13$ PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

properly belongs in the recess of convention, was sitting and might
without inconvenience have been applied to.)

That the said Samuel Purviance being, at the time of his writing
the said letter and giving the said instructions, chairman of the
committee of Baltimore county, did write the said letter and give
the said instructions under color of his said office of chairman and
as if at the request of the said committee; whereas the said com-
mittee were not consulted thereon nor made acquainted therewith.

That the said Samuel Purviance, by writing and speaking, and
particularly by a letter by him written to the president of the con-
gress, some time about the middle of April last, hath unjustly re-
presented the convention and council of safety as irresolute and
afraid to execute the trusts reposed in them, and endeavored to
draw a suspicion upon them of a want of spirit and zeal in the
execution of their duty.

That the order of the day for taking into consideration the late
intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the con-
tinental congress, and of the council of safety of this province,
thereupon, being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for fur-
ther consideration till Monday next.

Convention adjourns till Monday morning, 9 o'clock.

MONDAY, May 20, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on Saturday, except
Mr. Griffith, Mr. Gurrer, Mr. Letherbury, Mr. Tyler, and Mr. Lloyd.
The proceedings of Saturday were read. Mr. Smith appeared in
the house.

The convention being informed that Elisha Winters of Kent
county, was willing to contract for the making a quantity of fire
arms for the public,

Resolved, That the terms offered by the said Elisha Winters be
referred to the committee appointed to consider of the proposals
of Henry Hollingsworth.

The president laid before the convention a letter from the depu-
ties of this province in Congress, enclosing the following resolu-
tions, to wit:

" IN CONGRESS, May 15,1776.

" Whereas, his Britanic majesty, in conjunction with the lords
and commons of Great Britain, has, by a late act of parliament,
excluded the inhabitants of these united colonies from the protec-
tion of his crown—And whereas no answer whatever, to the hum-
ble petitions of the colonies for redress of grievances and recon-