16 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1808.

life, with a wife and nine children dependent on him for support, borne down with infirmities consequent on
the labour and fatigue he sustained at an early period of his life, while fighting the battles of his country, and
in possession of pecuniary resources too narrow to afford a comfortable maintenance to himself, and those most
dear to him; they therefore recommend the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the treasurer of the western shore be and he is hereby directed and required to pay unto Va-
chel Burgess, of the county of Anne-Arundel, late a lieutenant in the Maryland line during the revolutionary
war, a sum of money equal to half pay as a lieutenant, annually, in quarterly payments, during his life, as a fur-
ther reward to those invaluable services which he rendered his country in securing her liberty and independence.

By order, R. WELCH, Jun. clk.
Which was read.

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, A further supplement to the act, entitled, An act relate-
ing to negroes, and to repeal the acts of assembly therein mentioned. ORDERED, That Mr. Dorsey, Mr. Chap-
man and Mr. Sanders, be a committee to prepare and bring in the same.

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, An act authorising the erection of gates on the public
roads in the counties therein mentioned. ORDERED, That Mr. Chapman, Mr. Perrie and Mr. Hayward, be a
committee to prepare and bring in the same.

ORDERED, That the commander in chief of the militia of this state be requested to take immediate measures
to cause a report to be made to this house of the number and state of the public arms and accoutrements, and
in whose companies the same are.

A petition from William Dawson, of Caecil county, stating that he had been a soldier in the revolutionary
army, and praying to be placed on the pension list, was preferred, read, and referred to Mr, Mitchell, Mr. Vea-
zey and Mr. Porter, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Young, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to authorise a lottery to raise
a sum of money for building a school-house in the village of Denton, in Caroline county; which was. read the
first time and ordered to lie on the table.

A petition from Robert Halkerstone, of Charles county, stating that he had been an officer, in the late revolu-
tionary army, and by a wound then received is rendered unable to support himself and family, and praying. some
relief, was preferred, read, and referred to Mr. Chapman, Mr. Belt. Mr. P. Stuart, Mr. J. H. Thomas and Mr.
Gale, to consider and report thereon.

A petition from John Trueman, an old revolutionary officer, praying some assistance, was preferred, read,
and referred to the committee appointed on the petition of Robert Halkerstone.

On motion, Leave given to bring-in a bill, entitled, An act to repeal part of an act of assembly therein men-
tioned. ORDERED, That Mr. J. H. Thomas, Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Tilghman, be a committee to prepare and
faring in the same.

The house adjourns until to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.

SATURDAY, November 19, 1808.

THE house met. Present the same members as on yesterday. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

A petition from the trustees of the male free-school of Baltimore, praying to be incorporated, was preferred,
read, and referred to Mr. Stansbury, Mr. Harryman, Mr. Randall, Mr. Spencer and Mr. Bland, to consider and
report thereon.

The speaker laid before the house a letter from the treasurer of the western shore, suggesting the propriety
of appointing an agent; which was read, and referred to the committee appointed to examine the existing funds
of the state.

Mr. Herbert, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to make public a road in
Prince-George's county; which was read the first time and ordered to lit on the table.

Mr. J. H. Thomas, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to repeal part of an
act of assembly therein mentioned; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Mitchell, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of William Dawson, of Caecil county, late a brave and
worthy soldier in the revolutionary war, report, that they have had the same under consideration, awl find, from
ample testimony, that he was a citizen of the state of Maryland, and a brave and good soldier during the revo-
lutionary war; that he is now aged, and labours under many infirmities, the effect of the great exposure, fatigue
and labour, which he experienced in fighting the battles of his country, which secured liberty and independence
to America, from which he is rendered unable, in his advanced age, to procure a support for himself and fami-
ly; with this view of his case, your committee, under the impression that it becomes the peculiar duty of a dig-
nified state, whose treasury abounds with wealth, to provide for the unfortunate and meritorious soldier, who
spent the prime and vigour of his life in fighting her battles and in procuring her rights, recommend the follow-
ing resolution:

RESOLVED, That the treasurer of the western shore be and he is hereby directed and required to pay to Wil-
liam Dawson, of Caecil county, late a meritorious soldier in the revolutionary war, or to his order, in quarterly