It also appears to your Committee, from the testimony of John Randolph, Esq., Attorney-General, of the City of Williamsburgh, that the morning after the removal of the powder, many of the people were under arms at the Court-House. That he does not recollect he heard the Governour expressly say he would proclaim freedom to the slaves, but is well satisfied such was his Lordship’s intention, if it had been necessary for him to take up arms in defence of his person. That he does not recollect he ever saw any of the people under arms (except on the removal of the powder) but the volunteer company when exercising; which company had been formed a considerable time before the disturbance happened. That he thought Lady Dunmore had no reason, but the timidity of her sex, to suspect any injury would be done her or her family; nor did he know that Lord. Dunmore had just cause to apprehend danger, unless he gave credit to the reports carried to him, which were of such a nature as to justify an opinion that his person was not safe. That he is of opinion, and that he informed the Governour so when he, with other gentlemen, waited upon him with the address of the House, that his person was in no danger. That his Lordship was almost every day at his, the said Randolph’s, house, distant above a quarter of a mile from the Palace, and in particular the evening of his departure, and that his Lordship received no insult, as he knows of, in passing to and from thence. The said Randolph says that he understood from the Governour, in case armed people came to Williamsburgh, he would fix up the royal standard to distinguish the friends of Government from its foes; and that if negroes, on that occasion, offered their services, they would be received. That the Governour informed him (by one of his servants) some negroes had offered their service, but ordered his servant to bid them go about their business. That the morning after the removal of the powder, the said Randolph saw Captain Collins, Captain Foy, and, he believes, Captain Stretch, pass through the people unmolested.

It also appears, by the testimony of John Dixon, Esq., Mayor of the City of Williamsburgh, that, in the opinion of the inhabitants, the Militia of the City being on an in-different footing, and they having heard of an independent company established at Norfolk, were desirous of forming one in Williamsburgh. That such company was accordingly formed, and, although he does not know the Governour was ever present when they were exercised, the said Dixon never heard he disapproved of it. That his Honour the President, while the Governour was out on the Indian expedition, directed the keeper of the publick magazine to furnish the company with muskets. That a Committee was chosen in the City, agreeable to the directions of the Congress, hut not to act, as be knew of, under the Committee. That upon the Governour’s return from the Indian expedition, one of the company waited upon his Excellency, to inform him the company intended to pay their compliments to him the next morning, before the Palace, if agreeable to Lady Dunmore, who was then indisposed; but his Lordship being out of the way, the person who went, left his compliments of the above import. That the next morning the said Dixon, as captain, with part of the company, drew up in Palace-street, and paid the usual compliments. That his Lordship did not come out to meet them; but some time afterwards there was a message delivered by Mr. Blair, from his Excellency, that he would have done himself the pleasure of waiting upon them, if they had staid a little longer, as he did not expect they would have finished their exercise so soon. That the morning after the powder was removed, many of the inhabitants being much alarmed, and greatly incensed against Capt. Foy and Capt. Collins, assembled at the Court-House under arms; but does not believe, nor has he heard any injury or insult was intended to the Governour. That some time after the Governour’s answer to the address of the Corporation was read, the people, upon the interposition of the Magistrates, and other gentlemen, were satisfied, and returned home in quiet. That after the Governour had declared what Captain Collins had done was by his order, their resentment against Captain Collins subsided. That the same evening the powder was removed a report prevailed that a number of armed men from Captain Collins’s schooner had landed at Burwell’s Ferry, about four miles from Williamsburgh, with design, as was supposed, to remove the arms from the magazine; whereupon many of the inhabitants repaired to the magazine, to prevent such design being executed; but by the advice of some gentlemen, they all dispersed except such as patrolled that night. That the inhabitants appeared to be in perfect tranquillity, till a report was spread of his Excellency’s throwing out some threats respecting the slaves, when there seemed to be great uneasiness; but nothing more was done but doubling the usual patrol. That after the alarm was over the first day, he remembers to have seen Captain Foy and Captain Montague walk the streets, and he believes without insult; and frequently saw them, Captain Collins and other officers, do the same, without their swords, unmolested by the inhabitants.

It also appears, by the testimony of Joseph Hutchings, Colonel of the Militia of the Borough of Norfolk, that some years ago the inhabitants, judging it would be a means of their greater security, proposed raising an independent company, that, by their being more regularly trained, they might be more capable of acting upon an emergency; that some time afterwards, his Excellency Lord Dunmore being at Norfolk, the said Hutchings informed him of the intention of the inhabitants, and asked his advice how to act as to granting commissions, the company intending to choose their own officers; that his Lordship highly commended the proposal, advised the said Hutchings to encourage and grant commissions to such officers as might be chosen, and expressed his wishes that the example might be followed throughout the Country. That about two years afterwards his Lordship was again at Norfolk, when the company was completely formed and regimented; and, having drawn them up, his Lordship marched through the lines in order to review them, and again expressed great satisfaction.

Your Committee then proceeded to examine several gentlemen, merchants, natives of Great Britain, who reside in different parts of this Colony, respecting the disposition of its people, and its internal peace, the causes of the late commotions, and the progress thereof; and it appears to your Committee, from the depositions by them taken, as follows:

It appears, from the testimony of Hugh Hamilton, of the County of Westmoreland, that the Courts of this Colony have always proceeded in criminal business as usual, but declined trying civil causes immediately on the lapse of the Fee-Bill, which, together with the Non-Exportation Agreement, was, in his opinion, the cause of stopping that business, rather than an inclination of withholding justice, his acquaintances having the same inclination to pay their debts as before the stoppage of the Courts. That Committees had been chosen within these twelve months, and independent companies formed in his and the neighbouring Counties about the month of February last, for the defence of the Colony, and that he never heard they were designed to protect the Committee. That, in his County, the gentlemen have been at proper pains to preserve order; and it has been recommended, to the Militia to acquire a knowledge of the military exercise. That the people within his acquaintance have been very orderly, and that he never saw any commotion before the powder was taken from the magazine; that there was an alarm concerning the slaves prior to this transaction, which was greatly increased by the report of the Governour’s intention to declare them free, That he never discovered the smallest inclination in any of the inhabitants to be independent of Great Britain; but, on the contrary, a most eager desire for a connexion, as it stood prior to the acts of Parliament imposing taxes on America; and he is persuaded a redress of grievances complained of would establish a perfect tranquillity throughout this Colony, and produce a reconciliation with the Parent State.

It appears, from the testimony of Thomas Mitchell, of the County of Louisa, that the loss of the Fee-Bill is generally assigned, and, he believes, was the immediate cause of stopping the civil proceedings in the courts of justice; but apprehends their not being resumed is owing to the commercial mode of opposition. That no independent company was formed in the said County until the 8th of May, 1775, or thereabouts, nor a Committee chosen until some months after the Association entered into; and it is his opinion the said company was raised with a view to put