Friday, December 8, 1775.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter received from Colonel Woodford, of the Second Regiment.

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

A Proclamation issued by Lord Dunmore, the 7th of November last, declaring martial law to be enforced throughout this Colony, and requiring every person capable of bearing arms to resort to His Majesty's standard by him erected in the Town of Norfolk, or be considered as traitors to His Majesty's crown and Government, and further declaring all negroes and indented servants capable of bearing arms, and appertaining to rebels, free; also, a certificate of an oath taken by several of the inhabitants of the Counties of Norfolk and Princess Anne, in consequence thereof; were presented to the Convention and read.

Ordered, That the said Proclamation and Certificate be referred to Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Braxton, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Jones, Mr. Banister, Mr. Parker, Mr. Gary, Mr. Smith, the Rev. Mr. Muhlenburg, and Mr. Page; and they are to draw up a Declaration in answer thereto, and make report.

Ordered, That the said Committee do also select for publication such of the Letters laid before this Convention as they shall think proper.

Resolved, That the venders of Salt, imported not contrary to the Continental Association, be allowed to demand and receive whatever price they can obtain for that necessary article.

Resolved, That the Treasurer of this Colony for the time being be required to purchase for the publick use, all the good and merchantable Gunpowder which may be imported into this Colony, or manufactured here, at any time within six months, and allow the price of sis Shillings per pound for the same.

Resolved, That Joseph Cabell, Thomas Randolph, and Jerman Baker, Gentlemen, be appointed Commissioners to receive for and pay to the several claimants, in the Southern District, for services in the late expedition against the Indians, whatever may be due them from the publick, and not called for at the Treasury; and that Francis Peyton, George Rootes, and John Neavill, Gentlemen, be appointed Commissioners for the like purpose in the Northern District.

Mr. Braxton, from the Committee to whom the proposition of the Rev. John Dixon, for the manufactory of Salt, was referred, reported, that the Committee had had the same under their consideration, and had come to the following Resolutions thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to by the Convention.

Resolved, That the samples of Salt exhibited by the Rev. Mr. Dixon do not appear to be sufficiently purified, but are of great strength in their taste.

That the said Mr. Dixon, having given assurances of his intention to proceed in this work with expedition and diligence, if supported with a sum of money from the country, not exceeding fifty Pounds, to purchase his kettles, and other necessaries, the Committee are of opinion the said sum ought to be advanced to the said Mr. Dixon, upon his giving security to repay the money if his work succeeds within twelve months; and if it does not, to return what articles he bought with the country's money.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the slate of the Colony; and after some 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, bad 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.

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

Saturday, December 9, 1775.

Resolved, That the Treasurer of this Colony do advance the sum of one hundred Pounds to Charles Carter, Esq., as an encouragement to promote the manufactory of Saltpetre, in which he is at present engaged, he entering into bond, with security to repay the same in saltpetre, at the price of three Shillings per pound, within six months.

Resolved, That the like sum of one hundred Pounds be advanced by the Treasurer of this Colony to the Dumfries Saltpetre Company, to promote their manufactory of that article, they entering into bond, with security to repay the same in saltpetre, at the price of three shillings per pound, within six months.

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

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 further 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, on Monday next, resolve itself into the said Committee.

Adjourned till Monday, half after ten o'clock.

Monday, December 11, 1775.

A Letter from Colonel Woodford, of the Second Regiment, was laid before the Convention and read.

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

A representation from the Committee for the County of Accomack was laid before the Convention and read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Mercer, Mr. Bland, Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Newton, Mr. Aylett, Mr. Holt, and Mr. Brooke, be a Committee to inquire into the conduct of John Goodrich, William Goodrich, and John Goodrich, Jr., relating to the importation of Gunpowder and other articles, for the use of this Colony.

A Petition and Representation from the Committee for the County of Warwick, was laid before the Convention and read.

Ordered, That the said Petition and Representation 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. Carey reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the state of the Colony, and had made a further 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 the said Committee, to take into their further consideration the state of the Colony.

The President laid before the Convention a Journal of the Proceedings of the General Congress held at the City of Philadelphia, the tenth day of May last.

Ordered, That the same do lie on the table, for the perusal of the members.

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

Tuesday, December 12, 1775.

The Convention, 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. Carey reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the state of the Colony, and had come to several Resolutions thereupon, which he was ready to report when the Convention should be pleased to receive them.

Ordered, That the said Report be received to-morrow.

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

The President laid before the Convention a Letter received from Colonel Woodford, which being read,