A Petition of sundry surviving Captains of Companies on the late expedition against the Indians, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that the said expedition was greatly promoted by their zeal for the service, and that they had advanced considerable sums of money, and extended their credit to the utmost, in order to supply the soldiers under their command with every necessary for the campaign; that they did this from an expectation that the Troops would be paid off in the manner practised heretofore, and that each Captain should receive the pay of his Company, and thereby be enabled to reimburse himself what he might have advanced the Soldiers under him; but that it is with great concern, they have lately understood the Commissioners appointed to settle the accounts had come to a resolution not to pay any soldier or packhorse-man unless such person should appear, or give an order in writing for the same, by which they conceive they shall be considerable losers, as many of the Soldiers were now dispersed over the Continent, expecting their pay would be delivered into the hands of their respective Captains, to discharge the money advanced for thorn; and praying such relief as this Convention should think just and reasonable.

Resolved, That the Commissioners appointed 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 to them from the publick, do in the first place settle the Accounts between the Captains and the Men under their command, and pay to the said Captains whatever shall be found due to them on such settlement.

Mr. Cary, according to order, reported, that the Commitee of the whole Convention had come to the following Resolutions; 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 regular Forces now in the pay of this Colony be recruited to ten Companies of sixty-eight men each, rank and file; and that six other Battalions, each to consist of the like number of men, with their proper Officers, exclusive of the forces already voted for the defence of the Counties of Northampton and Accomack, be raised and embodied for the defence and protection of this Colony, and that these levies be recruited throughout the Colony.

Resolved, That each of the said Battalions be commanded by a Colonel, a Lieutenant Colonel, Major, ten Captains, twenty Lieutenants, ten Ensigns, and thirty Sergeants.

Resolved, That one of the said Battalions be composed of Germans, with German Officers.

That the plan formerly established for the defence of this Colony, by Minute-men and Militia, ought to be continued, with some alterations.

Ordered, That Mr. Cary, Mr. A. Lewis, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Wills, Mr. Jones, Mr. Banister, Mr. Smith, Mr. Rootes, Mr. Thomas Walker, Mr. Fitzhugh, Mr. Harvie, Mr. Kenner, Mr. Dandridge, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Holt, and Mr. Travis, be a Committee to prepare and bring in an Ordinance pursuant to the foregoing Resolutions.

Resolved, That the said Committee, or any seven of them, be a sufficient number to proceed to business.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee to whom it was referred to examine Charles Robinson, who had been apprehended as a suspected person, reported, that the Committee had accordingly examined him, and had found no Papers of a publick nature in his possession; but, as he is at present in the employment of a person in arms against this Colony, they are of opinion he ought not to be suffered to return to Norfolk, but be admitted to go at large on his parole.

Resolved, That the Convention doth agree with the Committee in the said Report.

The Order of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, being read,

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

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

Thursday, December 14, 1775.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonel Woodford, enclosing a Petition from the poor Inhabitants of the Town of Norfolk, requesting his protection; also a Petition from sundry distressed Highlanders, lately arrived from Scotland, praying that they might be permitted to go to Cape Fear, in North-Carolina, the place where they intended to settle, together with sundry other papers, which-were read.

Resolved, That the President be desired to write to Colonel Woodford, directing him that all such Tories taken by him, who shall, upon an examination before the Field Officers, appear to have borne Arms against this Colony, be sent to the City of Williamsburgh; and that all others who, upon such examination, shall appear inimical to the liberties of America, be detained by him till the further order of the Convention, or Committee of Safety; that he extend all reasonable indulgence to such as appear to have taken the part of Lord Dunmore through necessity; that he take the distressed Highlanders, with their families, under his protection, permit them to pass by land unmolested to Carolina, and supply them with such provisions as they may be in immediate want of.

The President also laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonel Howe, of North-Carolina, informing him that he had joined Colonel Woodford with the Troops under his command, and should be happy to afford him his best assistance.

Resolved, That the President be desired to write to Colonel Howe, acknowledging the receipt of his obliging Letter, and thanking him for his good intentions towards this 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. Cary 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 read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, that the Ordinance for providing Arms and Ammunition for this Colony, ought to be amended.

Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, that persons harbouring Deserters from the forces raised, or to be raised for the defence of this Colony, ought to be punished.

Resolved, That the representation from the County of Accomack, and request therein contained, are reasonable, and that they be assured the Convention will pay a proper attention thereto, and afford them every protection in their power.

Resolved, That Mr. Mercer, Mr. Cary, Mr. Fitzhugh, Mr. Page, Mr. R. Carter, Mr. John Walker, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Harvie, Mr. Gray, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Poythress, be a Committee to prepare an Ordinance pursuant to the first of the said Resolutions; and that the Committee formerly appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance pursuant to the Resolutions for recruiting the regular Forces, now in the pay of this Colony, to ten Companies, and for raising six other Battalions, do receive a clause, or clauses, pursuant to the second Resolution.

Mr. Treasurer, from the Committee appointed to draw up a Declaration, offering pardon to such Slaves as should return to their duty, reported, that the Committee had accordingly prepared the following Declaration; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was again twice read, and unanimously agreed to:

By the Representatives of the People of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, assembled in General Convention.

A DECLARATION.

Whereas Lord Dunmore, by his Proclamation, dated on board the Ship William, off Norfolk, the 7th day of November, 1775, hath offered freedom to such able-bodied Slaves as are willing to join him, and take up arms against