Samuel Smith, of colonel Smallwood's battalion, bearing date the 14th day of April last, a copy of which, attested by the clerk of the council of safety, your committee refer to.

"Secondly, That the said said Samuel Purviance being, at the time of his writing the said letter, and giving the said instructions, chairman of the committee of Baltimore county, did write the said letter and give the said instructions under color of his said office of chairman, and as if at the request of the said committee; whereas the said committee were not consulted thereon, nor made acquainted therewith, as appears by the said letter and instructions, and by the proceedings of the said committee, attested copies whereof among the said papers are referred to.

"Thirdly. That the said Samuel Purviance, by writing and speaking, and particularly by a letter by him written to the president of the congress some time about the middle of April last, hath unjustly represented the convention and council of safety, as irresolute and afraid to execute the trusts reposed in them, and endea vored to draw a suspicion upon them of a want of spirit and zeal in the execution of their duty.

"All which is humbly submitted to the consideration of the honorable convention.

By order,

R. RIDGELY, clk. com." On considerataion whereof, Resolved, That Thursday next be appointed for the appearance of Samuel Purviance, jr., to answer the charge exhibited against him; but if it should appear by affidavit that Mr. John Smith (whose testimony Mr. Purviance alleges is material to him) cannot be had here on that day, then the convention do order, that Mr. Purviance shall appear as aforesaid on the Saturday following at 9 o'clock.

Mr. Mackall and Mr. Buchanan appeared in the house.

On reading a second time the petition of James Hutchings of Queen Anne's county, against the conduct of Samuel Purviance, jr., Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration on Thursday next.

The proposals of Henry Hollingsworth being read a second time, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider of the same, and report their opinion thereon; and Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Ringgold and Mr. Rumsey, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.

SATURDAY, May 11, 1776.

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

A petition from George French, sheriff, and Joshu Tesstil, one of the deputy sheriffs of Frederick county; petition from Abraham Linganfelter, David Alspaugh, and Henry Barnes, languishing debtors in Frederick county jail; and a petition from Philemon Downes, late sheriff of Queen Anne's county, were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That all petitions relative to proceedings of committees of observation against non-enrollers be referred to the committee appointed to examine into the facts set forth in the petition of William Faris.

Mr. Allein and Mr. Plater have leave of absence till Monday next. On reading a second time the proceedings of the committee of observation for Prince George's county of the 6th instant, relative to the reverend Mr. John Eversfield and Mr. Ralph Forster, Resolved, that the resolutions of the last session of convention sufficiently provide for the case stated in the said proceedings of the committee.

Mr. Reider has leave of absence.

On reading a second time the petition of Robert Wood of Frederick county, Resolved, that a committee be appointed to consider of the same and report their opinion thereon; and Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Beatty, and Mr. J. T. Chase, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On motion, Resolved, That this convention will on Monday next resolve into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the late intercepted letters to governer Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province thereupon.

Mr. Ringgold and Mr. Nicholson have leave of absence till Monday next.

į Convention adjourns till Monday morning, 9 o'clock.

MONDAY, May 13, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on Saturday except Mr. Reider, Mr. Nicholson, and Mr. Allein. The proceedings of Saturday werd read.

The proceedings of the committee of observation for Calvert county, on the complaint of Joseph Wilkinson against James Weems, were read and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine and adjust the several claims on the treasury; and Mr. Earle, Mr. Contee, Mr. Tolley, Mr. Hooe, and Mr. Chamberlane, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

The petition of Purnal Johnson was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Dallam appeared in the house.

On reading a second time the petition of Philemon Downes, late sheriff of Queen Anne's county, and considering the same, Resolved, That the case therein stated is provided for in the resolutions of the convention held the twenty-sixth of July last, and that the committee for licensing suits in Queen Anne's county ought to grant licenses to sue or warrant as the case may require, under the limitations expressed in the said resolves of July.

The memorial of Francis Baker of Talbot county was read a second time and considered, and thereupon, Resolved, That the same be rejected.

On considering the represention from the committee of Talbot county of the case of Alexander Wickham, Resolved, That he be discharged, being a person too insignificant and contemptible for the further notice of this convention.

