the Officer who enrolled the men supplied therewith of the receipt and value of the same Arms.

That all Arms so furnished by the Council of Safety or Committee of Observation, or lent as aforesaid, as well as the Tents, Cartouch-boxes, Kettles, and Pots, shall be carefully preserved and returned; and if any shall not be returned from gross negligence, the Captain of the Company where such negligence shall be suffered shall be answerable to the publick for the loss, and the immediate delinquent to the Captain.

That the Council of Safety, in the recess of Convention, direct the formation of the Companies in Battalions, and appoint what Companies shall compose such Battalions.

That for ascertaining the rank of the Captains, Lieutenants, and Ensigns of the said Companies, Commissions shall issue by the Convention or Council of Safety, and be dated of the day such Captain, Lieutenant, or Ensign, shall have enrolled the number of men as expressed in his Warrant; and rank as between Officers of equal degree shall take place according to such date; but where there shall be enrollments completed on the same day by Officers of the same degree, the rank shall be settled by ballot between such Officers, and the Commissions marked accordingly.

That on the issuing of the Warrants or granting the Commissions as aforesaid, there be paid by the Treasurer of the Shore where such person resides, on producing an Order from the Council of Safety, the sum of £69 15s. to each Captain, £46 10s. to each Lieutenant, and £37 5s. to every Ensign, out of the Bills of Credit to be advanced to the noncommissioned Officers and Privates in part of their wages, at the discretion of the Officer, who shall be answerable for, and accountable to, this Province for the money advanced as aforesaid.

That as some of the Militia may be under contracts to perform particular services by the year, month, or other time, any such who shall enroll as aforesaid shall be entitled to their wages for the time they shall have continued in the service of their employer in consequence of such contract, in proportion to the time they shall have served.

That the several Companies shall be mustered and passed by some one of the Field Officers of the County where such Company shall be raised, and the Captain shall return two copies of his Muster-Roll, certified by the Field Officer who musters the men, to the Council of Safety, who shall transmit one of the copies to the Congress.

A Letter from Captain Montagu, of the Fowey ship of war, of this day, to the President of the Council of Safety, was laid before the Convention, and read.

Thereupon, it is Ordered, That the President of the Council of Safety be directed to write a Letter to Captain Montagu in the following words, to wit:

In Council of Safety, June 25, 1776.

SIR: By command of the Convention, I enclose you their Resolution of yesterday, which expresses the occasion of discontinuing an intercourse with the Fowey, which was wished and expected to have ended more satisfactorily. Any measures that may be attempted for the ostensible cause of stopping the Governour’s baggage must properly be imputed to your breach of the truce, and will be resented in full proportion to the injury.

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

Wednesday, June 26, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

Ordered, That the small Tender belonging to the Defence be stationed between Greenbury’s and Horn Point, one armed Boat between Tolley’s and Horn Point, and one other armed Boat between Greenbury’s and Hackett’s Point, to prevent any communication with the Fowey, and that the Council of Safety carry this Order into execution.

A Petition from Turbutt Betton, of Queen Anne’s County, and a Representation from Daniel Dulany, of Annapolis, were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County against William Yeldell, who had refused to sign the Association, were laid before the Convention, and read. And, on consideration thereof,

Ordered, That the said William Yeldell give bond, with such sureties as shall be approved of by the Committee of Anne Arundel County, in the penalty of £100, current money, with condition agreeable to the Resolve of the December Convention; that he pay the charges of imprisonment, and on payment and giving bond, be discharged.

William Bishop was brought before the Convention, on suspicion of having been aiding and assisting in carrying Peter Craufurd and James McCaskie on board the Fowey man-of-war; and, upon inquiry, it appearing that the said Bishop had been so aiding and assisting,

It is Resolved, That the said Bishop give bond, with security, payable to the President, in the sum of £200, common money, for his appearance at the next Convention, and for his good behaviour in the mean time.

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

Thursday, June 27, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday, except Mr. J. Tilghman, absent on account of the indisposition of one of his children. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

A Petition from Robert Long, of Baltimore County, and a Representation from John Clapham and William Eddis, of the City of Annapolis, were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Hall appeared in the House.

On motion, Resolved, That the proportion of Militia to be furnished by this Province for the Flying-Camp be composed of one Company from St. Mary’s County, two Companies from Charles, one from Calvert, three from Prince George’s, five from Anne Arundel, nine from Frederick, four from Baltimore, two from Harford, two from Cecil, two from Kent, two from Queen Anne’s, one from Talbot, and two from Caroline, to consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drummer, one Fifer, and seventy-six Privates; and one Company from Dorchester County, to be composed of one Captain, three Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drummer, one Fifer, and ninety-six Privates.

The Convention proceeded to the election of Officers for the Militia to be raised for the Flying-Camp.

Mr. Thomas Johnson, Jun., was elected Brigadier-General to command the said Militia.

For the Battalion to be raised in Frederick County, Mr. Otho Holland Williams Colonel, Mr. Charles Greenbury Griffith Lieutenant-Colonel, and Mr. Henry Shryock Major.

Adjourned till three o’clock.

Post Meridiem. Convention met, and resumed the election of Officers.

For the Battalion to be raised on the Eastern-Shore, Mr. James Kent was elected Colonel, Mr. Joseph Earle Lieutenant-Colonel, and Mr. William Hopewell Major.

For the lower Battalion, to be raised on the Western-Shore, Mr. John Dent was appointed Colonel, Mr. John Addison Lieutenant-Colonel, and Mr. James Eden Major.

For the upper Battalion, Mr. Josiah Carvil Hall was elected Colonel.

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

Friday, June 28, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as On yesterday. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

On motion, Resolved, That the Council of Safety be directed to provide a Magazine in some convenient place on the Eastern-Shore, for the reception of warlike Stores.

On reading a Letter from the Committee of Observation for Somerset County,

Ordered, That Major Price take command of, and direct so many of the Independent Companies on the Eastern-Shore to march immediately to the lower part of Somerset County, as he may think proper; and that if necessary, he be assisted with, and command such of the Militia as shall be called on by a Committee to be appointed by this Convention;