to be absent from the service of this Convention for the remainder of the session.

An Ordinance for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same, was read a second time, and ordered to be committed.

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

The Convention accordingly resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same; 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 this 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.

Thursday, August 24, 1775.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same; 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 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.

An Ordinance 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, having been fairly transcribed, was read the third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

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

Friday, August 25, 1775.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to provide for paying the expenses of the Delegates from this Colony to the General Congress, and that Mr. Pendleton and Mr. Mercer do prepare and bring in the same.

Resolved, That no person whatsoever shall sell to any Non-Commissioned Officer or Soldier in the regular service any kind of Spirituous Liquors, within a mile of the Head-Quarters, under the penalty of subjecting himself to every regulation prescribed for Sutlers.

It appearing to the Convention, by a Receipt of Patrick Henry, Esq., and other testimony, that it was referred to them, at this meeting, to determine how much of the three hundred and thirty Pounds which had been received of the Receiver-General on the fourth of May last, to compensate for the Powder taken out of the Magazine by the Governour’s orders, should be restored to the said Receiver-General,

Resolved, (as the opinion of this Convention,) That sufficient proof being had of there being only fifteen half-barrels of Powder so taken by Lord Dunmore’s order, that no more money should be retained than one hundred and twelve Pounds, ten Shillings, which we judge fully adequate to the payment of the said Powder, and that the residue of the said three hundred and thirty Pounds ought to be returned to the said Receiver-General; and it is hereby directed to be paid to him by the Treasurer of this Colony.

Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this Convention are justly due to the several Volunteer Companies in this Colony, for their zeal and attachment to the cause of American Liberty, manifested by their attention to the Resolutions of the last Convention, in arming and disciplining themselves, and the readiness they have shown, upon all occasions, to defend their Country against the dangers with which it was threatened; and that they be desired to exert themselves in promoting enlistments into the regular and minute service adopted by this Convention; and it is recommended to the several District Committees to pay proper attention to the merit of the said Volunteers, in their choice of officers.

Resolved, That the Treasurer do, from time to time, advance to the Members of the Committee of Safely fifteen Shillings per day, to defray their reasonable expenses during their attendance on duty.

Mr. Pendleton, from the persons appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance to provide for paying the expenses of the Delegates from this Colony to the General Congress, presented to the Convention, according to order, the said Ordinance; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

An 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, having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

An Ordinance to provide for paying the expenses of the Delegates from this Colony to the General Congress was read a second time, ordered to be fairly transcribed, and read a third time.

An Ordinance for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same, having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

Ordered, That the title of the said Ordinance be, “An Ordinance for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same, as well as the expense of raising and providing for the Forces and Minute-Men directed to be embodied for the defence of this Colony.”

An Ordinance to provide for paying the expenses of the Delegates from this Colony to the General Congress, having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

The Order of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for establishing a General Test, being read,

Ordered, That the same be put off till the first day of the next Convention.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committees of the several Counties and Corporations in this Colony, to call all Collectors and Receivers of Fines heretofore imposed by any Court-Martial, and all other persons who have any Money in their hands arising from such Fines, to an immediate account for the same, and, after paying any arrears which may be due for Arms or Trophies formerly purchased, apply any such Money for providing Arms and Ammunition for the use of their respective Counties and Corporations, in such manner as they shall think best.

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