1776.] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 233

Mr. Thomas Ringgold has leave of absence till Monday next,
Mr. Fitzhugh till Tuesday next, and Mr. Chamberlaine for a few
days.

A petition from the trustees of the poor of Frederick county
for a sum of money, to be advanced them out of the public trea-
sury, was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Johnson appeared and took his seat in the house.

On reading a second time the petition of Thomas French, late
sheriff, and George French, present sheriff of Frederick county,
Ordered, That a committee, be appointed to enquire into the truth
of the facts therein set forth; and Mr. Sheredine, Mr. Wootton,
and Mr. Beall, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

A petition from Samuel Sharpe, of Talbot county, was read and
ordered to lie on the table,

On motion, Resolved, That two persons be added to the com-
mittee appointed to prepare a declaration and charter of rights, and
a form of government for this state; and Mr. Johnson and Mr.
Hooe were elected by ballot to be of the said committee.

On motion, Resolved, That Mr. Frederick Green be added to the
signers of bills of credit.

Mr. Horsey has leave of absence for a few days.

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

SATURDAY, August 31, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except
Mr. Fitzhugh, Mr. Ringgold. and Mr. Edmondson. The pro-
ceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Hammond appeared in the
house. Mr. D. Smith has leave of absence till Monday week.

On reading a second time the petition of Samuel Sharpe, setting
forth, that he had, on the seventeenth day of December last, be-
come secutity for a certain Isaac Atkinson, in a bond taken to
Matthew Tilghman, Esquire, then President of the convention, in
the sum of one thousand pounds currency, for the said Isaac
Atkinson's future good behaviour; and that the said Isaac Atkinson
had since fled from this state and joined the enemies thereof, and
now assists the British fleet and army in waging war against the
United States of America, and praying of this house to have the
said bond put in suit; and that as the estate of the said Isaac Atkin-
son was daily wasting, they would also direct the said estate to be put
under the care and direction of such person or persons as the house
could confide in; and it appearing to this convention that the said
Isaac Atkinson hath for some time past absented himself from his
home, and bath, as is reported and generally believed, joined the
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