1776.] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 71

hundred pounds in good merchatnable linen or woollen cloth, manu-
factured in this province, on the first day of November next, of
such quality as he may be directed, and at such prices and rates
as this or a future convention, on his producing the same, maybe
pleased to allow. The said Edward Parker in person acquainted your
committee, that he kept five looms constantly employed in manu-
facturing. Your committee beg leave to report thereon their opin-
ion, that the establishment of linen and woollen manufactories is
of the greatest importance to this province, as not only a number
of poor people may be employed, fed, and clothed thereby,
but necessary cloth for the use of the province be manufactured
therein, and that for the above purposes, and other valuable ones,
a manufactory for making the above clothes should be established
in every county in this province; that the sum of five thousand
pounds be appropriated and set apart for the above purpose, to be
distributed in manner and form following, to wit: five hundred
pounds for Frederick county, and three hundred pounds to each
of the other counties, which sum, in the opinion of your commit-
tee, will employ eighty looms, and the produce thereof amount to
from eighty to one thousand yards of cloth at a moderate calcula-
tion, suitable for tents, hunting and soldiers' shirts, and supplying
the necessitous poor; that three gentlemen in whom confidence
maybe placed, be appointed in each county, and styled contractors,
and that they or any two of them be empowered to draw the
several sums above mentioned out of the treasuries, as occasion,
may require, agree with such persons as will undertake to carry.
on the work, receive the linen and wbllen, and take bond with
sufficient security in double the sum lent, payable to ————————
conditioned for the return of the value of money lent, in good
coarse linen or woollen cloth, in the following manner, to wit.

One third thereof by the first of May next, one other third by the.
first of August next, and the remainderby the first of December next;
and that the said contractors shall transmit the bonds so taken to
the president of the convention, should the convention be sitting,
or if in their recess to the council of safety for the time being; that
if it should happen that undertakers could not be found, or should
not apply in any one or more of the counties on or before the first
day of March next, that the contractors in any other of the coun-
ties may be empowered to draw out for the purposes aforesaid, and
on the above terms, the proportion or proportions allotted such
county or counties as may not apply.

Your committee further beg leave to observe, that several propo-
sals have been made to them respecting a sheeting and slitting mill