The price of the Musket with its Bayonet may be about four Pounds; the Cartridge Box of twenty three charges and sling, the sling for the Musket, the scabbard and belt for the Bayonet, will altogether cost about twenty Shillings; so that by this mode two hundred and forty Muskets may be furnished monthly: besides we are informed there are several gunsmiths on the Eastern Shore, and in other places.

And we apprehend, from the great encouragement artificers in this business will receive, their number will soon be greatly increased, and therefore the quantity of Arms we want may be furnished in a much shorter time than the above calculation supposes; and we offer it as our opinion, that a proportion of Rifles may be also had, if it should be found necessary. Should that be the case, we recommend them to be three feet four inches in length, and one half inch the bore; which we suppose may be had, well fixed, at about five Pounds each; and we apprehend that Swords and Tomahawks may also be manufactured in this Province.

If this mode meets with your approbation, we recommend that each Gun be proved before it shall be received, and when proved that the word “Maryland” be stamped on the barrel.

We further offer our opinion that the persons to be appointed to contract, shall from time advise the . . . . . . of the number of Guns by them received, to the end that some further provision may be made in case this mode shall not be found to answer the purpose of procuring Arms with expedition.

All this we humbly submit to the consideration of the honourable Convention.

(No. 13.)

Association of the Freemen of MARYLAND, JULY 26, 1775.

The long premeditated, and now avowed design of the British Government to raise a revenue from the property of the Colonists, without their consent, on the gift, grant, and disposition of the Commons of Great Britain; the arbitrary and vindictive statutes passed under colour of punishing a riot, to subdue by military force and by famine the Massachusetts-Bay; the unlimited power assumed by Parliament to alter the Charter of that Province, and the Constitutions of all the Colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the lives, liberties and properties of the Colonists; the commencement of hostilities by the Ministerial forces, and the cruel prosecution of the war against the people of the Massachusetts-Bay, followed by General Gage’s Proclamation, declaring almost the whole of the inhabitants of the United Colonies, by name or description, rebels and traitors; are sufficient causes to arm a free People in defence of their liberty, and to justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence merely, but by necessity, and leave no alternative but base submission, or manly opposition to uncontrollable tyranny. The Congress chose the latter; and for the express purpose of securing and defending the United Colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the above mentioned Acts into execution by force of arms, resolved that the said Colonies be immediately put into a state of defence; and now support, at the joint expense, an Army to restrain the further violence, and repel the future attacks, of a disappointed and exasperated enemy.

We, therefore, inhabitants of the Province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force, do approve of the opposition by arms to the British Troops employed to enforce obedience to the late acts and statutes of the British Parliament, for raising a revenue in America, and altering and changing the Charter and Constitution of the Massachusetts-Bay, and for destroying the essential securities for the lives, liberties and properties of the subjects in the United Colonies. And we do unite and associate as one band, and firmly and solemnly engage and pledge ourselves to each other, and to America, that we will, to the utmost of our power, promote and support the present opposition carrying on, as well by arms, as by the Continental Association, restraining our commerce.

And as in these times of publick danger, and until a reconciliation with Great Britain on constitutional principles is effected, (an event we most ardently wish may soon take place,) the energy of Government may be greatly impaired, so that even zeal unrestrained may be productive of anarchy and confusion; we do, in like manner, unite, associate and solemnly engage in maintenance of good order and the publick peace, to support the civil power in the due execution of the laws, so far as may be consistent with the present plan of opposition, and to defend with our utmost power all persons from every species of outrage to themselves or their property, and to prevent any punishment from being inflicted on any offenders, other than such as shall be adjudged by the Civil Magistrate, the Continental Congress, our Convention, Council of Safety, or Committees of Observation.

MATTHEW TILGHMAN.

KENT COUNTY (DELAWARE) COMMITTEE.

Agreeable to the recommendation of the late Committee of Inspection, “ to choose a new Committee for said County,” an election was held on the 14th instant in the several Hundreds of the County, when the following gentlemen were elected and chosen, viz: The Honourable Caesar Rodney, Esq., William Meredith, John Dill, James Moor, James Tilton, John Banning, William Killen, Vincent Loockerman, Benedict Brice, Benjamin Coombe, Nathaniel Luff, John Clark, John Davis, Rynear Williams, Elijah Morris, Belitha Laws, Benjamin Clark, William Cullen, William Cahaon, Edward Rees, Isaac Carty, Thomas Skillington, Silas Snow, Ezekiel Needham, William Jordan, James Starling, James Wells, Jacob Stout, John Bell, Emanuel Stout, Risden Bishop, Joshua Gordon, John Gordon, Vincent Loockerman, Jun., Jonathan Caldwell, Thomas Rodney; who convened at Dover on the 17th instant, formed themselves in Committee, and proceeded to the choice of a Chairman and Clerk, when the Honourable Casar Rodney was unanimously elected Chairman, and Mr. Mark McCall, Clerk.

The Committee then proceeded to appoint a Committee of Correspondence, and the following gentlemen were unanimously chosen for that purpose, to wit: Thomas Rodney, James Tilton, William Killen, John Banning, and Vincent Loockerman.

MARK MC CALL, Clerk.