82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

the expenses of defending this province; and Mr. Hollyday, Mr.
T. Johnson, Mr. Hooe, Mr. Rumsey, and Mr. J. Tilghman, were
elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

On motion, Resolved, That the instructions for the deputies re-
presenting this province in congress, be taken into consideration
to-morrow.

The convention adjourns till to-morrow morning half after nine
o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, January 10, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The
proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Sim, Mr. Mackall, and
Mr. John Allen Thomas, appeared in the house.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the instruc-
tions for the deputies represening this province in congress, being
read, the same were taken into consideration, and after some de-
bate thereon, the convention adjourned.

THURSDAY, January 11, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The
proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Smith, Mr. Jordan, and
Mr. Gilpin, have leave of absence.

The convention resumed the consideration of the instructions
for the deputies representing this province in congress, which were
read, considered, and agreed to; and are as follow:

In CONVENTION, January I2th, 1776.
To the honorable Matthew Tilghman, Esq., Thomas Johnson, jr.,

Robert Goldsborough, William Paca, Samuel Chase, Thomas
Stone, Robert Alexander, and John Rogers, Esquires.

The convention taking into their most serious consideration, the
present state of the unhappy dispute between Great Britain and the
united colonies, think it proper to deliver you their sentiments, and
to instruct you in certain points, relative to your conduct in con-
gress, as representatives of this province.

The experience we and our ancestors have had of the mildness
and equity of the English constitution, under which we have grown
up to and enjoyed a state of felicity, not exceeded among any peo-
ple we know of, until the grounds of the present controversy were
laid by the ministry and parliament of Great Britain, has most
strongly endeared to us that form of government from whence these
blessing have been derived, and makes us ardently wish for a re-
conciliation with the mother country, upon terms that may insure
to these colonies an equal and permanent freedom.