194 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

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 rifle-men raised in this
province last summer, and employed in the continental service, or
their representatives, the difference between the pay they were en-
titled to at the time they engaged in the service, and the establish-
ment afterwards made, for the time they served before that estab-
lishment took place.

Adjourned till 4 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met.

Resolved, That a new convention be elected for the express pur-
pose 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 An-
napolis, and two representatives for the town of Baltimore in Balti-
more county, and four representatives for each county in this pro-
vince except Frederick county aforesaid; but that the inhabitants
of Annapolis and Baltimore town be not allowed to vote for rep-
resentatives for the respective counties, nor shall the resolution be
be understood to engage or secure such representation to Annapo-
lis or Baltimore town, but temporarily, the same being, in the opin-
ion 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 freehold-
ers of not less than fifty acres of land, or having visible property
in this colonyf to the value of JE40 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