be conveyed to the said commissioners, for the use of this province; that the said commissioners or any two of them, draw on the treasury of the western shorefor the price of the said ground; in the purchase of which, and inthe buildings, it is recommended to the said commissioners, to be as frugal of the public money as may be.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the state of the province being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for furtheir consideration till to-morrow.

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

THURSDAY, December 28, 1775.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Smith appeared in the house.

Mr. J. Tilghman brings in and delivers to Mr. President, a report from the committee appointed to consider what alterations and amendments are necessary in the regulation of the militia of this province, which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion, Resolved, That the council of safety to be appointed by this convention, be empowered to advance on loan for two years, without interest, on bond with good security, any part of the one thousand pounds appropriated by the last convention for erecting and working a powder mill, to such person or persons as will undertake and give good security for erecting and working the same, such person or persons undertaking that such mill shall be capable of manufacturing at least eight hundred pounds of gunpowder per week, and that the salt-petre which may belong to the public, shall be there manufactured into gunpowder for a just and reasonable price; the same powder-mill to be erected within fourteen, and not less than six miles from Baltimore town.

Upon reading a second time the memorial and depositions from Baltimore county court, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider of the truth of the facts therein set forth, and report their opinion thereon; and Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Hollyday, Mr. J. Tilghman, Mr. Rumsey, and Mr. T. Johnson, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

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Mr. Chamberlaine brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report from the committee appointed to examine and report the returns of the committees of observation of persons in the several counties of this province, who have subscribed, or refused or neglected to subscribe the association directed by the last convention; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

The, order of the day for taking into consideration the state of the province being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till to-morrow.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning half after 9 o'clock. FRIDAY, December 29, 1775.

Convention met.

All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Griffith appeared in the

house.

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