Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, resolve itself into the said Committee.

Adjourned till Monday, nine o’clock.

Monday, August 21, 1775.

The Articles for the better government of the Forces to be raised and employed in the service of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, which had passed through the several stages as part of the Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony, were separated therefrom, read a third time, and passed, under the title of “An Ordinance for the better government of the Forces to be raised and employed in the service of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.”

An Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Banister, Mr. Lawson, Mr. Watkins, and Mr. Holt, be appointed a Committee to draw up and report the forms of proper Commissions to be granted to the Officers of the Regular Forces, Minute-Men, and Militia of this Colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Zane have leave to be absent from the service of this Convention for the remainder of the session.

Ordered, That the Clerk do immediately send the Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony to Mr. Alexander Purdie, and the Ordinance for the better government of the Forces to be raised and employed in the service of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia to Mr. John Pinkney, requesting them to print five hundred copies thereof with all possible expedition.

The Orders of the Day—for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Ordinances for appointing a Committee of Safety, for the more effectual carrying into execution the several rules and regulations established by this Convention for the protection of this Colony; to encourage the making Saltpetre, Gunpowder, Lead, the refining Sulphur, and providing Arms for the use of this Colony; for the election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-Men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; to establish a General Test; and for a call of the Convention—being read,

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Tuesday, August 22, 1775.

A Letter from James Wood, Esq., on the subject of Indian affairs, was laid before the Convention, read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Whereas the quiet of this Colony will greatly depend upon the County Courts attending particularly to the suppression of all irregularities in their respective Counties; and whereas the Courts held at Pittsburgh are by writs of adjournment, which renders it impossible to hold Courts for suppression of irregularities or trial of criminals at Staunton, in East Augusta, when the adjournment is to Pittsburgh, and so vice versa:

Resolved, That the Courts at Staunton and Pittsburgh do proceed, in all matters relating to keeping the peace and good behaviour, and in all criminal matters, as if they were distinct Counties.

Ordered, That Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Peyton, Mr. Clapham, Mr. Henry Lee, and Mr. Blackburn, have leave to be absent from the service of this Convention for the remainder of the session, they being necessarily called away, to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to examine, state, and settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service do make a special Report of the expense of building and repairing Forts, which is not to be paid without the further order of the Convention or Assembly; and that the said Committee do also make a strict inquiry for all the publick Muskets and Bayonets lately used in the expedition against the Indians, and cause the same to be sent to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces to be raised for the defence and protection of this Colony.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for appointing a Committee of Safety, for the more effectual carrying into execution the several rules and regulations established by this Convention for the protection of this Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had the said Ordinance under their consideration, and had gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered, in at the Clerk’s table, where the same were again twice read, and, on the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the Convention.

Ordered, That the said Ordinance, with the several amendments, be fairly transcribed, and read a third time.

The Convention then resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for the election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-Men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the said Ordinance, and had made a considerable progress therein; 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 on the said Ordinance.

The Orders of the Day—for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Ordinances for establishing a General Test; to encourage the making Saltpetre, Gunpowder, Lead, the refining Sulphur, and providing Arms for the use of the Colony; and the Order of the Day for a call of the Convention—being read,

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Wednesday, August 23, 1775.

A Petition from the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Chesterfield was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that, agreeable to the eleventh Resolution of the Continental Congress, a Committee had been chosen in their County, very shortly after the said Resolution had been entered into; that not many of the Freeholders attended the said election, as few persons had been associated, by which means some persons were chosen of the said Committee whom they could by no, means think proper; and as the Committee is now to transact matters of greater importance than was conceived at the time of their election, they prayed that the said Committee might be dissolved, and a new one chosen.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie on the table.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for regulating the election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-Men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their further consideration the said Ordinance, and had gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk’s table, where the same were again twice read, and on the question severally put thereon, agreed to by the Convention.

Ordered, That the said Ordinance, together with the several amendments, be fairly transcribed, and read a third time.

Ordered, That Mr. Lyne and Mr. Bassett have leave