Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee on the said Ordinance.

The Orders of the Day for a call of the Convention, and for the appointment of Officers, being read,

Ordered, That the same be put off till to-morrow.

Patrick Henry, Edmund Pendleton, Benjamin Harrison, and Thomas Jefferson, Esquires, appeared in Convention and took their seats; and the gentlemen appointed to represent their Counties, during their necessary absence, retired.

Ordered, That Mr. Pendleton, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Jefferson, be added to the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Governour’s Proclamation, relative to granting Lands In this Colony.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Thursday, August 10, 1775.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Bland reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the stale of the Colony, but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, resolve itself into the said Committee.

The Order of the Day for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, being read, the Convention accordingly resolved itself into the said Committee; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Bland reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the state of the Colony, but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

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

A Memorial of Charles Duncan, of the Town of Blandford, Merchant, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that he had, for some years past, had a Store in the County of Brunswick, on account of himself and others, his partners, which had for some time past been under the care and management of Thomas Crawford, who had always been in the esteem of his customers and acquaintances, and has, ever since the unhappy dispute with Great Britain, endeavoured to conduct himself in such a manner as to avoid giving cause of offence to any of the inhabitants of this Colony, and has also endeavoured, as far as in him lay, to conform to the regulations of the General Congress and Convention of this Colony; that, under these circumstances, he hoped he should have been allowed to transact business, and conduct his own affairs in quiet and security, without being called upon or compelled to enlist as soldiers, or take part in any military regulations, other than such as were prescribed by the laws of the Colony or the recommendation of the Convention; but that such was the unhappy situation of himself, his partners, and servants, in the County of Brunswick, that they have been called upon, by the gentlemen who command the Volunteer Company in the said County, to enlist as soldiers therein, under pain of incurring the displeasure of the said Company, and of being treated as enemies to the Country, with no other alternative left them than either to desert the property and interest which they hare in the said County, or remain therein to protect the same at the hazard of all that is dear and valuable to freemen and good citizens; and praying that this Convention would take the same into consideration, and do therein as should appear just and reasonable.

Ordered, That the President be desired to write to the Commanding Officers of the said Company, requiring them to desist from a further prosecution of the measures mentioned in the said Memorial.

On a motion made, Resolved, That the Powder purchased by Patrick Henry, Esq., for the use of this Colony, be immediately sent for, and applied by the Deputies appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress in such manner as they shall judge most for the interest of this Colony.

Mr. Henry Pendleton, a Member for the County of Culpepper, appeared in Convention, and took his seat.

Lewis Burwell, Esq., a Member for the County of Gloucester, appeared in Convention, and took his seat.

The Order of the Day, for the Convention to proceed to the appointment of Officers to command the Regular Forces to be raised for the defence and protection of this Colony, being read,

Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, proceed to the said appointments.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Friday, August 11, 1775.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Walker and Mr. John Walker have leave to be absent from the service of this Convention for the remainder of the session.

Mr. Richard Henry Lee appeared in Convention, and took his seat, as a Member for the County of Westmoreland.

A Letter from the Officers of the Volunteer Companies in Williamsburgh was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that they had seized a Vessel outward bound, laden with Bread and Flour; that the Captain informed them that the Convention had come to a Resolution posterior to that by which the exportation of Grain and Provision was stopped after the fifth instant, and had allowed a free export till the time limited by the General Congress; that, under these circumstances, they applied themselves to the Convention for information, and requested certain directions by which they might regulate their conduct on similar occasions.

Resolved, That the President be desired to write to the Officers of the said Volunteer Companies, informing them that the Convention is well pleased with the zeal they have shown on this occasion to carry into execution their Resolutions: that it is true, as the Captain had informed them, that the Convention had rescinded their former Resolution, in consequence of a Letter from Maryland, by which they were informed that that Province could not come into a similar one.

On a motion made, Ordered, That the Commissioners appointed by the House of Burgesses to examine, stale, and settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, do also state and report the case of such wounded Soldiers and poor Widows and Orphans as may have suffered by the late expedition against the Indians.

The Convention being about to proceed to the choice of Deputies to represent this Colony in General Congress, Edmund Pendleton, Esq., expressed his most grateful acknowledgments for the honour done him in two former appointments to that important trust, but, on account of the declining suite of his health, entreated to be excused from the present nomination; which excuse being accepted,

Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Convention are justly due to his Excellency George Washington, Esq., Patrick Henry, and Edmund Pendleton, Esquires, three of the worthy Deputies who represented this Colony in the late Continental Congress, for their faithful discharge of that important trust; and this body are only induced to dispense with their future services, of the like nature, by the appointment of the two former to other offices in the publick service, incompatible with their attendance on this, and the infirm state of health of the latter,

Mr. President accordingly delivered the Thanks of this Convention to Mr. Henry and Mr. Pendleton in their places, who expressed the great pleasure they received from this distinguished testimony of their Country’s approbation of their services.

Resolved, That the President be desired to transmit the Thanks of this Convention, by Letter, to his Excellency General Washington.

The Convention then proceeded, according to the Order