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

Saturday, June 24, 15 Geo. III, 1775.

Mr. Attorney-General reported, that the Address of yesterday had been presented to the Governour, residing on board the Fowey, one of His Majesty’s ships-of-war riding at anchor in York River, and that his Excellency was pleased to deliver to him a written Answer thereto; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk’s table, and which is in the words following, viz:

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses:

As you have encumbered the bill for the payment of the officers and men employed upon the Indian expedition with an imposition which you know I could not assent to, and omitted a form (in no wise tending to defeat the purpose of the bill) which you were told I could not dispense with, the blame of its not passing now into a law cannot lie upon me; but I must adhere to the reasons I yesterday signified to you on this head. The well-grounded apprehension I had for believing my person not safe at Williamsburgh, has increased daily. I cannot therefore meet you at the Capitol as you entreat; but this day being too far spent, I shall be ready to receive the House on Monday, at twelve of the clock, at my present residence, for the purpose of giving my assent to such acts as I shall approve of.

Although the convenience of the members of the Assembly will always be a strong motive to determine me as to the time of your meeting or separating, yet it becomes necessary (from an expression in your Address, that you wish not to take things out of their old channel, as if you had such power) to assert the right of the Crown to adjourn, prorogue, dissolve, or assemble you, as it is thought fit by the Governour of the Colony. I do not mean, however, to oppose the request you make of being adjourned.

DUNMORE.

The House proceeded to take the said written Answer into consideration.

Resolved, That the House do now resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to take into consideration the state of the Colony and the Governour’s written Answer to the Address of this House of yesterday.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Bland took the chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.

Mr. Bland reported from the Committee, That the Committee having taken into their serious consideration the unhappy situation of this Colony, and considering the many obstructions given to the due and regular prosecution of the important business before the General Assembly by his Excellency the Governour, in first removing from the Palace on board one of the King’s ships, whereby a free access to him, and that necessary intercourse between his Lordship and the other two branches of the Legislature hath been in a great measure cut off; considering that his Lordship hath withstood the repeated entreaties of the Council and Burgesses to return to the seat of his Government; and having this day received such an answer from his Lordship as, when compared with his different Messages and other parts of his conduct, convinces them of his determination not to do any thing that may be of advantage to this Colony, and particularly to the inhabitants on our frontiers, by his requiring the House to attend him on board the Fowey, man-of-war, in order to present such bills as are now ready for his assent; thought it a duty highly incumbent on them, for themselves and the whole body of their constituents, to make several Resolves, in maintenance of their just rights and privileges, and in hopes of removing those prejudices which, have been already, and may be again attempted to be excited in the breasts of their most gracious Sovereign and of their fellow-subjects in Great Britain.

The said Resolves being reported to the House, and severally agreed to, are as follow:

Resolved nem. con. That his Lordship’s Message, requiring this House to attend him on board one of His Majesty’s ships-of-war, is a high breach of the rights and privileges of this House.

Resolved nem. con. That the unreasonable delays thrown into the proceedings of this House by the Governour, and his evasive answers to the sincere and decent Addresses of the Representatives of the People, give us great reason to fear that a dangerous attack may be meditated against the unhappy People of this Colony. It is therefore our opinion, that they prepare for the preservation of their property, and their inestimable rights and liberties, with the greatest care and attention.

Resolved nem. con. That we do, and will, bear faith and true allegiance to our most gracious Sovereign George the Third, our only lawful and rightful King; that we will, at all times, to the utmost of our power, and at the risk of our lives and property, maintain and defend his Government in this Colony, as founded on the established laws and principles of the Constitution.

Resolved nem. con. That it is our most earnest desire to preserve and strengthen those bands of amity with all our fellow-subjects in Great Britain, which are so very essential to the prosperity and happiness of both Countries.

Resolved nem. con. That it is with the deepest concern we find ourselves deprived of an opportunity of making immediate provision for those gallant officers and soldiers who so nobly defended this Country against the incursions of the Indians, unless we would sacrifice their own and the inestimable rights and privileges of all other inhabitants of this Colony; that as we have already endeavoured to make the most ample provision for this necessary purpose, So will we gladly seize every opportunity afforded us of doing the utmost justice to those brave men, and all other publick creditors.

Certain information having been received of the great discontent of the Ohio Indians, by reason of the delay of the ratification of the late Treaty of Peace concluded upon by his Excellency the Governour, on the part of this Colony, and the Corn Stalk, on the part of the Indians, and that the inhabitants on our frontiers are under just apprehensions of a renewal of an Indian war; and no steps having been pursued by his Lordship for carrying on the said Treaty, or delivering up the Indian hostages, agreeable to the terms of the said Treaty:

Resolved, That the said Treaty be immediately entered upon, and that George Washington, Thomas Walker, James Wood, Andrew Lewis, John Walker, and Adam Stephen, Esquires, or any three or more of them, be, and they are hereby constituted and appointed Commissioners, on the part and behalf of this Colony, to meet the Chiefs or Headmen of the said Ohio Indians, as soon as the same can be done, at such place as they shall find most proper, to ratify and confirm the said Treaty on the part of this Colony, and to demand and receive of the said Indians the ratifications and full performance of the said Treaty on their parts. And that Robert Carter Nicholas, Esquire, Treasurer, or the Treasurer for the time being, shall, and he is hereby directed and required, to pay all such expenses and charges, out of the publick money in his hands, as may be incurred on account of such Treaty; provided the same do not exceed two thousand Pounds, for which the said Commissioners shall account to the next General Assembly.

Ordered, That Mr. Mercer do carry the Resolution to the Council, and desire their concurrence.

A Message from the Council by Mr. Blair:

MR. SPEAKER: The Council have agreed to the Resolve for appointing Commissioners to ratify the Treaty of Peace with the Ohio Indians, and for defraying the expense thereof.

Whereas, several Companies of the Militia of this Colony have been drawn out into actual service by command of his Excellency the Governour, for the defence and protection of the Frontiers against the incursions and depredations of the Indians, and there are now due several large sums of Money, as well for the Pay of such Militia as for Provisions, Arms, and other necessaries furnished them; and it will be a great saving to the Colony, as well as ease to the claimants, to have such Accounts adjusted by Commissioners in the country:

Resolved, therefore, That Archibald Cary, William Cabell, William Fleming, John Winn, and John Nicholas, Gentlemen, or any three or more of them, be, and they are hereby, appointed Commissioners for the Counties