son whatsoever shall, within this colony, after the fifth day of August next, forge or counterfeit any of the bills of credit issued by the congress, by the assembly, or convention of any of the united colonies, or by any of the conventions of this colony, or alter the sum expressed in any of the said bills of credit, or shall offer or cause to be offered in payment, any such counterfeit, forged, or altered bills of credit, knowing the same to be counterfeit, forged, or altered, and shall be thereof convicted by a petit jury, after a presentiment by a grand jury, in a court to be erected in this colony by the next convention, or shall stand mute, or peremptorily challenge above the number of twenty of the pannel, shall suffer death as a felon, without benefit of clergy.

Ordered, That the above resolutions be immediately published in the Maryland Gazette.

Whereas, some doubts have arisen on the constructions of the resolutions of convention for ascertaining the rank of the regular officers in the pay of this province, it is therefore declared and Resolved, That no precedence or rank shall take place between the companies as such, of the corps of regular forces. That precedence between officers of the same rank take place according to the priority of the date of their respective commissions, but where two or more of such commissions bear date on the same day, precedence take place according as the company to which such officer belongs stands numbered on the proceedings of convention in December.

On reading the petition of Turbutt Betton, jun., of Queen Anne's county, Ordered, That the fine imposed on him be not levied, and that his petition be referred to the council of safety to take order therein, and to enforce obedience to the authority of this convention.

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

FRIDAY, July 5, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Turbutt Wright, and Mr. Currer. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. J. Tilghman appeared in the house.

On motion, Resolved, That col. Henry Hollingsworth make two hundred gun barrels of at least one inch in the bore, and three feet six inches in length, drawbored; and that Mr. Elisha Winters mount, and stock, and fit, and complete the same with locks and swivels, as soon as may be, for the public use, for which they shall be paid a reasonable price.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, (in obedience as he conceived

to the instructions of Anne Arundel county) the question was put, That all public and private interest of monies cease and determine during this time of general distress, such monies only to be excepted as have been actually lent within the three last months, which shall be proved by the lender to have been lent within the time above mentioned, to the satisfaction of such persons as shall be appointed to determine the same, and that country produce be a lawful tender for the interest of the same, at the market price, to be regulated by two unexceptionable free holders upon oath, one to be appointed by each party? Carried in the negative.

Messrs. Carroll, bar., S. Chase, Letherbury, Sluby, Ringgold.

On motion, Resolved, That the committees of observation in the several counties of this province forbear to require of any non-associator any bond, or further to proceed against any non-associator for not giving bond according to the resolutions of December last, this convention having made more effectual provisions for the public security.

On motion, the question was put, That no person or persons in the community be executed for the payment of any debts, public or private, unless it is left in the option of the debtor to pay in the produce of the country at a reasonable price, to be ascertained by the county committees respectively? Carried in the negative.

On motion, the question was put, That a sum of money not exceeding five hundred pounds for Kent county be issued from the public treasury, for the purpose of answering the present necessities of the pensioners, Kent county aforesaid giving sufficient se

curity for the return of said money, as soon as a change of the times will admit of it? Carried in the negative.

The convention took into their consideration a report from the committee appointed to report on the establishment of manufactories, and thereupon Resolved, That three hundred pounds, without interest, be advanced out of the public treasury, to Michael Cocendofer of Frederick county, for the purpose of carrying on a stocking manufactory, he giving bond, with good security, to repay the same in fifteen months from the date of contract, either in money or good merchantable fulled stockings, at such rates as the convention or council of safety shall determine, in the following proportions, to wit: one third thereof in five months, one other third in ten months, and the remainder in fifteen months from the date of contract.

That four hundred pounds, without interest, be advanced to John M'Fadon of Baltimore county, he giving bond, with good security, to carry on a linen manufactory, and to erect a bleaching-mill, and to repay the same in ten months from the date of said bond, in money, or such brown or bleached linen as the convention or council of safety may direct, and at such rates and of such qualities as they may determine, in the proportions following, to wit: one third thereof in four months, one other third in six months, and the remaining third in ten months from the date of contract.

That one thousand pounds be advanced out of the public treasury to Robert Riddle of Baltimore county, to enable him to carry on a linen manufactory and bleach field, he giving bond, with good security, to repay the same in thirteen months from the dat-eof said bond, either in money or such brown or white linen as the convention or council of safety may direct, and at such value or price as they may set.

On motion, Resolved, That the balance of the money taken out of the loan-office by act of assembly, for opening, straightening, and repairing such parts of the roads from Frederick to Baltimore, and from Frederick to Annapolis, which lie in Anne Arundel county, be paid by the supervisors into the loan office, where the same shall be kept; and that what may then remain in the hands. of the supervisors, as well as what may have been collected by the sheriff, and yet remains in his hands, be applied in aid of the county charges of Anne Arundel county.

Mr. Beall brings in and delivers to Mr. President, a report from the committee appointed to report on the establishment of manufactories, which was read a first and second time, and thereupon the convention taking the same into consideration, Resolved, That five

hundred pounds be advanced to Thomas Ringgold of Kent county, for the term of one year, without interest, he giving bond, with good security, to repay the same within the time aforesaid, either in cash, or in linen, woollen, or cotton cloth, and in such proportions, and of such qualities as the convention or council of safety for the time being may direct, and at the rates and prices the said convention or council of safety may set thereon.

On motion Mr. Samuel Chase (in obedience as he conceived to the instructions of Anne Arundel county) the question was put That all rents be paid and shall be received in country produce, at the same rates which such commodities bore at the time such contract was made or renewed, and the same to be set by the committees of observation until other persons are appointed? Carried in the negative.

On motion, Resolved, That the council of safety be empowered to lend and advance to Robert Wood of Frederick county, three hundred pounds of the public money on his giving bond with good security, to lay out and expend the same in erecting a sheeting and flitting mill, and to repay the same money into the public treasury within ten months from the time it shall be drawn out.

On reading and considering a petition from Reuben Meriweather and others, inhabitants of Anne Arundel county, praying leave to form themselves into an independant rifle company, Resolved, That the same be granted, and that commissions issue when the company is completed to eighty men, to such persons as shall be appointed by the council of safety.

On motion, Resolved, That no account or claim against this colony shall be received without being first proved by the party ma

king the demand, or other sufficient testimony, or attested by some committee of observation; or if the charge arises for the service of any part of the militia of this colony, that the time of their service be certified by the brigadier-general of their district, or the account of the time they have been in actual service proved by a field-officer, captain, or commanding officer of any detachment of militia that has been or may be employed in the service of this colony. Mr. Done and Mr. Bishop appeared in the house.

Mr. John Kilty was elected ensign of capt. Tillard's company of militia for the flying camp, in the room of Mr. John Gassaway who resigned.

On motion the question was put, That all interest on bonds or contracts, except on loan office bonds, cease and determine during this time of public distress? Carried in the negative.

A petition from William Noke late sheriff of Anne Arundel county, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

be

On motion of Mr. Hooe, the question was put, That interest now due on all debts or contracts, or that shall become due till a further regulation, except on loan office bonds, may be paid in corn, wheat, tobacco, flour, hemp, or cotton, at such prices as may agreed upon between the creditor and debtor, or on their disagreement, at such prices as may be set by the committee of observation for the county where the debtor resides, such country produce to be offered or tendered by the debtor at the capital of the county