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At a CONVENTION of DELEGATES, chosen by the several counties of the province of Maryland, at the city of Annapolis, on Thursday the seventh of December, 1775.

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The honorable MATTHEW TILGHMAN, Esq., was unanimous.

ly chosen President,

And Mr. GABRIEL DUVALL, appointed Clerk.

Ordered, That Gabriel Duvall qualify himself as clerk, by taking oath, that he will faithfully, diligently and honestly, discharge the office of clerk to this convention, and that he will not disclose of reveal the secrets thereof.

The convention appointed Mr. Allen Quynn messenger to attend this convention, and ordered that he qualify himself as such, by taking the oath of office and secrecy, as above directed to be taken by the clerk.

The convention appointed Mr. Robert Reynolds door keeper, and ordered that he qualify himself as such, by taking the oath of office and secrecy, as above directed to be taken by the clerk.

Ordered, That the clerk write to the several absent members, and require their immediate attendance here.

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

FRIDAY, December 8, 1775.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Richard T. Earle, a member for Queen Anne's county, appeared and took his seat in the house.

Certificates of the qualification of the clerk, messenger, and door keeper, were produced and filed.

A letter from Mr. John Hanson, jun., chairman of the committee of Frederick county, was read, together with several papers therein enclosed, relating to Allen Cameron, John Smith, and John Connolly, now in custody, by order of the said committee.

On motion, Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two hundred pounds currency, be appropriated for building a strong log jail, in Frederick town, in Frederick county, at least thirty feet long and twenty in breadth, lined with two inch plank on end, of two stories, with split logs, and plank floors, the upper story to be divided into three rooms, with a stove in each room. And that a small house be built for the keeper, and occasionally for a guard, enclosing the door of the said jail.

Ordered, That the treasurer of the western shore pay the said sum of money, or any part thereof, to James Johnson and Thomas Beatty, or their order, and that the same, or such part thereof, as shall be necessary, be laid out by them in building the said jail. Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

Convention met.

POST MERIDIEM.

Ordered, That the messenger be directed to hire an express to dispatch letters to the several absent members.

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

SATURDAY, December 9, 1775.

Convention met.

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

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine the several claims upon the treasury, and report the same to the convention; and Mr. Contee, Mr. Sim, Mr. Earle, Mr. Hooe, Mr. Moale, and Mr. Tolley were elected by ballot to be the said committee.

Resolved, That they, or any four of them, have power to act.

Resolved, That the several returns of subscriptions for arms and ammunition, within this province, be referred to the said commit

tee.

Mr. Peter Waters, a member for Somerset county, appeared and took his seat in the house.

The house taking into their consideration, that this province, by means of the necessary attendance of some of its deputies now in convention, is at present unrepresented in congress, directed the president to know of Mr. John Hall, whether it was convenient for him to attend in congress; and Mr. Hall having signified that it was very inconvenient to him at this time, and that it was his wish, that some other gentleman might be appointed in his stead; and it being represented, that Mr. Robert Goldsborough, through long indisposition, is at present unable to attend that service, it is therefore,

Resolved, That, in the present critical and dangerous situation of the United Colonies, it is highly necessary that three deputies from this province do immediately attend in congress, now sitting at Philadelphia; and that for this purpose, two gentlemen be now appointed, and added to the number of deputies already chosen ; and Robert Alexander and John Rogers, Esquires, were elected by ballot.

Resolved, That Robert Alexander and John Rogers, Esquires, together with those already chosen, be deputies to represent this province in the continental congress; and that the said deputies, or any three or more of them, have full and ample power to consent and agree to all measures which such congress shall deem necessary and effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances, and be authorised to represent and act for this province in any continental congress which may be held before the twenty-fifth day of March next.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MEREDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. John Ennals, and Mr. James Murray, members for Dorchester county, Mr. William Adams and Mr. John Adams, members for Somerset county, and Mr. Aquila Hall, a member for Harford county, appeared and took their seats in the house.

On motion, Resolved, That the deputies from this province to the continental congress, be each allowed the sum of fifteen pounds common money per week, during their attendance in congress. Convention adjourns till Monday morning half after 9 o'clock.

MONDAY, December 11, 1775.

Convention met. All members present as on Saturday, except Mr. James Tilghman, Mr. Mackall, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sim, Mr. Contee, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Gilpin, and Mr. Moale. The proceedings of Saturday were read. Mr. Pollard Edmonson and Mr. James Lloyd Chamberlaine, members for Talbot county, appeared and took their seats in the house.

The proceedings of the committee of observation for Talbot county, relative to Mr. Francis Baker, a member returned for the said county, together with several resolves of the continental congress, were read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion, Resolved, That the parliamentary post be not permitted, or suffered to travel in or pass through this province, with any mail, packages or letters; and the several committees of observation are requested and directed to see this resolution strictly observed and executed.

Ordered, That the above resolve be published in the Maryland Gazette.

On motion, Resolved, That every member of this convention, consider himself under the ties of virtue, honour, and love of his country, not to divulge, directly or indirectly, any matter or thing agitated or debated in convention, during the time of debate, or before the same shall be determined, which the mover thereof shall openly request to be kept secret, without the leave of the convention, or a majority thereof, or any matter or thing, which a majority of the convention shall order to be kept secret; and that every person who shall violate this agreement, shall be expelled this convention, and considered as an enemy to America, and liable to be treated as such; and that every member signify his consent hereto by signing the same.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

Convention met.

POST MEREDIEM.

The convention took into their consideration the proceedings of the committee of Talbot county, on the case of Mr. Francis Baker, who had been guilty of a breach of the continental association, and who had been since elected a member for Talbot county. The said Francis Baker appeared, acknowledged his offence, and expressed great contrition and sorrow for the same, and prayed a remission of the penalty annexed by the congress to his crime, that he might not be declared an enemy to America, but be permitted to enjoy the rights of a member of this community, on such terms and conditions as this convention may think proper to impose; and promised a strict compliance with all continental and provincial resolutions: whereupon it is Resolved, That the seat of the said Francis Baker be vacated, and that the electors of Talbot county elect another person as a member and committee man for that county, in the room and place of the said Francis Baker, the committee giving ten days notice of the election, excluding the days of notice and election, and any three of their members to be judges thereof: That the said Baker not offering himself for any office of trust, his offence be not published, nor any further proceedings had against him.

Ordered, That the clerk make out and transmit a copy of the above resolve to the committee of observation for Talbot county. On motion, Resolved, That this convention will, on Thursday next, take into consideration the state of the province.

The proceedings of the eastern shore branch of the council of safety, relating to Mr. Isaac Atkinson, were read the first time, and ordered to lie on the table.

Convention adjourned till to-morrow morning half after nine o'clock.

TUESDAY, December 12, 1775.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Contee, Mr. James Tilghman, Mr. Mackall, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Gilpin, appeared in the house.

On motion, Resolved, That the committee of observation for Talbot county, be requested immediately to send Isaac Atkinson, under a guard of four of the militia of that county, to this convention; and that the sheriff of Talbot county deliver the said Atkinson to such guard.

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