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pounds of gunpowder, Ordered, That the committees of observation for Worcester and Somerset counties, do each of them immediately send one hundred weight to col. Simpson.

The convention proceeded to the election of officers.

Mr. Gabriel Duvall was elected by ballot muster master and commissary of stores, Mr. Peter Mantz quarter master, Mr. Charles Wallace paymaster.

Mr. Nathaniel Smith captain of the matrosses at Baltimore town, Mr. William Woolsey, first lieutenant, Mr. Alexander Furnival, second lieutenant.

Mr. Beall has leave of absence.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

Convention met.

POST MERIDIEM.

Mr. Thomas Wright, a member for Queen Anne's county, appeared and took his seat in the house. Mr. Handy and Mr. Waters appeared in the house.

Mr. George Keepott was appointed third lieutenant of captain Smith's company of matrosses.

The Convention took into consideration the following report, to wit:

In obedience to a resolve of the honourable convention, the committee appointed to receive all proposals relating to the establishment of manufactories of any kind within this province, and report their opinion thereon,

Do report, that the following proposals and petitions have been laid before them, to wit. The petition of Fielder Gaunt, setting forth, That about four months ago he had discovered a vein of lead ore in Frederick county, between Frederick town and the Kitocton mountain; that upon an examination of the same, appearances were so favourable, that he hoped to be able in a short time to supply this province with a sufficient quantity of lead during our present unhappy disputes, and prayed, that two hundred pounds might be advanced to him for the term of one year without interest, upon giving bond with sufficient security at the end of that term to repay the same. Your committee further report, that Mr. Gaunt hath in person informed them, that he has, by sinking a shaft thirty-eight feet in the earth higher up the hill, found another vein of lead, and that both the said veins run under a large rock, where it was too expensive, on his own capital, to pursue the same, and that the quantities of lead ore taken out of said veins were not considerable. Your committee beg leave further to report thereon, that in their opinion a manufactory of lead in this province would be of a great

advantage to the public, and of course merits the attention and encouragement of this province, and that the sum requested for that purpose is not unreasonable.

Your committee further beg leave to report, that Alex'r M'Fadon of Frederick county,by his petition, hath expressed his desire of erecting a linen, woollen, and cotton manufactory, in or near Frederick-town; that he is also well acquainted with the business, and would undertake to carry on the same with the public encouragement and assistance, and proposed that a sum not exceeding four thousand pounds should be advanced to him from time to time, by the province, on giving bond with good security for the payment of the money lent, with four per cent. interest after the expiration of three years from the advancement thereof. Your committee further report, that Mr. M'Fadon in person informed them, that although he proposed by the above scheme to carry on the same so extensively, as thereby to manufacture annually fifty thousand yards, yet if it did not meet with the approbation of the honorable the convention, he was willing to undertake to set up a manufactory, on having not less than one half of the above sum advanced to him; that he proposed to begin at first with the sum of five hundred pounds, and draw out to the amount of the sum stipulated, in proportion as he should purchase the materials to manufacture; that he would not engage to deliver any certain quantity of linen or woollen cloth, unless he could be assured of purchasing the rough materials, nor could he agree for any price, as he was uncertain on what terms he could purchase the same; that if he could buy them he would furnish the province with any quantities within his power at a reasonable price, on their paying his for the same; and that the original sum borrowed would be absolutely necessary for him to carry on the manufactory aforesaid entire, during the time aforesaid.

Your committee further beg leave to report, that Edward Parker, of Cecil county, by his petition hath set forth, that he hath erected a house, provided himself with all manner of implements necessary for carrying on a linen and woollen manufactory, and had also engaged a number of weavers, but found it absolutely impossible to carry on the same with spirit, and in an extensive manner, without a considerable sum of ready cash, and therefore prayed, that the sum of three hundred pounds, out of the public treasury, might be advanced to him, upon his giving bond with undoubted security, for the delivery of the value of two hundred pounds in good strong merchantable linen cloth, manufactured in this province, on or before the first day of May next, and the value of one

hundred pounds in good merchatnable linen or woollen cloth, manufactured in this province, on the first day of November next, of such quality as he may be directed, and at such prices and rates as this or a future convention, on his producing the same, may be pleased to allow. The said Edward Parker in person acquainted your committee, that he kept five looms constantly employed in manufacturing. Your committee beg leave to report thereon their opinion, that the establishment of linen and woollen manufactories is of the greatest importance to this province, as not only a number of poor people may be employed, fed, and clothed thereby, but necessary cloth for the use of the province be manufactured therein, and that for the above purposes, and other valuable ones, a manufactory for making the above clothes should be established in every county in this province; that the sum of five thousand pounds be appropriated and set apart for the above purpose, to be distributed in manner and form following, to wit: five hundred pounds for Frederick county, and three hundred pounds to each of the other counties, which sum, in the opinion of your committee, will employ eighty looms, and the produce thereof amount to from eighty to one thousand yards of cloth at a moderate calculation, suitable for tents, hunting and soldiers' shirts, and supplying the necessitous poor; that three gentlemen in whom confidence may be placed, be appointed in each county, and styled contractors, and that they or any two of them be empowered to draw the several sums above mentioned out of the treasuries, as occasion may require, agree with such persons as will undertake to carry on the work, receive the linen and wollen, and take bond with sufficient security in double the sum lent, payable to conditioned for the return of the value of money lent, in good coarse linen or woollen cloth, in the following manner, to wit.

