that the Committee had, according to order, had the same under their consideration, and had come to the following Resolution thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was again twice read, and agreed to by the Convention:

Resolved, That the said Petition is reasonable.

The Order of the Day—for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for raising an additional number of Forces for the defence and protection of this Colony, and for amending an Ordinance, entitled An Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony; and for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony;—being read,

Resolved, That the same be put off till to-morrow.

An Ordinance for appointing Sheriffs were read a third time.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Carter of Lancaster, Mr. John Walker, and Mr. Drew, be added to the Committee appointed to inquire into the services of Mr. James Wood.

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

Wednesday, January 3, 1776.

Walter Jones, Esq., having been re-elected a Delegate for the County of Richmond, in the room of Francis Light-foot Lee, Esq., took his seat in Convention, as a Delegate for the said County.

A Petition of Mary Durley, of the County of Isle-of-Wight, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that, some time in the month of October last, in order to support herself and family, she employed a certain Joseph Wren to navigate a small Vessel belonging to her, which was employed in carrying oysters, shells, and other things, up James River; that, upon his return from up the said river, when opposite to Burwell's Ferry, he was fired on by the Kingfisher man-of-war, and was obliged to go on board her; upon which, some Riflemen, part of our Troops stationed at Burwell's Ferry, seized the Vessel, which in the late bad weather was driven on shore, and rendered useless to your Petitioner; and praying that this Convention will make her some compensation for the loss of the said Vessel, upon which her subsistence chiefly depended.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to Mr. Parker, Mr. Norvell, Mr. Westwood, Mr. Langhorne, and Mr. Wills; and that they report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Mr. Holt, from the Committee to whom the Petitions of Archibald Campbell, John Willoughby, and Cary Mitchell, were referred, reported, that the Committee had accordingly had the same under their consideration, and that it appeared to them, from the Depositions of Lewis Hansford, Maximilian Calvert, and Cornelius Cahert, and the testimony of Matthew Phripp, that the said Archibald Campbell hath frequently denied the right of the British Parliament to tax America; that the said Archibald Campbell was against violent measures on either side, thinking a strict adherence to the commercial opposition would produce a redress of grievances, and refused to join in soliciting Lord Dunmore down to Norfolk; that the said Campbell took the oath prescribed by him, but was determined to stand neuter; that the said Campbell had sent his family to Bermuda, and intended shortly to follow them; and that he does not appear to have assisted Lord Dunmore, either with money or provisions.

That it appeared to them that the said John Willoughby had acted a very friendly part to his country until Lord Dunmore had gained too great an ascendency about Norfolk; that the said Willoughby was Chairman of the Committee of the County of Norfolk, and constantly attended their meetings; that, on the 17th of November, the said Willoughby was called upon to appear before Lord Dunmore, and take his oath; that he expostulated with his Lordship, and desired time, until the next day, to consider of it; that, immediately after, Captain Leslie declared those who would not sign should be taken into custody and deemed Rebels; that the said Willoughby did then take the oath, but has never borne arms on the side of Lord Dunmore, or encouraged others to do so, but has generally behaved as a friend to America; that it further appears, that the said Willoughby, as County Lieutenant of Norfolk, wrote to the Captains of the Militia of that County to assemble their Companies, but that he was then under the immediate influence of Lord Dunmore, and his conduct proceeded from compulsion, and not inclination.

That they had wrote to Colonel Woodford to send up from Norfolk, where the said Cary Mitchell lately resided, any testimony he might be able to procure, either for or against him, and had given a reasonable time for obtaining the same, and that no such proof had been received.

And that the Committee 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 conduct of the said Archibald Campbell does not appear to have been inimical to the rights and liberties of America.

Resolved, That the said John Willoughby acted as a friend to American liberty before Lord Dunmore erected his standard, and whatever he afterwards did to the contrary proceeded from compulsion, being himself, and family, in the power of Lord Dunmore.

Resolved, That the said Cary Mitchell doth not appear to have acted unfriendly to American liberty, nor does it appear that the reports mentioned in the said Petition are true.

Resolved, That the said Archibald Campbell, John Willoughby, and Cary Mitchell, be discharged on their parole not to give intelligence or assistance to the enemies of America.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee to whom the report of the Commissioners appointed to examine, state, and settle the claims against the publick in the Southern District, on account of the late expedition against the Indians, was referred, reported, that they had accordingly examined the same, and come to the following Resolution thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was again twice read, and ordered to lie on the table:

Resolved, That the Accounts contained in the said Report are fairly and justly stated, and, together with the several allowances therein made, ought to be paid by the publick.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonels Howe and Woodford, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That Mr. Joseph Jones, Mr. Fitzhugh, Mr. Thomas Walker, and Mr. John Walker, be added to the Committee to whom the Ordinance for amending an Ordinance, entitled An Ordinance for providing Arms and Ammunition for the use of this Colony, is committed.

A Memorial of Lieutenant-Colonel Christian, of the Second Regiment, in behalf of himself, and William Preston and Arthur Campbell, Esqrs., was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that some time in the month of May, 1774, he was advised by Lord Dunmore to return home from the City of Williamsburgh, and use his endeavours to prevent the inhabitants from leaving their settlements on the approach of the late Indian war; that, in order to determine what had best be done, a council of officers was held on the 25th of June, when it was resolved that your Memorialist, who was then a Lieutenant-Colonel, should march with a body of the Militia to the frontiers of Clinch, which he immediately did, and continued in actual service about three weeks, when it appeared an expedition against the Indian Towns, was resolved on; and although he was not in the field again till the 12th of August, yet, during the intermediate time, he was chiefly employed in promoting the service, so as to neglect his own private affairs; that William Preston, Esq., by order of Lord Dunmore, immediately wrote to his Officers, directing them how to conduct themselves on that alarming occasion; that, from that time to the last of October, he was chiefly employed in the service of the country, and was at considerable expense; that the said William Preston, from the time of the expedition's being set on foot, was employed therein, and afterwards continued to exert