the good people of this Colony, giving thereby encouragement to a general insurrection, which may induce a necessity of inflicting the severest punishments upon those unhappy people, already deluded by his base and insidious arts; and whereas, by an act of the General Assembly now in force in this Colony, it is enacted, that all negro or other slaves, conspiring to rebel or make insurrection, shall suffer death, and be excluded all benefit of clergy: we think it proper to declare, that all slaves who have been, or shall be seduced, by his Lordship's Proclamation, or other arts, to desert their master's service, and take up arms against the inhabitants of this Colony, shall be liable to such punishment as shall hereafter be directed by the General Convention. And to the end that all such who have taken this unlawful and wicked step may return in safety to their duty, and escape the punishment due to their crimes, we hereby promise pardon to them, they surrendering themselves to Colonel William Woodford, or any other commander of our Troops, and not appearing in arms after the publication hereof. And we do further earnestly recommend it to all humane and benevolent persons in this Colony to explain and make known this our offer of mercy to those unfortunate people.

A Memorial from the Vestry of the Parish of Henrico, in the County of Henrico, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that they are at a loss to know in what manner their Minister's salary ought to be levied and collected, the same being directed by Act of Assembly to be paid to the Minister in Tobacco, if required by him; and praying the Convention would take the same into consideration, and give such direction therein as shall be thought just and reasonable.

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

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance for establishing a general Test; and that Mr. Mercer and Mr. Adams do prepare and bring in the same.

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

Resolved, That the Arms and Warlike Accoutrements taken at the late engagement at the Great Bridge, be fairly appraised, and retained for the use of the Colony; and that the value thereof, together with the Money to be produced by the sales of the other articles taken on that occasion, be divided among the Soldiers.

Resolved, That no person be allowed to make reprisal on the property of Lord Dunmore, in this Colony, or their property seized by him, or the Navy, without the order of this Convention.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from the Commissioners appointed to treat with the different Tribes of Indians, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety do cause so many of the captive Slaves, as they shall think necessary, to be employed in working the Lead Mine in the County of Fincastle, for the use of this Colony.

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

Friday, December 15, 1775.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to the appointment of a Delegate, to represent this Colony in General Congress, in the room of the late Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq.; and the Members having prepared tickets, with the name of the Delegate to be appointed, and put the same into the ballot box, Mr. Thomas Ludwell Lee, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Digges, Mr. William Cabell, and Mr. Carter, of Lancaster, were appointed a Committee to examine the ballot box, and report on whom the majority fell; and it appearing, from their Report, that there was a majority of the whole Convention in favour of Carter Braxton, Esq.,

Resolved, therefore, That the said Carter Braxton, Esq., be appointed a Delegate to represent this Colony in General Congress, in the room of the late Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq.

Resolved, That this Convention will to-morrow proceed to the appointment of a Committee of Safely, to consist of eleven persons, and that the same be made by ballot.

Ordered, That Mr. Terry, Mr. Watkins, and Mr. Bibb, be added to the Committee appointed to prepare an Ordinance for amending the Ordinance of the last Convention for providing Arms and Ammunition for the use of this Colony.

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

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

Saturday, December 16, 1775.

A Petition of Robert Stephen was presented to the Convention and read; setting forth, that his son William Stephen, being very desirous of serving his country in the late expedition against the Indians, enlisted, by his permission, as a soldier, although only fourteen years of age; that, unfortunately for your Petitioner, he was slain in the action with the Indians, the tenth of October, 1774, by which means your Petitioner, being aged and infirm, is deprived of his only support, and therefore praying that this Convention will take his case into consideration, and grant him such relief as shall be thought reasonable.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Commissioners appointed to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service; and they are to report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

A Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County of Lunenburgh, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that they are determined with their lives and fortunes, to defend the liberties of America, and to stand or fall with their country; that they will, at all times, endeavour to promote union and brotherly love among their countrymen, and those from any other parts of the world, who do not show themselves inimical to the rights of mankind; that they are persuaded this Convention had in view these important objects when the Resolution in favour of the Merchants and Factors from Great Britain residing here was entered into, but experience having proved that the good purposes thereby intended are not answered, but on the contrary, jealousies and distinctions, which before might have existed, are greatly increased, and praying the said Resolution may be rescinded, and in lieu thereof a Test established, whereby the friends of America may be distinguished from those who are inimical to the glorious cause in which this country is engaged.

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

A Petition of Doctor Archibald Campbell, of the Borough of Norfolk, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that at a meeting of the Magistrates, and other principal Inhabitants of the said Borough, he was deputed, with several others, to wait on Colonel Woodford, commander of the Forces of this Colony, then at the Great Bridge, in Norfolk County, to know his intentions in respect to the treatment the Inhabitants of the said Borough were to expect from the Army under his command, as it had been currently reported that the Town was to be plundered, and then burnt, and also to know what part they were to act to avoid such calamities; that he accordingly made application to Colonel Woodford, who directed him to apply to this Convention, to whom he should submit the matter; that he hath been informed that some unfriendly person had represented to Colonel Woodford, that he bad taken an active part, under Lord Dunmore, relative to the late transactions in the said Borough, which charge he denies, so far as it relates to matters inimical to the Colony; and that he never acted under Lord Dunmore further than he was constrained by his Lordship's esta-