One third thereof by the first of May next, one other third by the first of August next, and the remainder by the first of December next; and that the said contractors shall transmit the bonds so taken to the president of the convention, should the convention be sitting, or if in their recess to the council of safety for the time being; that if it should happen that undertakers could not be found, or should not apply in any one or more of the counties on or before the first day of March next, that the contractors in any other of the counties may be empowered to draw out for the purposes aforesaid, and on the above terms, the proportion or proportions allotted such county or counties as may not apply.

Your committee further beg leave to observe, that several proposals have been made to them respecting a sheeting and slitting mill

to be erected in this province, but that they are not fully prepared to report on that subject.

Signed per order,

JOHN CALLAHAN, clk. com. On reading the first part of the above report the question was put, that the house concur therewith? Resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved, therefore, That two hundred pounds common money, out of the public treasury be advanced to Mr. Fielder Gaunt of Frederick county, for the purposes mentioned in the said report, for the term of one year, on his giving bond with sufficient security to repay the same at the end of one year without interest; the security to be approved by the convention or council of safety hereafter to be appointed, and the bond to be made payable to Mr. President, Mr. Carroll, barrister, and Mr. T. Johnson, jun.

On reading that part of the said report relating to the establishment of a linen, woollen, and cotton manufactory, by Mr. Alexander M'Fadon, the question was put, that the house concur with the proposals of Mr. M'Fadon? Carried in the negative.

On reading the third paragraph of the said report, in which is contained the proposal of Edward Parker of Cecil county, the question was put, that the house concur therewith? Resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved, therefore, That the sum of three hundred pounds, out of the public treasury, be advanced to the said Edward Parker, upon his giving bond with good security, for the delivery of the value of two hundred pounds, in good, strong, merchantable linen cloth, manufactured in this province, on or before the first day of May next; and' the value of one hundred pounds, in good, merchantable linen or woollen cloth, manufactured in this province, on the first day of November next, of such quality as he may be directed, and at such prices and rates as this or a future convention shall allow.

On reading that part of the said report, which relates to the establishment of linen and woollen manufactories in each county in this province, the question was put, that the house concur therewith? The counties were equally divided, and therefore the house does not concur.

Mr. Mackall has leave of absence.

The convention adjourns till to-morrow morning half after nine o'clock.

THURSDAY, January 4, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Letherbury, Mr. Beall, Mr. Hall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Mackall, and Mr. Murray. The proceedings of yesterday were read..

On motion, the question was put, that the commissions for the officers of the independent companies be made out according to the order in which they stand upon the list as ballotted for? Carried in the negative.

The following list was then offered as the rule for making out commissions for the officers of the independent csmpanies, to wit.

Charles and Calvert Counties. Rezin Beall, captain. Bennet Bracco, first lieutenant. John Halkerston, second lieutenant. Daniel Jenifer Adams, third lieutenant.

Somerset county. John Gunby, captain. Uriah Forrest, first lieutenant. William Bowie, second lieutenant. Benjamin Brooks, third lieutenant.

Worcester county. John Watkins, captain. Moses Chaille, first lieutenant. Solomon Long, second lieutenant. Ely Dorsey, third lieutenant.

Talbot county. James Hindman, captain. William Goldsborough, first lieutenant. Archibald Anderson, second lieutenant. Edward Hindman, third lieutenant.

St. Mary's county. John Allen Thomas, captain. John Steward, first lieutenant. John Davidson, second lieutenant. Henry Neale, third lieutenant.

Dorchester county. Lemuel Barrett, captain. Thomas Woolford, first lieutenant. John Eccleston, second lieutenant. Hooper Hudson, third lieutenant.

Queen Anne's and Kent counties. Edward Veazy, captain. William Harrison, first lieutenant. Samuel T. Wright, second lieutenant. Edward de Courcy, third lieutenant.

On motion, That the said commissions be made out according to the said list? The question was put and resolved in the affirmative.

Mr. Hooe appeared in the house.

The convention took into consideration the report from the committee appointed to consider what alterations and amendments were necessary in the regulation of the militia of this province, and thereupon came to the following resolutions.

That no minute men be hereafter enrolled under the resolutions of the late convention. That where minute companies are already formed, no commissions issue to the officers thereof, unless the

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