70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

advantage to the public, and of course merits the attention and en-
couragement of this province, and that the sum requested for that
purpose is not unreasonable.

Your committee further beg leave to report, that Alex'r M'Fad-
on of Frederick county by his petition, hath expressed his desire
of erecting a linen, woollen, and cotton manufactory, in or near
Frederick-town: that he is also well acquainted with the business,
and would undertake to carry on the same with the public encour-
agement and assistance, and proposed that a sum not exceeding four
thousand pounds should be advanced to him from time to time, by the
province, on giving bond with good security for the payment of the
money lent, with four per cent, interest after the expiration of three
years from the advancement thereof. Your committee further re-
port, that Mr. M'Fadon in person informed them, that although he
proposed by the above scheme to carry on the same so extensively,
as thereby to manufacture annually fifty thousand yards, yet if it did
not meet with the approbation of the honorable the convention,
he was willing to undertake to set up a manufactory, on having not
less than one half of the above sum advanced to him; that he propos-
ed to begin at first with the sum of five hundred pounds, and draw out
to the amount of the sum stipulated, in proportion as he should pur-
chase the materials to manufacture; that he would not engage to
deliver any certain quantity of linen or woollen cloth, unless he
could be assured of purchasing the rough materials, nor could he
agree for any price, as he was uncertain on what terms he could
purchase the same; that if he could buy them he would furnish the
province with any quantities within his power at a reasonable price,
on their paying his for the same; and that the original sum borrow-
ed would be absolutely necessary for him to carry on the manufac-
tory aforesaid entire, during the time aforesaid.

Your committee further beg leave to report, that Edward Par-
ker, of Cecil county, by his petition hath set forth, that he hath erect-
ed a house, provided himself with all manner of implements ne-
cessary for carrying on a linen and woollen manufactory, and had
also engaged a number of weavers, but found it absolutely impossi-
ble to carry on the same with spirit, and in an extensive manner,
without a considerable sum of ready cash, and therefore prayed,
that the sum of three hundred pounds, out of the public treasury,
might be advanced to him, upon his giving bond with undoubted
security, for the delivery of the value of two hundred pounds in
good strong merchantable linen cloth, manufactnred in this pro-
vince, on or before the first day of May next, and the value of one