158 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

Whereas, at a convention held at Annapolis the 26th day of July
last, it was Resolved, That a sum not exceeding one thousand
pounds, common money should be appropriated for erecting and
working a powder mill, on the account of this province. And, by a
resolution of the last session of convention, the council of safety
were empowered to advance on loan for two years without inter-
est, on bond with good security, any part of the said one thousand
pounds to such person or persons as would undertake and give
good security for erecting and working a powder mill, on the terms
in the same resolution mentioned; the same powder mill to be erect-
ed within fourteen and not less than six miles from Baltimore town;

but no contract having been yet made for erecting a powder mill
in this province, owing in some measure to the limitation of the
distance from Baltimore town, within which the said powder mill
is directed to be built, and because it is hoped and expected that a
greater quantity of salt-petre will be manufactured in this province
than can be made into gunpowder at one mill, and one mill cannot
make a sufficient quantity of gunpowder for the use of the inhabi-
tants of this province; it is therefore Resolved, That the said one
thousand pounds, or any part thereof that may be necessary, be appli-
ed and expended by the council of safety for the time being, in erect-
ing and working a powder mill within this province, on account of
the public. And that a sum of money not exceeding £500 be ad-
vanced by the council of safety for the time being, to any person
who will undertake and give security for erecting a powder mill
at any place within this province, which shall be thought proper by
the council of safety, on the terms of the said resolution of the last
session of convention. And to encourage and induce the good
people of this province to make crude nitre, it is Resolved, That
to every person who will carry in and deliver at the said public
powder mill, within one year next after the same shall begin to
work, any quantity of good crude nitre manufactured within this
province, there shall be delivered good gunpowder, after the rate
of three quarters of a pound of powder for one pound of good
crude nitre,

That instead of the two shillings per pound, directed to be paid by
the supervisors of salt-petre woiks, to private persons manufactur-
ing and delivering crude nitre, there be allowed and paid, after the
rate of three shilings and nine pence for every pound of good crude
nitre so manufactured and delivered.

And whereas the several supervisors of the public salt-petre
works, except those of Kent, Queen Anne's, Prince George's, and
Calvert counties, have omitted to lay their accounts before this