Resolved, That this Convention will observe, in their debates, the same rules and orders as are established in the House of Burgesses in this Colony.

Adjourned till to-morrow 10 o’clock.

Tuesday, March 21, 1775.

A Letter from the Inhabitants of that part of Augusta County which lies to the westward of the Alleghany Mountain, desiring that John Nevill and John Harvie, Esquires, may be admitted into this Convention as their Delegates, being read; upon a motion,

Resolved, That the said John Nevill and John Harvie be admitted as Delegates for the County of Augusta.

The Convention then took into their consideration the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, agreeably to the order of yesterday; but not having time to go through the same, postponed the further consideration thereof till to-morrow.

Adjourned till to-morrow 10 o’clock.

Wednesday, March 22, 1775.

The Convention then, pursuant to the order of yesterday, resumed the consideration of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress; and, after the maturest deliberation, came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved unanimously, That this Convention doth entirely and cordially approve the Proceedings and Resolutions of the American Continental Congress, and that they consider this whole Continent as under the highest obligations to that very respectable body, for the wisdom of their counsels, and their unremitted endeavours to maintain and preserve inviolate the just rights and liberties of His Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects in America.

Resolved unanimously, That the warmest thanks of this Convention, and all the inhabitants of this Colony, whom they represent, are particularly due, and that this just tribute of applause be presented to the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Junior, Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton, Esquires, the worthy Delegates deputed by a former Convention to represent this Colony in General Congress, for their cheerful undertaking, and faithful discharge of the very important trust reposed in them.

Adjourned till to-morrow 10 o’clock.

Thursday, March 23, 1775.

A copy of the Petition and Memorial of the Assembly of Jamaica to the King’s most Excellent Majesty, was laid before the Convention, and being read, and maturely considered:

Resolved, That the unfeigned thanks, and most grateful acknowledgments of this Convention be presented to that very respectable Assembly, for the exceeding generous and affectionate part they have so nobly taken in the unhappy contest between Great Britain and her Colonies, and for their truly patriotick endeavours to fix the just claims of the Colonists upon the most permanent constitutional principles.

That the Assembly be assured, that it is the most ardent wish of this Colony (and we are persuaded of the whole Continent of North America) to see a speedy return of those halcyon days when we lived a free and happy people.

Resolved, That the President be desired to transmit these Resolutions to the Speaker of the Jamaica Assembly, by the earliest opportunity.

Resolved, That a well regulated Militia, composed of Gentlemen, and Yeomen, is the natural strength, and only security of a free Government; that such a Militia in this Colony would for ever render it unnecessary for the Mother Country to keep among us, for the purpose of our defence, any Standing Army of mercenary forces, always subversive of the quiet, and dangerous to the liberties of the people, and would obviate the pretext of taxing us for their support.

That the establishment of such a Militia is at this time peculiarly necessary, by the state of our laws for the protection and defence of the Country, some of which have already expired, and others will shortly do so; and that the known remissness of Government; in calling us together in a legislative capacity, renders it too msecure, in this time of danger and distress, to rely, that opportunity will be given of renewing them in General Assembly, or making any provision to secure our inestimable rights and liberties from those farther violations with which they are threatened.

Resolved therefore, That this Colony be immediately put into a posture of defence; and that Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Robert Carter Nicholas, Benjamin Harrison, Lemuel Riddick, George Washington, Adam Stephen, Andrew Lewis, William Christian, Edmund Pendleton, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Zone, Esquires, be a Committee to prepare a plan for the embodying, arming, and disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that purpose.

Adjourned till to-morrow 10 o’clock.

Friday, March 24, 1775.

The Committee appointed for that purpose reported a plan for embodying, arming, and disciplining the Militia of this Colony; the consideration whereof is postponed till to-morrow.

Certain paragraphs in the publick Papers, said to be votes of the House of Representatives of New-York, being read,

The Convention, taking into their consideration that the said Province of New-York did, by their Delegates in General Congress, solemnly accede to the compact of Association there formed for the preservation of American rights, that a defection from such their compact would be a perfidy too atrocious to be charged on a sister Colony but on the most authentick information, and also doubting whether, from some radical defect in the Constitution of that Government, the sense of their House of Representatives, on questions of this nature, should be considered as the sense of the people in general, came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That it be an instruction to the Committee of Correspondence for this Colony, that they procure authentick information from the Committee of Correspondence in the Province of New-York, or otherwise, whether their House of Representatives, by any vote or votes whatsoever, have deserted the union with the other American Colonies, formed in General Congress, for the preservation of their just rights; whether the other Colonies are to consider such vote or votes as declaring truly the sense of the people of their Province in general, and as forming a rule for their future conduct; and, if they are not to be so considered, that then they inform us, by their names and other sufficient descriptions, of the individuals who may have concurred in such vote or votes; and that the said Committee lay such their information before the next Convention, or Assembly.

Resolved unanimously, That the Committees of the several Counties and Corporations in this Colony do exert themselves in procuring and continuing Contributions, for supplying the necessities and alleviating the distresses of our brave and worthy fellow-subjects of Boston, now suffering in the common cause of American freedom, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require.

Resolved unanimously, In compliance with the recommendation of the late Continental Congress, that Delegates ought to be appointed to represent this Colony at the approaching Congress, to be held in the City of Philadelphia, the 10th day of May next.

Resolved, That the delegation from this Colony do consist of seven Members, and that they be chosen by ballot.

Adjourned till to-morrow, 10 o’clock.

Saturday, March 25, 1775.

Resolved, As the opinion of this Convention, that, on account of the unhappy disputes between Great Britain and the Colonies, and the unsettled state of this Country, the lawyers, suitors, and witnesses ought not to attend the prosecution or defence of civil suits at the next General Court; and it is recommended to the several Courts of Justice not to proceed to the hearing or determination of suits on their dockets, except attachments; nor to give judgments but in the case of Sheriffs or other collectors for Money or Tobacco received by them; in other cases, where such judgment shall be voluntarily confessed, or upon such