Committees of Observation to require the owners of Cattle kept on the Islands, where they may think such Cattle will probably otherwise fall into the hands of the enemy, to remove such Cattle, and afford them the necessary assistance to do the same.

The Convention took into consideration the Report from the Committee appointed to consider the expediency of exempting the Masters and Scholars of publick and private Schools from attending Musters; and thereupon

Resolved, That the Masters and Scholars of the several Schools, both publick and private, in the Province of Mary-land, except the Masters and Scholars of the Free-School at Chestertown, in Kent County, shall hereafter be exempted from exercising, either in the several Militia Companies wherein they are or may be enrolled, or in Battalion upon Battalion days; and instead thereof, shall exercise in Companies, whereof the Masters and Tutors shall act as officers, at least once every week: it being the sense of this Convention, that the Masters and Scholars shall be exempted from exercising with the Militia; but that no Master or Scholar between the ages of sixteen and fifty, shall be exempted from enrolling in the Militia, and, upon an alarm, marching with the respective Companies in which they now are, or may be enrolled.

On reading a second time the Report from the Committee appointed to consider and report proper alterations and additions to the Resolves of Convention for erecting a Powder-Mill, and for examination of the Accounts of the Supervisors of the publick Saltpetre Works; the Convention took the same into consideration, and came to the following Resolutions thereon:

Whereas at a Convention held at Annapolis, the 26th day of July last, it was resolved that a sum not exceeding one thousand Pounds, common money, should be appropriated for erecting and working a Powder-Mill, on the account of this Province; and, by a resolution of the last session of Convention, the Council of Safety were empowered to advance on loan for two years without interest, on bond with good security, any part of the said one thousand Pounds to such person or persons as would undertake and give good security for erecting and working a Powder-Mill, on the terms in the same resolution mentioned; the same Powder-Mill to be erected within fourteen and not less than six miles from Baltimore Town; but no contract having been yet made for erecting a Powder-Mill in this Province, owing in some measure to the limitation of the distance horn Baltimore Town, within which the said Powder-Mill is directed to be built, and because it is hoped and expected that a greater quantity of Saltpetre will be manufactured in this Province than can be made into Gunpowder at one Mill, and one Mill cannot make a sufficient quantity of Gunpowder for the use of the inhabitants of this Province:

It is therefore Resolved, That the said one thousand Pounds, or any part thereof that may be necessary, be applied and expended by the Council of Safety for the time being, in erecting and working a Powder-Mill within this Province, on account of the publick. And that a sum of money, not exceeding, five hundred Pounds, be advanced by the Council of Safety for the time being, to any person who will undertake and give security for erecting a Powder-Mill at any place within this Province, which shall be thought proper by the Council of Safety, on the terms of the said resolution of the last session of Convention.

And to encourage and induce the good people of this Province to make Crude Nitre,

It is Resolved, That to every person who will carry in and deliver at the said publick Powder-Mill, within one year next after the same shall begin to work, any quantity of good Crude Nitre manufactured within this Province, there shall be delivered good Gunpowder, after the rate of three-quarters of a pound of Powder for one pound of good Crude Nitre.

That instead of the two Shillings per pound, directed to be paid by the Supervisors of Saltpetre Works, to private persons manufacturing and delivering Crude Nitre, there be allowed and paid after the rate of three Shillings and nine Pence for every pound of good Crude Nitre so manufactured and delivered.

And whereas the several Supervisors of the publick Saltpetre Works, except those of Kent, Queen Anne’s, Prince George’s, and Calvert Counties, have omitted to lay their Accounts before this Convention;

It is Resolved, That the examination of such Accounts lay over to the next session of Convention, and that the Supervisors be, and they are hereby, directed to lay a full state of their Accounts, and the success of the works under their care, before this Convention at their next sitting.

The Convention took into their consideration a Report from the Committee appointed to receive proposals relative to the establishment of Manufactories within this Province; and thereupon

Resolved, That the sum of three hundred Pounds, common money, without interest, until the first day of May next, be advanced to Alexander McFadon, of Georgetown, in Frederick County, he giving bond, with good security, to make a return or payment thereof in good Linen, of such quality as this or a future Convention, or, in their recess, the Council of Safety of this Province, shall and may order and direct, in the proportions and at the times following, to wit: one-third part thereof on or before the 1st day of November next, and the remainder on or before the 1st day of May ensuing, at such rates and prices as may be allowed by the said Convention, or the Council of Safety in the recess thereof.

Resolved, That the Council of Safety of this Province be empowered to advance to Edward Parker, of Cecil County, any sum of money not exceeding three hundred Pounds, common money, on his complying with his former contract, on the terms and conditions, and for the purposes in his said former contract mentioned, so long and as often as the said Council of Safety shall conceive the publick exigencies shall require the same.

On reading a second time the report from the Committee appointed to devise ways and means for the establishment of a Paper Manufactory, the Convention took the same into consideration; and thereupon

Resolved, That the sum of four hundred Pounds, common money, be advanced to James Dorsett, of Baltimore County, he giving bond with sufficient security to repay the same within two years, without interest, either in cash, or Writing or Cartridge-Paper, or in such proportions of each as this or a future Convention, or Council of Safety in their recess, shall direct and order; that is to say: one-third part thereof within twelve months, and the other two-thirds within two years from the date of said bond; he at the same time engaging to build a Mill for that purpose within six months from the date of his said contract; and to sell to the inhabitants of this Province any kind of paper which ho may make as cheap as the same can or shall be sold at any Mill in the Province of Pennsylvania.

Edward Lloyd, of Talbot County, Barnaby Egan and Basil Brooke, Jun., of Calvert County, William Faris and John Brewer, of Anne Arundel County, and George French and Joshua Tesstill, of Frederick County, having applied to this Convention to be relieved from the fine assessed on them respectively for not enrolling, and this Convention not having time now fully to examine into the merits of the several applications,

Resolved, That the Committees forbear to levy the said fines until the end of the next session of Convention, and to stay all further proceedings therein.

On motion, Resolved, That a Paymaster be appointed for the Eastern-Shore, and that he be allowed the sum of twelve Dollars per month, for executing the said office.

Resolved, That the said Paymaster, before he enter upon the execution of his office, give bond, with sufficient security, in the sum of five thousand Pounds, current money, payable to the Honourable Matthew Tilghman and James Lloyd Chamberlaine, Esquires, for the due execution of his said office.

Resolved, That the sum of twelve Dollars per month be from henceforth deducted from the salary of the Paymaster of the Western-Shore.

Mr. Robert Lloyd Nicols was elected by ballot to the said office of Paymaster for the Eastern-Shore.

Whereas, it is highly necessary that regular and methodical accounts of all publick moneys should be kept, that the due expenditure thereof may at all times be readily evinced: