you could not attend to its preservation, nor depend on its security if returned to the Magazine. We should suppose, my Lord, that your Excellency’s attention to the arms would be equally necessary for their security, as you know the Palace stands on the edge of the City, and we should, for this reason, imagine it more likely to be rifled than the Magazine in the midst of it; besides, should it be thought necessary, a proper guard might be kept at the Magazine, which we did not think so decent to propose for your Lordship’s Palace. Our apprehensions, my Lord, have been not a little increased by considering the several depositions taken by order of the House of Burgesses; we decline commenting upon them, but submit to the world from whence the unhappy disturbances in this Colony took their rise. We must, my Lord, once more entreat your Excellency to order the arms to be removed to the publick Magazine.

We cannot, my Lord, decline representing to you that the important business of this Assembly hath been much impeded by your Excellency’s removal from the Palace. This step hath deprived us of the necessary and free access to your Lordship, which we conceive the Constitution entitles us to. There are several bills of the last importance to this Country now ready to be presented to your Excellency for your assent.

We have hitherto, my Lord, in hopes of preserving that harmony which we wish ever to subsist between all the branches of our Legislature, submitted to the great inconvenience of sending our members twelve miles to wait on your Excellency on board one of His Majesty’s ships-of-war, to present our several addresses; but we think it would be highly improper, and too great a departure from the constitutional and accustomed mode of transacting the business of the Assembly, to meet your Excellency at any other place than the Capitol, to present such Bills as have there been agreed to by the Council and House of Burgesses. We must therefore beseech your Excellency to return to us; and as the advanced season of the year requires our presence in, our several Counties, we hope your Lordship will be pleased to favour us with your speedy and ultimate answer, that we may certainly know what to depend upon.

The said Address being read a second time,

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Council in the said Address, to be presented to the Governour.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to his Excellency by Mr. Cary, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Christian, in conjunction with such of the Council as shall be appointed to join in the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Bland do go to the Council, and acquaint them that this House hath appointed four of their Members present the said Address to the Governour, in conjunction with such of the Council as shall be appointed for that purpose.

A Message from the Council by Mr. Blair:

MR. SPEAKER: The Council have agreed to the. Bill intituled “An Act for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same,” without any amendment.

Ordered, That the call of the House be further adjourned till to-morrow.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a, Committee of the Whole House upon the Bill to revive an act, intituled “An Act for the better regulating and disciplining the Militia.”

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning ten of the clock.

Thursday, June 22, 15 Geo. III, 1775.

The Orders of the Day being read,

Ordered, That the call of the House be further adjourned till to-morrow.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House, to whom the Bill to revive an act for reducing the several acts of Assembly for making provision against Invasions and Insurrections, into one act, was committed, be discharged from proceeding upon said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Bill do lie upon the table.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House, to whom the Bill to revive an act intituled “An Act for the better regulating and disciplining the Militia,” was committed, be discharged from proceeding upon the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Bill do lie upon the table.

Ordered, That the Order for taking into consideration the Report which was made from the Committee to whom the Bill for appointing an Agent was committed, be discharged.

Ordered, That the said Report do lie upon the table.

Mr. Cary reported, that the joint Address of the Council and this House, of yesterday, to the Governour, had been presented to his Excellency, who delivered to him an answer thereunto, which he delivered in at the Clerk’s table, and which was read, and is in the words following, viz:

Gentlemen of the Council, and House of Burgesses:

I have already declared my intentions in regard to the arms at the Palace, and I conceive the Council and House of Burgesses are interfering in a matter which does not belong to them. I should be glad to be informed who they design by the terms “rude invaders,” which they have made use of.

The disorders in Williamsburgh and other parts of the Country, drove me to the necessity of changing my place of residence; and if any inconvenience has arisen to the Assembly on that account, I am not chargeable with it; but they have not been deprived of any necessary nor free access to me. The Constitution invests me with an undoubted power to call the Assembly for the business of, to any place in the Colony exigency may require.

Not having been made acquainted with the whole proceedings of the Assembly, I know of no bills of importance which, if I were inclined to risk my person again among the people, the Assembly have to present to me, nor whether they be such as I could assent to.

DUNMORE.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to” the Council, to desire them to acquaint this House whether they have agreed to the Bill intituled “An Act for appointing Commissioners to ratify and confirm the late Treaty of Peace with the Ohio Indians;” and that Mr. Mercer do carry the said Message.

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten of the clock.

Friday, June 23, 15 Geo. III, 1775.

The Order of the Day being read,

Ordered, That the call of the House be further adjourned till to-morrow

Mr. Mercer reported, that he had, according to order, attended the Council, and desired them to acquaint this House whether they had agreed to the Bill intituled “An Act for appointing Commissioners to ratify and confirm the late Treaty of Peace with the Ohio Indians;” and that the Council will send an answer by a Messenger of their own.

A Message from the Council by Mr. Blair:

MR.SPEAKER: I am commanded by the Council to acquaint this House, that the Bill, intituled “An Act for appointing Commissioners to ratify and confirm the late Treaty of Peace with the Ohio Indians” is rejected.

And then the Messenger withdrew.

Resolved, That a free conference be desired with the Council on the subject-matter of the Treaty to be ratified with the Indians.

Ordered, That Mr. Treasurer do go to the Council and desire the said free conference.

Mr. Treasurer reported, that he had, according to order, been at the Council, to desire a free conference, on the subject-matter of the Treaty to be ratified with the Indians; and that the Council will send an answer by a Messenger of their own.

A Message from the Council by Mr. Blair:

MR. SPEAKER: The Council do agree to a free conference with this House as desired; and have appointed two of their Members, who are now ready in the Conference Chamber, to meet the Managers for this House.

And then the Messenger withdrew.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to manage the said conference

And a Committee was appointed of Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Bland, Mr. Braxton, and Mr. Mercer.