Henry Enoch, James Ennis, George Willson, William Vance, David Shepherd, William Elliot, Richmond Willis, Samuel Sample, John Ormsbey, Richard McMaher, John Nevill, and John Sweringer.

The foregoing gentlemen met in committee, and resolved that John Campbell, John Ormsbey, Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman, Samuel Sample, John Anderson, and Devereux Smith, or any four of them, be a Standing Committee, and shall have full power to meet at such times as they shall judge necessary, and in case of any emergency, to call the Committee of this District together, and shall be vested with the same power and authority as the other Standing Committees and Committees of Correspondence are in the other Counties within this Colony.

Resolved unanimously, That the cordial and most grateful thanks of this Committee are a tribute due to John Harvie, Esquire, our worthy Representative in the late Colonial Convention held at Richmond, for his faithful discharge of that important trust reposed in him; and to John Nevill, Esquire, our other worthy Delegate, whom nothing but sickness prevented from representing us in that respectable Assembly.

Resolved unanimously, That this Committee have the highest sense of the spirited behaviour of their brethren in New-England, and do most cordially approve of their opposing the invaders of American rights and privileges to the utmost extreme, and that each member of this Committee, respectively, will animate and encourage their neighbourhood to follow the brave example.

The imminent danger that threatens America in general, from Ministerial and Parliamentary denunciations of our ruin, and is now carrying into execution by open acts of unprovoked hostilities in our sister Colony of Massachusetts, as well as the danger to be apprehended to this Colony in particular from a domestick enemy, said to be prompted by the wicked minions of power to execute our ruin, added to the menaces of an Indian war, likewise said to be in contemplation, thereby thinking to engage our attention, and divert it from that still more interesting object of liberty and freedom, that deeply, and with so much justice, hath called forth the attention of all America; for the prevention of all, or any of those impending evils, it is

Resolved, That the recommendation of the Richmond Convention, of the 20th of last March, relative to the embodying, arming, and disciplining the Militia, be immediately carried into execution with the greatest diligence in this County, by the officers appointed for that end; and that the recommendation of the said Convention to the several Committees of this Colony, to collect from their constituents, in such manner as shall be most agreeable to them, so much money as shall be sufficient to purchase half a pound of gunpowder, and one pound of lead, flints, and cartridge paper, for every tithable person in their County, be likewise carried into execution.

This Committee, therefore, out of the deepest sense of the expediency of this measure, most earnestly entreat that every member of this Committee do collect from each tithable person in their several districts the sum of Two Shillings and Six-Pence, which we deem no more than sufficient for the above purpose, and give proper receipts to all such as pay the same into their hands; and the sum so collected to be paid into the hands of Mr. John Campbell, who is to give proper security to this Committee, or their successors, for the due and faithful application of the money so deposited with him for the above purpose, by or with the advice of this Committee, or their successors; and this Committee, as your representatives, and who are most ardently labouring for your preservation, call on you, our constituents, our friends, brethren, and fellow-sufferers, in the name of God, of every thing you hold sacred or valuable, for the sake of your wives, children, and unborn generations, that you will, every one of you, in your several stations, to the utmost of your power, assist in levying such sum, by not only paying yourselves, but by assisting those who are not at present in a condition to do so. We heartily lament the case of all such as have not this small sum at, command in this day of necessity; to all such we recommend to tender security to such as Providence has enabled to lend them so much; and this Committee do pledge their faith and fortunes to you, their constituents, that we shall, without fee or reward, use our best endeavours to procure, with the money so collected, the ammunition our present exigencies have made so exceedingly necessary.

As this Committee has reason to believe there is a quantity of Ammunition destined for this place for the purpose of Government, and as this country, on the west side of the Laurel Hill, is greatly distressed for want of ammunition, and deprived of the means of procuring it, by reason of its situation, as easy as the lower Counties of this Colony, they do earnestly request the Committees of Frederick, Augusta, and Hampshire, that they will not suffer the ammunition to pass through their Counties for the purpose of Government, but will secure it for the use of this destitute, country, and immediately inform this Committee of their having done so.

Resolved, That this Committee do approve of the Resolution of the Committee of the other part of this County, relative to the cultivating a friendship with the Indians; and if any person shall be so depraved as to take the life of any Indian that may come to us in a friendly manner; we will, as one man, use our utmost endeavours to bring such offender to condign punishment.

Ordered, That the Standing Committee be directed to secure such Arms and Ammunition as are not employed in actual service, or private property, and that they get the same repaired, and deliver them to such Captains of Independent Companies as may make application for the same, and taking such Captain’s receipt for the arms so delivered.

Resolved, That the sum of fifteen Pounds, current money, be raised by subscription, and that the same be transmitted to Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq., for the use of the Deputies sent from this Colony to the General Congress, Which sum of money was immediately paid by the Committee then present.

Mr. John Campbell reported, from the Select Committee for considering the grievances, as Instructions to the Delegates, which he read in his place, and handed it to the Clerk’s table, where it was again read, and is as follows:

To JOHN HARVIE and GEORGE ROOTES, Esquires.

GENTLEMEN: You being chosen to represent the people on the west side the Laurel Hill in the Colonial Congress for the ensuing year, we, the Committee for the people aforesaid, desire you will lay the grievances hereafter mentioned before the Congress at their first meeting, as we conceive it highly necessary they should be redressed, to put us on a footing with the rest of our brethren in the Colony.

1st. That many of the inhabitants in this part of the County have expended large sums of money, and supplied the soldiers in the last Indian war with provisions and other necessaries, many of whom have expended all they had; and though, at the same time, we bear a grateful remembrance of the good intentions of the late Colonial Congress, so feelingly and generously expressed in their Resolves, yet the unhappy situation we are reduced to by the payment of those supplies being delayed, involves this new and flourishing country in extreme poverty.

2d. That the maintaining a garrison at this place, when there is no other method used for supplying them with provisions, but by impressing from the inhabitants of the country, ought to be considered.

3d. That this country, joining the Indian Territory and the Province of Quebeck, (which by its late change of Constitution is rendered inimical to liberty,) lies exposed to the inroads of the Savages and the Militia of that Province; and should the Ministry or their emissaries be able to stir up either of them against the Colonies, this country will be in need of support to enable them to provide against, and withstand any attempt that may be made on their civil or religious liberties.

4th. That for want of freeholders we cannot get legal Grand Jurors, which are necessary for the well government of the country.

5th. That the unsettled boundary between this Colony and the Province of Pennsylvania, is the occasion of many disputes.

6th. That the collecting the duty on skins and furs, for which a commission hath lately been sent up here, will banish the Indian Trade from this place and Colony.

Which Report being agreed to,

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