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The Convention took into consideration the following Report, to wit:
In obedience to a Resolve of the honourable Convention, the Committee appointed to receive all Proposals relating to the establishment of Manufactories of any kind within this Province, and report their opinion thereon, do report: That the following Proposals and Petitions have been laid before them, to wit:
The Petition of Mr˙ Fielder Gaunt, setting forth: That, about four months ago, he had discovered a vein of Lead Ore in Frederick County, between Fredericktown and the Catoctin Mountain; that, upon an examination of the same, appearances were so favourable that he hoped to be able, in a short time, to supply this Province with a sufficient quantity of Lead during our present unhappy disputes; and prayed that two hundred pounds might be advanced to him for the term of one year, without interest, upon giving bond, with sufficient security, at the end of that term to repay the same. Your Committee further report, that Mr˙ Gaunt hath, in person, informed them that he has, by sinking a shaft thirty-eight feet in the earth higher up the hill, found another vein of Lead; and that both the said veins run under a large rock, where it was too expensive, on his own capital, to pursue the same; and that the quantities of Lead Ore taken out of said veins were not considerable. Your Committee beg leave, further, to report thereon: that, in their opinion, a Manufactory of Lead in this Province would be of great advantage to the publick, and, of course, merits the attention and encouragement of this Province; and that the sum requested for that purpose is not unreasonable.
Your Committee further beg leave to report: That Alexander McFadon, of Frederick County, by his Petition, hath expressed his desire of erecting a Linen, Woollen, and Cotton Manufactory, in or near Fredericktown; that he is, also, well acquainted with the business, and would undertake to carry on the same, with the publick encouragement 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 report: That Mr˙ McFadon, in person, informed them that, although he proposed, by the above
Your Committee further beg leave to report: That Edward Parker, of Cecil County, by his Petition, hath set forth, that he hath erected a house, provided himself with all manner of implements necessary for carrying on a Linen and Woollen Manufactory, and had, also, engaged a number of weavers; but found it absolutely impossible 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 publick 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, manufactured in this Province, on or before the first day of May next, and the value of one hundred pounds in good merchantable Linen or Woollen Cloth, manufactured 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, may be pleased to allow. The said Edward Parker, in person, acquainted your Committee that he kept five looms constantly employed in manufacturing.
Your Committee beg leave to report, thereon, their opinion, 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 Cloths 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 Committee, will employ eighty looms, and the produce thereof amount to from eighty to one thousand yards of Cloth, at a moderate calculation, suitable for tents, hunting and soldiers' shirts, and supplying the necessitous poor; that three gentlemen, in whom confidence may be 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 Woollen, and take bond, with sufficient security, in double the sum lent, payable to —, conditioned for the return of the value of the 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 remainder by 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, the Contractors in any other of the Counties 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 Proposals have been made to them respecting a Sheeting and Slitting Mill to be erected, in this Province, but that they are not fully prepared to report on that subject.
Signed per order:
JOHN CALLAHAN, Clerk Committee.
On reading the first part of the above Report, the question was put, That the House concur therewith? Resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, therefore, That two hundred Pounds, common money, out of the publick Treasury, be advanced to Mr˙ Fielder Gaunt, of Frederick County, for the purposes mentioned in the said Report, for the term of one year, on his giving bond, with sufficient security, to repay the same at the end of one year, without interest; the security to be approved by the Convention, or Council of Safety hereafter to be appointed, and the bond to be made payable to Mr˙ President, Mr˙ Carroll, Barrister, and Mr˙ T˙ Johnson, Jun.
On reading that part of the said Report relating to the establishment of a Linen, Woollen, and Cotton Manufactory, by Mr˙ Alexander McFadon, the question was put, That the House concur with the proposals of Mr˙ McFadon? Carried in the negative.
On reading the third paragraph of the said Report, in which is contained the proposal of Edward Parker, of Cecil County, the question was put, That the House concur therewith? Resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, therefore, That the sum of three hundred Pounds, out of the publick Treasury, be advanced to the said Edward Parker, upon his giving bond, with goqd security, for the delivery of the value of two hundred Pounds in good, strong, merchantable Linen Cloth, manufactured in this Province, on or before the first day of May next; and the value of one hundred Pounds in good, merchantable Linen or Woollen Cloth, manufactured 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 shall allow.
On reading that part of the said Report which relates to the establishment of Linen and Woollen Manufactories in each County in this Province, the question was put, That the House concur therewith? The Counties were equally divided; and, therefore, the House does not concur.
Mr˙ Mackall has leave of absence.
The Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, half after nine o' clock.
Petition of Fielder Gaunt, for assistance in working a Lead-Mine in Frederick County, granted
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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 honourable 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 proposed 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 purchase 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 quantity within his power, at a reasonable price, on their paying him for the same; and that the original sum borrowed would be absolutely necessary for him to carry on the Manufactory aforesaid, entire, during the time aforesaid.
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