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Ordered, That the accounts of expenses attending the prosecution of Isaac Atkinson, be referred to the committee appointed to examine the several claims upon the treasury.

The proceedings of the committee of Kent county, relative to the conduct and behaviour of the Rev. John Patterson were read, and are as follow:

"At a meeting of a special committee held for Kent county, on the 16th day of August, anno domini 1775, present, Thomas Smyth, chairman, and thirteen members.

"This committee being informed that the Rev. Mr. John Patterson, of Kent county, had some time past publicly spoken words which reflected upon the convention; upon which the matter was considered, and Resolved, that summons issue to the said Patterson, for him to appear before the next committee to be held for the county aforesaid, on Monday the 21st instant, to which time this committee is adjourned."

"Monday, the 21st day of August, the committee met according to adjournment, present, thirty-one members.

"The Rev. John Patterson appeared in consequence of the summons issued at the last meeting, and being interrogated with regard to the disrespectful words which it was alleged he had spoken against the convention, confessed that he had reflected on the proceedings of the convention, as well that held in December last, as the one held in July last; that the first had undertaken to preclude persons who were not members of the committee, from judging of the propriety of their proceedings; that he conceived the said convention had entered into that resolution, to cover a duplicity of conduct of the continental congress; that it was depriving men of their liberty, and that he considered himself brought as a criminal, to receive a mock trial; that the multitude were deluded; that he did not see why he should not judge upon the proceedings of the convention, it was a liberty the people of New York had taken; upon being asked who in New York, he answered, doctor Cooper and doctor Chandler, and said that he should think it a higher honor to be ranked with those gentlemen, than to have the approbation of this committee, or even the convention; that the last convention had treated James Chrystie in a tyrannical, cruel, and oppressive manner, and that there was more liberty in Turkey than in this province; that the convention had forbid him from passing any censure on the congress; that he had not done it since, and that if the committee should forbid him from passing any censure on the convention, he would not, but should then confine himself to censures on the committee.

"Upon which it was unanimously voted, that the whole proceedings against said Patterson be transmitted to the council of safety for this province, for them to take order therein.

"A true copy from the minutes.

W. HALL, clerk com." Whereupon it is Resolved, That the committee of observation for Kent county be requested immediately to take into custody the Rev. John Patterson, and send him under a guard of four of the militia to this convention.

On motion, That Mr. Robert Buchanan, elected a delegate for Kent county, attend his duty in convention on Monday next the 18th of this present month, and that the committee of observation for that county procure a copy of this order to be served on Mr. Buchanan as soon as may be. The previous question was called for and put, whether the above question be now put? Carried in the negative.

Ordered, That the treasurer of the western shore pay to Samnel Chase, or his order, forty pounds common money, to be accounted for.

On motion, Resolved, That no boat or other vessel belonging to this province, go out of this province without a license in writing from this convention, the council of safety hereafter to be appointed, or from some committee of observation, and that the particular place such boat or vessel shall be designed to go to, shall be expressed in all licenses granted by the committees of observation. And if any such boat or vessel shall be navigated beyond the limits of this province without such license, or if after having obtained such license, the skipper thereof shall, without absolute and inevitable necessity, go to, or touch at, any place out of this province, other than that mentioned in such license, or shall carry any person or letter, of which he shall not give previous notice to such committee, or shall bring back any person, or letter, of which he shall not give notice to some committee of observation, as soon as may be after his return, such skipper, and all other persons accessary to such misbehavior, may be punished by imprisonment; but it is understood that this resolution is not to prohibit the crossing Potowmac, although the boats or vessels employed or used therefor should go up the creeks or arms of Potowmac river making into Virginia, or to prohibit passing or repassing at the ferry on Potowmac river. On motion, Resolved, That no member of this convention depart the house without leave thereof.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MEREDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. Robert Tyler, a member from Prince George's county, and Mr. Jeremiah Jordan, a member from Saint Mary's county, appeared and took their seats in the house.

A petition from the frontier inhabitants of Frederick county, and a memorial from the magistrates of said county, were read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the truth of the facts set forth in the memorial from Frederick county court, and the petition of the frontier inhabitants of said county, and report the same to the convention; and Mr. Smallwood, Mr. Jeremiah T. Chase, Mr. John Allen Thomas, Mr. Chamberlaine, and Mr. James Tilghman were elected by ballot, a committee for that purpose.

Mr. Sim appeared in the house.

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

WEDNESDAY, December 13, 1775.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Alexander. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

Mr. John Stull, a member for the upper district of Frederick county, and Mr. Henry Hooper, a member for Dorchester county, appeared and took their seats in the house.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to devise the best ways and means to promote the manufacture of salt-petre; and Mr. Carroll, of Carrollton, Mr. Thomas Johnson, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Gilpin, were elected by ballot, a committee for that purpose.

A letter from the committee of observation for Somerset county, to the eastern shore branch of the council of safety, dated 21st November, 1775, was read.

Resolved, That this convention doth approve the conduct of the committee of observation for Somerset county in raising the company of men mentioned in the said letter.

Resolved, That this province will discharge the pay, according to the rates allowed by the last convention to militia in actual service, of the said company, and also the reasonable expenses of subsistence from the time of their entering into actual service, till the further order of this convention.

Resolved, That the said company of men be subject to the or ders of the said committee, who shall provide for their pay and subsistence.

Resolved, That the treasurer of the eastern shore pay to the said committee, six hundred dollars on account, and that such part thereof as may be necessary, be expended by them for the purposes aforesaid.

Ordered, That the clerk make out and transmit a copy of the above resolutions to the committee of Somerset county.

Ordered, That the committee of claims be a committee to examine the accounts of the treasurers of the eastern aud western shores, and report the state of the same.

On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine and report the returns by the committees of observation, of persons in the several counties of this province, who have subscribed, or refused or neglected to subscribe, the association directed by the last convention; and Mr. Wright, Mr. Chamberlaine, and Mr. Tolley, were elected by ballot, a committee for that purpose.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine and report the returns by the committees of observation of the companies of artillery, minute and militia men, enrolled or formed into battalions, and of the persons who have enrolled themselves either as minute, or artillery-men, or in the militia, according to the directions of the last conveniton; and Mr. Mackall, Mr. Nicholson; and Mr. James Tilghman, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine and report the quantity of arms and ammunition belonging to this province, and the state and condition of such arms and ammunition, and Mr. Ware, Mr. Beatty, and Mr. Hooper, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

Ordered, That association papers be immediately transmitted to Kent Island, to be subscribed by the freemen of that Island, and that the delegates of Queen-Ann's county transmit the same. Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met. Mr. William Ennalls, a member for Dorchester county, Mr. Nathaniel Potter and Mr. Henry Dickinson, members for Caroline county, and Mr. Peter Chaille and Mr. John Done, members for Worcester county, appeared and took their seats in the house. Mr. Waters and Mr. Handy have leave of ab

sence.

The covention being informed that there are a number of can non and shot at Fort Cumberland, Old Town, and Fort Frederick, and also a number of small arms at Isaac Baker's in Frederick coun ty belonging to the public,

Resolved, That the committee for inquiring into the state of arms and ammunition, agree with some person or persons for the carriage of such of the said cannon as are fit for use, and shot, to Baltimore Town, and for the collection of as well the said small arms, as any other small arms in Frederick county belonging to the public, and conveying them to Fredericktown, to be there repaired and put in order.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning half after 9 o clock.

THURSDAY, December 14th, 1775.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Waters and Mr. Handy. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

A memorial from Alexander M'Faddon, of Frederick county, was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Benjamin Rumsey, a member for Harford county, appeared and took his seat in the house.

The convention having received information, that Ezekiel Hunter of Caroline county, had by his conduct broke up a company of militia of that county, and refused to submit to and abide by the determination of the said committee upon his conduct, and had brought with him to the committee an armed force to oppose the determination of the said committee, Resolved, That the committee of observation for Caroline county be empowered immediately to take into custody the said Ezekiel Hunter, and examine into his conduct, and either confine him in the jail of their county, or send him under a sufficient guard with the charge against him, to this convention, or acquit and discharge him as the convention shall think proper.

Ordered, That the clerk make out and transmit a copy of the above resolution to the committee of Caroline county.

Mr. Mason has leave of absence.

It appearing to this convention by sundry depositions, that William Bartlett Townsend of Worcester county, had left this province with inimical designs against the same, and that the said William Bartlett Townsend, had carried sundry inhabitants of this provincé to join Lord Dunmore, who is now carrying on hostilities against the colony of Virginia, and has committed depredations upon the property of some of the inhabitants of this province; and this convention being also informed, that the committee of observation for Worcester county had fixed a guard upon the estate of the said William Bartlett Townsend, as well to save the same from waste, as to prevent the said William Bartlett Townsend carrying the negroes thereon to join him with lord Dunmore; and application hav

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