of safety, or the committee of observation for the county from which the vessel shall sail, and that no such license be granted before the captain of such vessel shall make oath, or affirmation, (if a quaker) as to the contents of his cargo, and that he will use his best, endeavors to prevent such cargo, and every part thereof, from being landed in any part of the dominions of the king of Great Britain, or othrewise going into the hands of the enemies of America; and further shall give bond with good security, that he will not land such cargo, or any part thereof, in any port, island, or territory, subject to the king of Great Britain, nor sell or dispose of the said cargo, or any part thereof, to the enemies of America; and the owners of the cargo shall also make oath, or affirmation, (if a quaker) that the said cargo, and no part thereof, belongs to, or iș for the use or benefit of any inhabitant of Great Britain, Ireland, or any of the dominions subject to the king of Great Britain. Adjourned till 3 o'clock. POST MERIDIEM. Convention met, and took into consideration the report of the committee on the conduct of Joseph Wheland, jr., John Evans, Robert Howith, and John Price; and the aforesaid Joseph Wheland having admitted the charge as reported against him, Resolved, That the said James Wheland be confined in the log jail in Frederick county until he make ample restitution unto John White of Dorchester county for his sloop, which he caused to be destroyed, the value thereof to be ascertained by the committee of observation for Dorchester county, and give such security as the council of safety of this state, or the executive power for the time being, shall judge necessary for his future good behavior. Resolved, That the aforesaid John Evans and John Price give bond with good security, each in the sum of fifty pounds current money, and that the aforesaid Robert Howith give bond in the sum of twenty pounds current money, payable to the honorable Matthew Tilghman, esqr., for their future good behavior, and that they be committed to the jail of Anne Arundel county until they severally give the security aforesaid, but after giving the same, that they be discharged. On motion, Resolved, That the several inspectors within this state shall permit all tobacco inspected by private inspectors, according to contract prior to the resolutions of this convention, regulating the inspection of tobacco, to be taken out of the warehouses, without inspecting the same, or making any charge against the proprie tor of such tobacco, other than one shilling per hogshead for warehouse rent. Mr. Gilpin and Mr. Brevard have leave of absence. FRIDAY, September 13, 1776. Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Johnson, Mr. S. Chase, Mr. Paca, Mr. Williams, Mr. George Scott, and Mr. Lowes. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Jordan and Mr. Hughs appeared in the house. On reading a second time the petition from a majority of Castle Haven company, Ordered, That the same be referred to the council of safety. On reading a second time the report from the committee to whom the letter from the secretary of the board of war of the 6th of August last was referred, Ordered, That the clerk transmit to the secretary of the board of war an accurate list of all the prisoners of war in this state, as reported by the committee aforesaid. The petition from the trustees of the poor of Frederick county was read a secoud time and rejected. Adjourned till 3 o'clock. Convention met. POST MERIDIEM. Resolved, That the money levied on the inhabitants of Baltimore 'county, and collected by the sheriff thereof, for the purpose of repaying the money appropriated by way of loan to the use of the said county for clearing and opening roads by act of assembly, be applied in discharge of the county charges of those persons by whom the said money was paid, and in such proportions as the same was by them respectively paid, and that the said sheriff cease to collect the residue of the money levied for the purpose above recited and that the justices of Baltimore county court forbear to levy any further sum of money on the inhabitants of the said coun ty, according to the said act of assembly, for the purpose aforesaid, until the further order of this convention or general assembly of this state. On motion of Mr. T. Ringgold, the question was put, That the restriction laid on the price of salt by the resolve of convention of the 6th of July last, and the bounty given by the said resolve be ta ken off, and that no future limitations ought to be made by this or a future convention, or by any committee of observation of this state, on the price of any salt that may be imported into this state affirmative. on or before the first day of May next, any thing in the said or any other resolve to the contrary notwithstanding? Resolved in the Ordered, That the above resolution be inserted in the Maryland Gazette and Baltimore town papers four weeks successively. Mr. Gustavus Scott brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report from the committee appointed to consider of the disposition of captures, which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. SATURDAY, September 14, 1776. Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Brevard, Mr. T. Wright, Mr. Kent, Mr. Goldsborough, and Mr. Marbury. The proceedings of yesterday were read. It being represented to this convention, that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three, an act of assembly passed, directing the justices of Talbot county to levy on the inhabitants of that county forty-five pounds of tobacco per tax, to be paid at three annual payments, for the purposes of purchasing land and building a house thereon for the reception of the poor of that county that in consequence thereof there was levied at Novem ber court seventeen hundred and seventy-four, the quantity of fif teen pounds of tobacco per poll, which has been collected and paid into the hands of trustees appointed to carry the said act into execution, and there remains unexpended. That at November court seventeen hundred and seventy-five, the further sum of fifteen pounds of tobacco was levied by the justices of the said county, now to be collected by the sheriff, which cannot at this time be done without distressing the inhabitants thereof: Resolved therefore, That the sheriff of Talbot county shall forbear to collect any of the tobacco so levied on the inhabitants of that county at November court seventeen hundred and seventy-five, and that the trustees appointed for carrying the said act of assembly into execution, are hereby requested to pay all money or tobacco which they may have received or shall hereafter receive in virtue of the said act, into the hands of the trustees of the said county, to be applied by them to the relief and support of the poor of the said county. Mr. Hughs brings in and delivers to Mr. President the following report, to wit: "Your committee to enquire into the expenditure of the money appropriated for the building a log jail in Frederick county, beg leave to report, That one hundred and seventy-nine pounds five shillings and two pence farthing has been expended on the same, as per account rendered to your committee; and that there remains in the hands of the supervisors of the said building the sum of twenty pounds fourteen shillings and nine pence three farthings. That the log jail is completed agreeable to the direction of a resolve in December last all to three stoves. Your committee are of opinion that the said log jail is by no means proper for the reception of prisoners of war, having no yard or other necessary convenience; all which is submitted to the honourable house. "Signed by order of the committee, JOHN JOHNSON, clerk. Which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Convention adjourns till Monday morning, 9 o'clock. MONDAY, September 16, 1776. Convention met. All members present as on Saturday, except Mr. Hughs. The proceedings of Saturday were read. Mr. Worthington, Mr. Bruff, Mr. J. Mackall, and Mr. Fenwick, appeared in the house. Agreeable to the order of the day the convention took into consideration the report relative to the conduct of Isaac Costin, and after hearing the evidence produced, as well against as in behalf of the said Isaac Costin, were of opinion, that he hath shewed himself inimical to the cause of American freedom; therefore Resolved, That the said Isaac Costin enter into bond with good security to the president of this convention, in the penalty of two hundred pounds common money, for his future good behaviour, and thereupon be discharged on paying the charges of his prosecution. Mr. Hooe and Mr. Semmes have leave of absence. Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. TUESDAY, September 17, 1776. Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Hooe, Mr. Semmes, and Mr. Worthington. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Chamberlaine has leave of absence. On motion, Resolved, That three persons be added to the committee appointed to examine and report the state of the accounts and proceedings of the commissioners of the loan office; and Mr. T. Ringgold, Mr. J. Smith, and Mr. Worthington, were elected by ballot to be of the said committee. On motion of Mr. Fitzhugh, That the question be put on the following: As the establishing a bill of rights and the formation of a new government on the authority of the people only, are matters of the utmost importance to the good people of this state, and their posterity; and as the bill of rights and form of government reported to this convention by the committee chosen for that purpose, have been referred for consideration to Monday the thirtieth instant, occasioned by the necessary attendance in congress of several of the representatives of the people; in order therefore that the fullest consideration may be had thereon, Resolved, That the said bill of rights and form of government be immediately printed for the consideration of the people at large, and that twelve copies thereof be sent without delay to each county in this state. The previous question was called for by Mr. Gustavus Scott, and put, whether the above question be now put? Resolved in the affirmative. Mr. Fenwick, B. Mackall, AFFIRMATIVE. Ridgely, Mr. W. Ringgold, S. Wright, |