The Convention took into consideration the Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Calvert County, in the case of James Weems; and it appearing that the facts stated in the said Weems’s Letter to the said Committee, on the 26th day of February last, are true,

Resolved, That the said James Weems was not guilty of a breach of the resolve of Congress, referred to in the Proceedings of the said Committee, and that the said Committee erred in the determination by them made.

A Petition from the Officers and Privates thereunto subscribed, of a Company of Militia in Linganore, in the Middle District of Frederick County, against their Captain, Basil Horsey, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Order of the Day, for taking into consideration the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon, being read,

Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till to-morrow.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Thursday, May 23, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Bond.

The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

On motion, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to examine into the expenditure of the money placed in the hands of Mr. William Lux, as agent for the Ship Defence. And Mr. Ringgold, Mr. Beall, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Murray, and Mr. Turbutt Wright, were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

Mr. Baird has leave of absence.

On motion, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the expediency of exempting the Masters and Scholars of publick and other Schools from attending on Musters; and Mr. Plater, Mr. Scott, and Mr. T. Johnson were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

The Order of the Day, for taking into consideration the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon, being read, the Convention resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider of the same, Mr. Plater in the chair.

After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Plater reported, that the Committee had, according to order, taken into their consideration the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon; but not being able to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Convention will, in the afternoon, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider further of the said Letters and Proceedings.

Adjourned till three o’clock.

Post Meridiem. Met according to adjournment. Mr. Stull has leave of absence.

Mr. Ringgold brings in and delivers to Mr. President a Report from the Committee appointed to report proper alterations and additions to the resolutions of Convention for erecting a Powder-Mill, and for the examination of the accounts of the Supervisors of publick Saltpetre Works; also a Report from the Committee appointed to examine into the conduct of Mr. Cummins, and the reason why he has not supplied the Troops with Rations, agreeable to his contract with the Council of Safety; which were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Agreeable to order, the Convention resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to consider of the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon; Mr. Plater in the chair.

After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Plater reported that the Committee had, according to order, taken into their consideration the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon; but not being able to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Convention will, on to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to consider further of the said Letters and Proceedings.

On motion, Ordered, That the Commanding Officer of the Troops at Annapolis permit the bail of James Conway, a private in Captain Scott’s Company, to take the said Conway into his possession, in order to be surrendered in discharge of his said bail.

The Committee for that purpose appointed, bring in and deliver to Mr. President, a Report on the Petition of Basil Brooke, Jun., which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Gilpin, from the Committee appointed to receive proposals relative to the establishment of Manufactories, brings in and delivers to Mr. President, a Report on the Memorial of Alexander McFadon, of Georgetown, in Frederick County; also a Report from the said Committee relative to a Paper Manufactory; which were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Friday, May 24, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Rumsey, Mr. Baird, Mr. Handy, and Mr. Stull.

The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

On hearing Mr. Daniel Hughes, as to the execution of the contract made by Samuel Hughes, on behalf of himself and the said Daniel Hughes, for the casting and furnishing Cannon for the publick,

Resolved, That inquiry be made what is the standard proof of Cannon contracted for on account of the Continent, and that the same proof be had of the Cannon to be furnished by the said Hugheses on their contract.

Resolved, That notwithstanding the said Hugheses have not furnished the publick with Cannon within the time they contracted to do the same, that, on their pursuing the work with diligence, the Council of.Safety for the time being, take the whole number contracted for on the account and for the use of the publick.

The Petitions of Patrick O’Bryan and John Brown, late farmers of his Lordship’s Quit-Rents in Queen Anne’s County, were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Ringgold brings in and delivers to Mr. President a Report from the Committee appointed to examine into the expenditure of the money placed in the hands of Mr. William Lux, as agent for the Ship Defence; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A Petition from George Adams, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Convention resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to consider of the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon; Mr. Plater in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Plater reported from the Committee several Resolutions, which were read, and agreed to, and there-upon,

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that the Council of Safety of this Province, upon the subject of the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, duly and properly exercised the powers delegated to them.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that upon the evidence before them of the correspondence which his Excellency Governour Eden has, from time to time, held with Administration, it does not appear that such correspondence has been with an unfriendly intent, or calculated to countenance any hostile measures against America.

Whereas, by a late intercepted Letter from Lord George Germaine, one of the Secretaries of State, to his Excellency the Governour, it appears that a great armament of land and sea forces was in readiness to proceed to the southward, in his Lordship’s expressions, “in order to attempt the restoration of legal Government in that part of America,” but in effect to invade and subdue the Southern Colonies; which