Mr. Adams, from the Committee appointed to examine, state, and report the Claims of such Officers and Men as had been appointed and enlisted pursuant to a former Resolution, reported, that they had examined the Claims of the Officers and Soldiers in the County of Chesterfield, and that it appeared to them that the said Officers were chosen by the Committee of the said County, and directed to raise the Men, in consequence of which they were accordingly enlisted, and are entitled to pay as follows:

Resolved, That the Treasurer do pay the said thirteen Pounds and four Shillings, agreeable to the foregoing Report.

Whereas, by a Resolution of the Convention held in the month of March last, the several Courts in this Colony were directed to proceed to give judgments against Sheriffs and other Collectors, for Money or Tobacco received by them; and it is represented to this Convention, that several Sheriffs, in order to evade paying the Money received on executions levied by them, refuse to return such executions:

Resolved, therefore, That it be recommended to the several Courts of Justice in this Colony to put in execution the laws now in force to compel the Sheriffs to return executions, and to call all publick creditors to account.

A Petition of sundry Merchants and others, natives of Great Britain, and resident in this Colony, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that being chiefly agents, factors, and persons who from their youth have been bred up to and employed in commerce, they have at no time interfered with the civil institutions of the Country, but have always acted in conformity to the laws, under which they have enjoyed the best security for their persons and property; that with this experience of the protection derived from salutary laws, as well as from the happy intercourse they have enjoyed with the inhabitants, many of them had formed connections of the most endearing nature, and had invested considerable portions of their property in real estates, with a view of continuing their residence among a people with whom they had hitherto lived in much harmony; that their fears were much awakened, from the ill-grounded prejudices which they are informed actuate the minds of some of the people of this Colony against them, as a body who are not natives of the land—a circumstance which, being accidental, cannot be imputed to them as a fault, and therefore hoping to stand in the same light with other subjects who conform to the laws; that they are very sensible the unhappy differences subsisting between the Parent State and her Colonies have given rise to distinctions to their prejudice amongst the natives of the Country, and excited jealousies of them which otherwise had never existed; that, discriminated from the rest of the society, and placed in a suspicious point of view, they presume to lay before this Convention the hardships of their situation, and, in the sincerity of their hearts, declare that they hold the people of this Colony in the highest estimation as friends and fellow-subjects; and that, in war or peace, they will cheerfully contribute, with them, to the exigencies of their common state; that in all internal commotions or insurrections, they pledge their faith, at the risk of their lives and fortunes, jointly with their fellow-subjects of this Colony, to defend the Country; and that in case of an attack from the Troops of Great Britain, they will not aid in any manner, or communicate intelligence to them by letter or otherwise; that they beg leave to assure this Convention they wish not an exemption from the hardships and burdens to which the people of this Country are exposed, from the civil contest subsisting with the Parent State, but are willing and ready to participate in all instances, except taking up arms against the people among whom they were born, and with whom, perhaps, they are connected by the nearest ties of consanguinity; that they entreat the impartial and favourable attention of the Convention to this circumstance, and beg that a line of conduct might be marked out, by which, in this dangerous crisis, they may move as useful members of the community, without being held to the necessity of shedding the blood of their countrymen–an act at which nature recoils, and which every feeling of humanity forbids; that, allowed this, they repeat their readiness to stand up, with the foremost, in defence of the Country against internal insurrections, and in its support by the most liberal and cheerful contributions; and that the Supreme Director of the Universe might inspire this Convention with wisdom, to put a period to this unnatural contest, and restore this once happy land to peace, safety, and union with its Parent State, was their most ardent wish.

Resolved, unanimously, That the said Petition is reasonable, and it is recommended to the Committees of the several Counties and Corporations, and others the good people of this Colony, to treat all natives of Great Britain, resident here, as do not show themselves enemies to the common cause of America, with lenity and friendship; to protect all persons whatsoever in the just enjoyment of their civil rights and liberty; to discountenance all national reflections; to preserve, to the utmost of their power, internal peace and good order; and to promote union, harmony, and mutual good-will, among all ranks of people.

Resolved, also, That the said Petition, together with this Resolve, be forthwith published in the Virginia Gazettes.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance to encourage the making Saltpetre, Gunpowder, Lead, the refining Sulphur, and providing Arms for the use 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 under their consideration the said Ordinance, 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.

Resolved, That it be an instruction to the Committee of Safety, that they forthwith cause to be erected a Magazine, at some fit and convenient place, for the reception of Arms and Ammunition, and that they appoint a guard, to be drawn out of the Minute-Men or Militia, for the safe keeping and preservation of the same, from time to time, as the exigence of affairs may require.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committees of the several Counties and Corporations, to appoint proper persons of their body, within such Districts as to them shall seem convenient, to take a List of the number of persons therein, of all ages and sexes, distinguishing whether they be male or female, white or black; and, of the males, whether they be above or under sixteen years of age; from which Lists the Committee shall cause a general County or Corporation List to be made and returned to the President of the Convention, without delay, who is desired, from them, to cause a general Colony List to be formed, and certify the same to the Continental Congress.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Saturday, August 26, 1775.

The Convention proceeded, by ballot, to appoint a place for the meeting of the next Convention; and the Members having prepared tickets, with the name of the place to be appointed for the purpose aforesaid, and put the same into the ballot-box, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Braxton, Mr. Stubblefield, and Mr. Cary, were appointed a Committee to examine the ballot-box, and to report on which place the majority falls; who retired, and, after some time, returned into Convention and reported that the numbers on the ballot appeared as follows:

And the question being then put, whether the Town of Richmond, or the City of Williamsburgh, should be the place for holding the next Convention, a majority appeared in favour of the Town of Richmond.