192 PROCEEIDNGS OF THE CONVENTION. [1776.

son whatsoever shall, within this colony, after the fifth day of Au-
gust next, forge or counterfeit any of the bills of credit issued by
the congress, by the assembly, or convention of any of the united
colonies, or by any of the conventions of this colony, or alter the
sum expressed in any of the said bills of credit, or shall offer or
cause to be offered in payment, any such counterfeit, forged, or al-
tered bills of credit, knowing the same to be counterfeit, forged, or
altered, and shall be thereof convicted by a petit jury, after a pre-
sentiment by a grand jury, in a court to be erected in this colony
by the next convention, or shall stand mute, or peremptorily chal-
lenge above the number of twenty of the pannel, shall suffer death
as a felon, without benefit of clergy.

Ordered, That the above resolutions be immediately published in
the Maryland Gazette.

Whereas, some doubts have arisen on the constructions of the re-
solutions of convention for ascertaining the rank of the regular
officers in the pay of this province, it is therefore declared and Re-
solved, That no precedence or rank shall take place between the
companies as such, of the corps of regular forces. That prece-
dence between officers of the same rank take place according to
the priority of the date of their respective commissions, but where
two or more of such commissions bear date on the same day, pre-
cedence take place according as the company to which such officer
belongs stands numbered on the proceedings of convention in De-
cember.

On reading the petition of Turbutt Betton, jun., of Queen Anne's
county, Ordered, That the fine imposed on him be not levied, and
that his petition be referred to the council of safety to take order
therein, and to enforce obedience to the authority of this conven-
tion.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

FRIDAY, July 5, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except
Mr. Turbutt Wright, and Mr. Currer. The proceedings of yes-
terday were read. Mr. J. Tilghman appeared in the house.

On motion, Resolved, That col. Henry Hollingsworth make two
hundred gun barrels of at least one inch in the bore, and three feet
six inches in length, drawbored; and that Mr. Elisha Winters
mount, and stock, and fit, and complete the same with locks and
swivels, as soon as may be, for the public use, for which they shall
be paid a reasonable price.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, (in obedience as he conceived