A Petition of Thomas Ritson, of the Borough of Norfolk, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that the Brig Mollyand cargo, stopped by Colonels Howeand Woodford, from the men-of-war, were addressed to him, and that, notwithstanding the salt was imported agreeably to the terms of the Continental Association, the commanding officer did not, as directed by a former Resolution of the Convention, contract with him for the said cargo, but only told him he would settle with him for it, and took the brig and cargo under his direction; and praying to be allowed not only a reasonable price for the cargo aforesaid, but also for the said brig, as she was destroyed in consequence of her being taken by the commanding officer; and also a letter from Brigadier-General Howe, on the subject thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition and Letter be referred to the Committee of Publick Claims; that they examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

The Order of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, being read,

Ordered, That the same be put off till to-morrow.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Wednesday, June 19, 1776.

A Petition of the Committee of the County of Frederickwas presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that, by an Ordinance passed the 17th of Julylast, the people called Quakersand Menonistsare exempted from serving in the Militia; that they have a tender regard for the conscientious scruples of every religious society, but at the same time beg leave to represent the injustice of subjecting one part of the community to the whole burden of Government, while others equally share the benefits of it; that they humbly suggest, that if, in lieu of bearing arms at general and private musters, the said Quakersand Menonistswere subjected to the payment of a certain sum, to be annually assessed by the County Courts at laying the levy, and, in case the Militia should be called into actual service, they should be drafted in the same proportion as the Militia of the County, and on their refusal to serve, or to provide able-bodied men to serve in their places, respectively, that they were liable to the same fines as other Militia men, in the like cases are subject to, it would be more equal; and that they submit it whether it would not be reasonable to allow any person who should choose to contribute to the support of the publick, in lieu of attending musters, the same indulgence as to those who refuse from conscientious principles.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Propositions and Grievances; that they inquire into the allegations thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

A Petition of Edward Cowperwas presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that on the 26th of Octoberlast, Captain Squires, with a number of the enemy’s armed tenders, came to anchor off the Petitioner’s plantation, near the mouth of Hampton River; that, soon afterwards, the Captains Lyneand Nicholaswent down with their Companies opposite to the tenders, and fired on them, which was returned, and an engagement ensued, and continued for some time; that afterwards, upon our troops leaving the place, the enemy landed, and set fire to your Petitioner’s dwelling-house, a dairy, hen-house, and corn-house, in which were about fifty or sixty barrels of corn, which, with many other valuable articles, were all consumed; and praying such compensation for his loss as shall be thought just and reasonable.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Publick Claims; that they examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee appointed, presented, according to order, an Ordinance for making further provision for the defence and protection of this Colony; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee appointed, presented, according to order, an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance, entitled An Ordinance for augmenting the Ninth Regiment of Regular forces, providing for the better defence of the frontiers of this Colony, and for raising six Troops of Horse; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. Richard Lee, from the Committee of Publick Claims, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration several Petitions to them referred, and had come to the following Resolutions thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk’s table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to:

Resolved, That so much of the Petition of George Moffattas prays to be reimbursed for a Horse therein mentioned, also an additional allowance of pay for Andrew Erwin, a soldier in his Company, is reasonable, and that the Petitioner ought to be reimbursed the sum of £9 for the said Horse, it appearing to this Committee that that sum was deducted out of his pay by the Paymaster for the said Horse, which he had never had possession of; and also that he ought to be allowed the further sum of 16s. 6d. for eleven days’ pay of the said Erwin, as a soldier, which was omitted through mistake in his roll.

Resolved, That the residue of the said Petition, as far as it relates to an allowance for two Pack-horse drivers, be rejected, it appearing that they received soldiers’ pay at that time, which this Committee think sufficient, as they had the care of only one Horse each.

Resolved, That the Petition of Robert Gilmore, John Backley, Alexander Campbell, Thomas Cooper, and Jonathan Skean, praying to be allowed their pay as Rangers in the late Indianexpedition, is reasonable, and that they ought to be allowed as follows: Robert Gilmoreand Jonathan Skeanthe sum of 16s. 6d.each; John Backley, the sum of £2 11s.; Alexander Campbell, the sum of £4 4s., and Thomas Cooper, the sum of £2 6s. 6d., for the same; it appearing to this Committee that the said Petitioners performed their duty as Rangers in the said expedition, and that their names were not entered on the rolls.

Resolved, That the Petition of John Smelleyand Joseph Cutchin, Inspectors of Tobacco at Smithfieldand Fulgham’sWarehouses, praying to be reimbursed for six hogsheads of Tobacco stolen out of the said warehouses, weighing six thousand two hundred and twelve pounds net, which they have paid for at the rate of twenty shillings per centum, be rejected, it appearing to this Committee that at the time the said Tobacco was stolen the said warehouses had no doors.

On consideration of the Petition of Christopher Calvert, praying to be allowed for his Slave Davy, therein mentioned, or that he may be returned, it appears to your Committee that the said Slave was taken up by the Colony Troops on suspicion that he was attempting to escape to Lord Dunmore;that he was sent to Williamsburgh, and from thence, by order of the Convention, to the Lead Mines, where he is employed in the service of the country.

Resolved, That as the Petitioner is to receive hire for the said Slave during the time he continues in the service of the country, the said Petition ought to be rejected.

Resolved, That the Petition of Ephraim Peyton, praying to be allowed for his Horse, which was lost in the service of the Colony in the late Indianexpedition, is reasonable and that the Petitioner ought to be allowed the sum of £10 for the said Horse.

Resolved, That the Petition of Thomas Price, a soldier in Captain Lewis’sCompany, who was wounded in the late engagement with the Indians, praying relief from the publick, is reasonable; and that the Petitioner ought to be allowed the sum of £25 for his present relief, and for his Rifle, which was lost in the engagement.

Resolved, That the Petition of William Lonsdale, a soldier in Captain Moffatt’sCompany, who was wounded in the late engagement with the Indians, praying relief from the publick, is reasonable; and that the Petitioner ought to be allowed the sum of £5 per annum, for four years, towards his support.

Resolved, That the Petition of Michael Coulter, a soldier in Captain McDowell’sCompany, praying an additional allowance for his services as a carpenter, is reasonable; and that the Petitioner ought to be allowed the sum of £1 16s. for the same, exclusive of what has been allowed him by the Commissioners.

On consideration of the Petition of John Lyle, it appears to your Committee that the Petitioner was employed by Sampson Matthewsas a master-drover of cattle in the country’s service, and purchased a considerable number for the expedition against the Shawanese, for which the said Matthews