1776.] OF THE PEOVINCE OF MARYLAND. 375

solve of congress, and that Mr. Thomas Harwood, jun. be appoint-
ed commissioner, to superintend such loan-office in this state.

That if any inhabitant of this state shall, after the first day of
December next, within or without this state, or any person what-
soever shall, within this state, after the said first day of December
next, forge or counterfeit any of the certificates, bills, or notes of
the continental loan-office, or alter the sum expressed in any of the
said certificates, bills, or notes, or shall offer or cause to be offered
in payment, any such counterfeit, forged, or altered certificate, bill,
Of note, knowing the same to be counterfeit, forged, or altered, and
shall be thereof convicted by a petit jury, after a presentment by a
grand jury, in the general court, or shall stand mute, or perempto-
rily challenge above the number of twenty of the pannel, he shall
juffer death as a felon, without benefit of clergy.

Ordered, That copies of the above resolutions be transmitted by
the clerk to the commissioners of the continental treasury.

A petition from a number of the inhabitants of Baltimore coun-
ty, praying to be relieved from the exorbitant and extraordinary
charges of the magistrates, clerk, and sheriff of said county, was
read, and referred till the first meeting of the general assembly.

On reading a letter from the chairman of the committee of ob-
servation for Baltimore county, setting forth, that a great number
of the people called methodist, pretending to be preachers, claim-
ed an exemption from mustering under the exception made in favor
of clergymen, and a certificate from the yearly conference, that a
certain Nathan Perigo, who had been fined by the said committee
for not enrolling in some company of militia was a preacher.
that denomination, Resolved, That the fine set upon the said Na-
than Perigo by the committee of Baltimore county, aforesaid, be
remitted.

On motion, Resolved, That all petitions, applications and reports,
to convention this present session, and all petitions, applications
and reports, in all former sessions, whereon no final order hath been
or shall be made, be referred to the general assembly.

Whereas the detaining in custody debtors who are willing to de-
liver up their estates to the use of their creditors, can be of no
benefit to individuals, and may be prejudicial to the community,
Resolved, Therefore, that the justices of the several counties in this
state, are hereby authorised and empowered to release all debtors
m their several jails who may owe upwards of two hundred pounds
sterling money, in the same manner and upon the same terms as
debtors may be released under the act of assembly; provided appli-
cation be made by the several debtors, or such of then as may be
48