Saturday, July 22, 1775.

Richard Bland, Esq., a Member of this Convention, and one of the Deputies appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress, informed the Convention, that certain false and scandalous reports, highly reflecting on him in his publick character, had been propagated: to wit, that he had made application to the Earl of Dartmouth, or some of the Ministry, for an appointment to collect the Taxes imposed on America by Parliament; and that, as an inducement to them to grant the same, had promised to promote the designs of the Ministry against this Country; and, also, that his conduct in General Congress had been such that he was obliged suddenly to decamp from the City of Philadelphia. That he had served as a Member of the General Assembly for upwards of thirty years, and hoped the part he had always publickly taken would have secured him, in his age, from an imputation so injurious to his character. That he earnestly requested a full and publick inquiry should be made into the truth of the said reports; and that the Rev. Samuel Shield, the Rev. John Hurt, and Samuel Overton, and Joseph Smith, who, he understood, had propagated the said reports, should be summoned to attend the said inquiry; and that every other person who had heard any thing of the said reports would also attend, that the fullest examination might be made into the truth thereof.

Resolved, That this Convention will, on Friday next, examine into the truth of the reports mentioned in the said information.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Claiborne be appointed Messenger to this Convention; and that he summon the Rev. Samuel Shield, the Rev. John Hurt, and Samuel Overton, and Joseph Smith, to attend this Convention on Friday next.

Ordered, That Mr. Travis be added to the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence of this Colony.

Adjourned till Monday, nine o’clock.

Monday, July 24, 1775.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter just received from the Deputies appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress, enclosing several Resolutions and Proceedings of the General Congress; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On a motion made, Resolved, That no Flour, Wheat, or other Grain, or Provisions of any kind, be exported from this Colony to any part of the world, from and after the fifth day of August next, until the Convention or Assembly, or the honourable the Continental Congress, shall order otherwise; that no quantities of the said articles, more than are necessary for the use of the inhabitants, be brought to, collected, or stored in the Towns, or other places, upon or near the navigable waters; that the respective County Committees be directed to take care that this Resolve be effectually carried into execution, and that all contracts made for the sale and delivery of any such articles for exportation, between this time and the tenth day of September next, be considered as null and void.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Walker be added to the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Tuesday, July 25, 1775.

Ordered, That Mr. Cary, Mr. William Cabell, Mr. Bussed, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Peyton, Mr. John Nicholas, and Mr. Carrington, be added to the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony.

A Memorial of the Committee for the County of Chesterfield was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that doubts had arisen whether the Volunteers raised for the defence of this Colony were under the command of the Officers of the Militia, which were likely to be productive of many inconveniences; and praying that the same may be taken into consideration, and that such regulations may be made therein as will best answer the design of the Convention in raising the said Volunteers.

Ordered, That the said Memorial be referred to the consideration of the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony.

The Committee to whom the late Treaty with the different Tribes of Indians at Pittsburgh, together with several Resolutions of the Committee on the Western Waters of Augusta County, were referred, reported, that they had had the same under their consideration, and come to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Committee of the County of Augusta have acted with the greatest propriety and prudence; and that the expenses of the Treaty, and the money advanced in presents to the Indians, ought to be reimbursed by the publick.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that two Companies, of one hundred men each, besides Officers, ought, with all convenient speed, to be stationed at Pittsburgh; one other Company, of one hundred men, at Point Pleasant; twenty-five men at Fort Fincastle, at the mouth of Wheeling; and that one hundred men be stationed at proper posts in the County of Fincastle; for the protection of the inhabitants on the southwestern frontiers, exclusive of the Troops to be raised for the defence of the lower parts of the country.

The said Resolutions being severally read a second time, were agreed to by the Convention.

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be presented to the Committee on the Western Waters of Augusta, for their great prudence in conducting the Treaty with the Indians, and securing the important Fort at Pittsburgh.

Ordered, That Patrick Kirk be paid as a Publick Express for bringing down the Treaty with the Indians, and other proceedings relating thereto, to this Convention.

Resolved, That eleven of the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony, be a sufficient number to proceed on business.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to make provision for defraying the expenses of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for paying the same; and that Mr. Zane do prepare and bring in the said Ordinance.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance for regulating the election of Delegates and Committees for the several Counties and Corporations in this Colony; and that Mr. Cary, Mr. Digges, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Lawson, Mr. Ruffin, and Mr. Banister, do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That Mr. William Dandridge, Jun., be appointed Clerk to the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony.

Adjourned till Thursday, nine o’clock.

Thursday, July 27, 1775.

Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee to take under consideration the state of the Colony.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Deputies appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress, together with the papers enclosed therein, be referred to the said Committee.

The Committee to whom the Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County of Berkley was referred, reported that they had had the same under their consideration, agreed upon a Report, and come to a Resolution thereupon; which was read, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk’s table, where the same was again twice read, and agreed to by the Convention as follows:

It appears to your Committee that Colonel Adam Stephen, with the approbation of some of the Committee of the County of Berkley, caused notice to be given, appointed a day for the election of Delegates to represent the