A Representation from Benedict Calvert, of Prince George’s County, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On reading a Letter from Robert Lemmon to Samuel Purviance, Jun., of Baltimore Town,

Ordered, That John Cockey Owens and Joshua Jones, of Baltimore County, immediately attend this Convention.

Convention adjourns till tomorrow morning, nine o’clock.

Tuesday, July 2, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Sudler. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

On motion, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to value the Linen manufactured by Edward Parker, of Cecil County, and delivered to the Commissary of Stores for the use of the Province; and that Mr. Hooe, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Chamberlaine, and Mr. Contee, be a Committee for that purpose.

James Dickinson, William Thomas, John Stevens, and Nicholas Martin, according to an order of the 28th of June, appeared before the Convention, and, upon inquiry into their conduct, it appearing that Only twelve Sheep, three Lambs, and seven Shoats, were carried on board the Fowey, as a present to Governour Eden, before they had any knowledge of the truce having been broken: It is, therefore, the opinion of this Convention, that the said gentlemen were not in any degree criminal in going on board the Fowey with such live stock, and that they be discharged.

On reading a Resolution of the Virginia Convention of the 31st day of May last,

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to report proper Resolutions in answer to the same; and Mr. T. Johnson, Mr. Carroll, Barrister, Mr. Hollyday, Mr. Goldsborough, and Mr. S. Chase, were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

Mr. Moale appeared in the House.

Convention adjourns till tomorrow morning, nine o’clock.

Wednesday, July 3, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Sudler. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

Mr. Goldsborough and Mr. W. Ennalls have leave of absence.

Ordered, That the Council of Safety be empowered to contract, if they think proper, for a number of Copper Kettles, well bound with Tin, instead of the Iron Pots mentioned in the Resolutions of this Convention on the 25th of June last.

Edward Parker, of Cecil County, having brought in and delivered to the Commissary of Stores, Linen and Thread manufactured in this Colony to the amount of £216, in compliance with his contract entered into with this Colony to repay £300 advanced him therein, and having also represented that the residue of said money lies partly in stock unmanufactured, or has been expended in erecting buildings to carry on the manufactory, so that he is totally unable, without the publick assistance, to purchase a sufficient stock of Hemp, Flax, and Wool, to carry on the same to advantage, at a time when there is a probability of buying the same at the cheapest rates;

Resolved, therefore, That the sum of £150 be now advanced to him as part of the £300 ordered to be advanced him on completion of his first contract, on the like terms and conditions as mentioned in a former Resolve.

Ordered, That the Ship Defence and her Tenders immediatelyd Proceed to this place, and that the Captain attend the Convention or Council of Safety for further orders.

Mr. Beall brings in and delivers to Mr. President a Report from the Committee appointed to report on the establishment of Manufactories; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On reading the Petition of William Faris, of the City of Annapolis, and a Report of the Committee appointed by the last Convention to examine into the facts stated therein,

Resolved, That the said Fire-Arms of the said William Faris be restored to him, and that he be considered as fully enrolled as if he had done the same according to the Resolves of Convention.

Mr. G. Dashiell has leave of absence.

On reading and considering the Petition of George French and Joshua Tesstil, of Frederick County,

Resolved, That the same be rejected.

Ordered, That a copy of the above Resolution be sent to the Committee of Observation for the Middle District of Frederick County.

Mr. Waters has leave of absence.

On motion, Resolved, That the Council of Safety be empowered to fit out, as soon as may be, three Vessels with a number of Guns, not exceeding ten each, and also any number of Armed Boats, not exceeding six, for the service and defence of this Colony, and to order such of the Vessels in the service of this Colony as they may think necessary, to cruise on the Eastern-Shore for the protection thereof.

On motion, Resolved, That the Council of Safety be enabled to pay to the Officers of the two Companies of Riflemen raised in this Province last summer, and employed in the Continental service, or their representatives, the difference between the pay they were entitled to at the time they engaged in thfsice, and the establishment afterwards made, for the time they served before that establishment took place.

Adjourned till four o’clock.

Post Meridiem. Convention met.

Resolved, That a new Convention be elected, for the express purpose of forming a new Government by the authority of the People only, and enacting and ordering all things for the preservation, safety, and general weal of this Colony.

Resolved, That there be four Representatives chosen for each of the Districts of Frederick County, as described in the Proceedings of the session of July last, two Representatives for the City of Annapolis, and two Representatives for the Town of Baltimore in Baltimore County, and four Representatives for each County in this Province except Frederick County aforesaid; but that the inhabitants of Annapolis and Baltimore Town be not allowed to vote for Representatives for their respective Counties, nor shall the Resolution be understood to engage or secure such representation to Annapolis or Baltimore Town but temporarily, the same being, in the opinion of this Convention, properly to be modified, or taken away, on a material alteration of the circumstances of those places, from either a depopulation or a considerable decrease of the inhabitants thereof.

That all Freemen above twenty-one years of age, being freeholders of not less than fifty acres of land, or having visible property in this Colony to the value of £40 sterling at the least, and no others, be admitted to vote for Representatives to serve in the said Convention for the said Counties and Districts, and the Town of Baltimore aforesaid; and that all Freemen above twenty-one years of age, owning a whole lot of land in the said City of Annapolis, or having a visible estate of £20 sterling at the least, within this Province, or having served five years to any trade within the said City, and being a housekeeper, and no others, be admitted to vote for Representatives to serve in the said Convention for the said City; provided such person shall have resided in the County, District, City, or Town, where he shall offer to vote, one whole year next preceding the election.

That all elections of the said Representatives be free, and that the same be made viva voce in the manner heretofore used in this Colony, without any regard to any act of Parliament or other qualifications than before mentioned. And to prevent any violence or force being used at the said elections, no person shall come armed to any of them, and that no muster of the Militia be made on the day on which any of the said elections shall be held, nor shall any Battalion or Company of the Militia, or any ten men thereof, give in their votes immediately succeeding each other, if any other voter who offers to vote objects thereto; nor shall any soldiers in the pay of this Province be suffered to collect at the time and place of holding any of the said elections, so as in any manner to impede the freely and convenient carrying on such elections.

Resolved, That no person holding a commission or office in the regular forces of this Province, shall, during the time