terms that may ensure to these Colonies an equal and permanent freedom.

To this Constitution we are attached, not merely by habit, but by principle, being in our judgments persuaded it is, of all known systems, best-calculated to secure the liberty of the subject—to guard against despotism on the one hand, and licentiousness on the other.

Impressed with these sentiments, we warmly recommend to you, to keep constantly in your view the avowed end and purpose for which these Colonies originally associated—the redress of American grievances, and securing the rights of the Colonists.

As upon the attainment of these great objects, we shall think it our greatest happiness to be thus firmly united to Great Britain, we think proper to instruct you, that should any proposition be happily made by the Crown or Parliament, that may lead to, or lay a rational and probable ground for reconciliation, you use your utmost endeavours to cultivate and improve it into a happy settlement and lasting amity, taking care to secure the Colonies against the exercise of the right assumed by Parliament, to tax them, and to alter and change their Charters, Constitutions, and internal polity, without their consent—powers incompatible with the essential securities of the lives, liberties, and properties of the Colonists.

We further instruct you, that you do not, without the previous knowledge and approbation of the Convention of this Province, assent to any proposition to declare these Colonies independent of the Crown of Great Britain, nor to any proposition for making or entering into alliance with any foreign Power, nor to any union or confederation of these Colonies, which may necessarily lead to a separation from the mother country, unless, in your judgments, or in the judgments of any four of you, or a majority of the whole of you, (if all shall be then attending in Congress,) it shall be thought absolutely necessary for the preservation of the liberties of the United Colonies; and should a majority of the Colonies in Congress, against such, your judgment, resolve to declare these Colonies independent of the Crown of Great Britain, or to make or enter into alliance with any foreign Power, or into any union or confederation of these Colonies, which may necessarily lead to a separation from the mother country, then we instruct you, immediately, to call the Convention of this Province, and repair thereto with such proposition and resolve, and lay the same before the said Convention, for their consideration; and this Convention will not hold this Province bound by such majority in Congress, until the Representative body of the Province, in Convention, assent thereto.

Desirous as we are of peace with Great Britain, upon safe and honourable terms, we wish you, nevertheless, and instruct you, to join with the other Colonies, in such military operations as may be judged proper and necessary for the common defence, until such a peace can be happily obtained.

At the same time that we assure you we have an entire confidence in your abilities and integrity, in the discharge of the great trust reposed in you, we must observe to you, as our opinion, that, in the relation of constituent and representative, one principal security of the former is the right he holds to be fully informed of the conduct of the latter. We can conceive no case to exist in which it would be of more importance to exercise this right than the present, nor any in which we can suppose the Representative would more willingly acquiesce in the exercise of it. We, therefore, instruct you, that you move for, and endeavour to obtain, a resolve of Congress, that the votes given by the Colonies on every question agitated in Congress, shall appear upon the journals thereof; and if such resolve be obtained, that you, at the expense of this Province, procure copies of the said journals, except such parts thereof as relate to military operations and measures taken to procure arms and ammunition, and, from time to time, lay the same before the Conventions of this Province, showing the part you, as Representatives of the Province, take in such questions.

And we further instruct you to move for, and endeavour to obtain, a resolve of Congress, that no person who holds any military command in the Continental, or any Provincial regular forces, or marine service, nor any person who holds or enjoys any office of profit under the Continental Congress, or under any Government assumed since the present controversy with Great Britain began, or which shall hereafter be assumed, or who directly or indirectly receives the profits, or any part of the profits, of such command or office, shall, during the time of his holding or receiving the same, be eligible to sit in Congress.

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

Friday, January 12, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present, as on yesterday, except Mr. Samuel Chase, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Gilpin. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

The President communicates to the Convention several Resolutions of Congress, which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Ware has leave of absence.

Adjourned till three o'clock.

Post Merediem. Convention met.

Mr. Hollyday brings in, and delivers to Mr. President, a Report from the Committee appointed to prepare and report a scheme for the emission of Bills of Credit, to defray the expenses of defending this Province, and other purposes therein mentioned, which was read the first time, and ordered to lie on the table.

A Report from the Committee appointed to receive Proposals relating to the establishment of Manufactories of any kind within this Province, was read and considered; and, thereupon,

Resolved, That six hundred Pounds, in Bills of Credit, out of the publick Treasury, be advanced to Mr. William Whetcroft, of the City of Annapolis, for the term of two years, without interest, he giving bond, with good security, to repay the same. The said William Whetcroft to contract to build and complete, within the space of six months, at his own risk, a Rolling, Sheeting, and Slitting Mill, within twenty miles of Baltimore town, or in any other part of the Province that this Convention shall appoint, and there from to supply the publick, and individuals, with Slit or Sheet Iron, at the price the same, at the time of sale there of, can be purchased in Pennsylvania or Virginia, and that it shall never exceed the sum of thirty-five Pounds, common money, per ton. The said William Whetcroft also to slit, roll, or make into Sheet or Flatted Iron, any quantity thereof, the property of the publick, brought to the said Mill, at the rate of five Pounds per ton; and any quantity thereof, the property of private persons, being inhabitants of this Province, at the rate of six Pounds per ton, if brought to the said Mill.

Ordered, That no commission issue to Mr. John Thomas, First Major of the South River Battalion, in Anne Arundel County, he having declined that office, or to any of the Officers of Mr. John Burgess's Company, or to Mr. William Gambnll, a Lieutenant of Mr. John Boone's Company, during the sitting of this Convention, but that the same be referred to the Council of Safety.

The Convention proceeded to ballot for the rank of Counties and Colonels, when the rank was settled as follows:

Somerset 1; Cecil 2; Dorchester 3; Talbot 4; Queen Anne's 5; St. Mary's 6; Anne Arundel 7; Harford 8; Baltimore 9; Worcester 10; Prince George's 11; Charles 12; Kent 13; Caroline 14; Calvert 15; Frederick 16.

In Somerset County: Colonel George Dashiell, of the First Battalion, 1; Colonel Thomas Hayward, 17.

Cecil County: Colonel Charles Rumsey,2; Colonel John Veazy, 18; Colonel George Johnson, 30.

Dorchester: Upper Battalion, 3; Lower Battalion, 19.

Talbot: Colonel Christopher Birichead, 4.

Queen Anne's: Colonel Richard T. Earle, 5; Colonel Thomas Wright, 20.

St. Mary's: Colonel Jeremiah Jordan, 6; Colonel Richard Barnes, 21.

Anne Arundel: Colonel Join Hall; Colonel Thomas Dorsey, 22; Colonel John Weems, 31.

Harford: Colonel Benjamin Rumsey, 8; Colonel Aquila Hall, 23.

Baltimore, 9.