On motion, Resolved, That in all cases in which the council of safety, or any committee of observation within this province, shall be in want of a witness or witnesses in any fact properly depending before them, that they issue subpœna requiring the attendance of the said witness or witnesses, at a time and place by the said council or committee to be appointed; and in case of disobedience, that they issue attachment of contempt, directed to some captain of the militia, requiring him to take the body of the witness or witnesses disobeying as aforesaid, and he or they being before the said council or committee, to answer the contempt, and may fine the said witness or witnesses not exceeding the sum of five pounds current money. And if it shall happen that any witness shall refuse to declare on oath the truth of his or her knowledge touching the fact under the consideration of such council or committee, that they have full power and authority to commit such witness to the custody of some captain of militia within the county where such witness resides, and by him to be safely kept until such witness shall comply as aforesaid. Provided always, that this resolution shall not be understood to compel witnesses to give evidence in cases in which they are interested, and they declare the same on oath when required.

Resolved, That the expenses arising on such attachment or commitment, be defrayed out of the property of the person attached or committed.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. Somervill appeared in the house.

A memorial from the committee of observation for Cecil county, and an address and petition from the officers and associators in the 30th or Susquehannah battalion of militia in said county, were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

On reading a second time the petition of Purnal Johnson, Resolved, That the same be referred to the committee of observation for Baltimore county, and that the said committee report to this convention their opinion of the merits of said petition.

Ordered, That the clerk transmit a copy of the above resolve, together with a copy of the petition, to the committee of Baltimore county.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider of the further means of defence necessary for this province; and Mr. T. Johnson, Mr. Goldsborough, Mr. Hollyday, Mr. Paca, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Tilghman, and Mr. Plater, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On reading a second time the remonstrance from the committee of observation for Talbot county, Resolved, That the 4th battalion of militia in said county, be composed of the companies of the captains Joseph Bruff, Jacob Gibson, Nathaniel Cooper, John Daugherty, James Lloyd, Samuel Abbot, Thomas Gordon, and Greenbury Goldsborough; and that the companies of the captains James Benson, Henry Banning, John Rolle, William Hambleton, William Webb Haddaway, and Nicholas Martin, in said county, form the 38th battalion.

The remonstrance of the committee of the lower district of Frederick county being read a second time, Resolved, That the same be referred for consideration till next session of convention.

On reading a second time and considering the memorial of captain Edward Veazey, Resolved, That the same be rejected.

On reading a second time the petition of Abraham Linganfelter, David Alspaugh, and Henry Barnes, languishing debtors in Frederick county gaol, Resolved, That the same be referred to the consideration of the next session of convention. But that it is in the mean time recommended to the several creditors of said petitioners to accept the compromise offered by them, provided the same be a just and fair one.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governer Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, thereupon, being read, Resolved, That this convention will on to-mor

row resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider of

the same.

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

TUESDAY, May 14, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Stull, Mr. Allein, and Mr. Nicholson, appeared in the house.

A petition from the freemen belonging to the 29th battalion of militia; a petition from the committee and others the inhabitants of the middle district of Frederick county; a letter from col. John Murdock of the 29th battalion; a petition from Jacob Keaport of Baltimore county, and, an application from Michael Cocendofer of Frederick county, for a sum of money to enable him to carry on a stocking manufactory; were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion, Resolved unanimously, That upon every vote the delegates from each county be severally called, and the yeas and nays respectively taken, if required by a county, and that the same be recorded with the proceedings of the convention.

Resolved, That all the votes and proceedings of the convention be published, except such as relate to military operations, and such others as shall be particularly ordered not to be published.

On reading a second time the application of Michael Cocendofer Resolved, That a committee be appointed to receive all proposals relative to the establishment of manufactories, and report their opinion thereon; and Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Rumsey, Mr. Earle, Mr. Ewing, and Mr. Beall, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

The petition of Jacob Keaport of Baltimore county being read a second time, Resolved, That the same be rejected.

A recommendation of field officers, and a petition for commissions for said officers, from the captains Gist Vaughan, Micijah Merryman, John Stevenson, son of Edward, John Forster, Stephen Gill, son of John, John Talbot, Edward Cockey, and John Cockey, were read and ordered to lie on the table.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, being