room and during the necessary absence of George Wythe, Esq., one of the Delegates for this Colony in General Congress, be admitted into this Convention as a Delegate for the said city.

The Convention adjourned till Monday next eleven o'clock, then to meet in the City of Williamsburgh.

Williamsburgh, Monday, December 4, 1775.

The Convention met according to adjournment; but there not being members sufficient to proceed to business, adjourned till to-morrow ten o'clock.

Tuesday, December 5, 1775.

Resolved, That the Rev. Thomas Price be appointed Chaplain to this Convention, and that he be desired to read prayers every morning, at ten o'clock.

Resolved, That John A. Washington, Esq., having accepted the office of Sheriff of the County of Westmoreland, is incapable of sitting and voting in this Convention as a Delegate for the said County, and that the President issue his Warrant for the election of a Delegate for the said County, and for all other Counties and Corporations as are not represented in this Convention, by the necessary attendance of the Delegates appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress, during their absence.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety do lay their Proceedings before this Convention.

Several Letters received by the Committee of Safety, from the Committee for the County of Elizabeth City, were presented to the Convention, and ordered to be referred to Mr. Mercer, Mr. Bland, Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Treasurer, Joseph Jones, Mr. Holt, Mr. Newton, Mr. King, Mr. Ruffin, and Mr. Read, and they are to report such thereof to this Convention as may concern the publick.

Mr. Bland from the Committee of Safety, according to order, laid before the Convention the Proceedings of the said Committee, which were ordered to lie on the table.

The President laid before the Convention several Letters received from the Delegates of this Colony in General Congress, and others, which were ordered to lie on the table.

Resolved, That this Convention will immediately resolve itself into a Committee to take into their consideration the state of the Colony; and that the Letters laid before this Convention by the President, together with the Proceedings of the Committee of Safety, be referred to the said Committee.

The Committee accordingly resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Treasurer 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.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety be revived, and that they continue to exercise the powers with which they were vested by the several Ordinances until the end of this session.

Ordered, That Mr. Cary, Mr. Adams, Mr. Parker, Mr. Banister, and Mr. William Cabell, be appointed a Committee to examine Charles Robertson, who hath been apprehended as a suspected person, together with the several Papers found in his possession, and make report.

Adjourned till to-morrow, half after ten o'clock.

Wednesday, December 6, 1775.

A proposition from the Rev. John Dixon was presented to the Convention and read; setting forth, that by several experiments made in the County of Gloucester, he finds he can make considerable quantities of Salt, and desiring the encouragement of the publick in so useful an undertaking.

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

Resolved, That the Commanding Officer of the Forces raised for the protection and defence of this Colony do lay before the Convention a state and return of the Forces under his command, and of their several stations.

Resolved, That all intercepted Letters which are supposed to concern the publick be transmitted to the Committee of Safety, unopened.

Mr. Mercer, from the Committee appointed to report such of the Letters transmitted to the Committee of Safety from the Committee of the County of Elizabeth City, as concerned the publick, reported several of the said Letters.

Ordered, That the said Letters be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonel Woodford, in answer to one formerly written to him.

Ordered, That the said Letter be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

Several Letters lately received from the Committee for, the County of Elizabeth City were presented to the Convention, and ordered to be referred to the Committee formerly appointed to report such Letters as should be found to concern the publick.

The Commanding Officer of the Forces raised for the defence and protection of this Colony laid before the Convention, according to order, a state and return of the Forces under his command.

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the. Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President, resumed the chair, and Mr. Treasurer 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 desired him to move for leave to sit again.

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, half after ten o'clock.

Thursday, December 7, 1775.

Resolved, That Colonel Woodford, of the Second Regiment, be empowered to employ a Secretary, with the same wages as are allowed to the Secretary of the Colonel of the First Regiment.

Ordered, That the proposition of the Rev. John Dixon; for the manufactory of Salt, be referred to Mr. Braxton, Mr. Mason, Mr. Carter of Stafford, Mr. Thomas Walker. and Mr. Clapham, and they are to report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Mr. Mercer, from the Committee appointed to report such of the Letters lately received from the Committee for the County of Elizabeth City, as concerned the publick, reported several of the said Letters.

Ordered, That the said Letters be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Treasurer reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the state of the Colony, and had come to a Resolution thereupon, which he read in his place, and then delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was again twice read and agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that five hundred effective Men, three Companies whereof to be Riflemen, be employed for the protection and defence of the Counties of Northampton and Accomack.

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, at half after ten o'clock.