ral Test; to amend an Ordinance, intituled An Ordinance for regulating the election of Delegates, and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and for establishing a mode of making Tobacco Payments during the discontinuance of the Inspection Law;—being read,

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

Ordered, That the Committee of Safely do dispose of the Provisions and other things laid in for the use of the several Battalions of Minute-men, which may not be necessary, for the use of the publick.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety be directed to write to the Delegates from this Colony, in answer to their last Letter, enclosing several Resolutions of Congress, to inform them that this Convention, having maturely considered the state of Virginia, its peculiar and exposed situation, as well to domestick as foreign enemies, are of opinion that the Colony cannot remain in any tolerable degree of security without nine Battalions of regular Forces at least; that they have resolved to augment our two Regiments to the Continental establishment, and to raise seven new Regiments, six for the further defence of the Western, and one for the protection of the two Counties on the Eastern-Shore; that, besides these Regiments, they find it necessary to continue the former establishment of Minute Battalions, and to arrange the Militia throughout the Colony in the most effectual manner for its defence, which must greatly increase our publick expenses; that this Convention had hoped the Congress would have supposed them competent judges of the number of Forces necessary to the security of this Colony, and, considering the large proportion of the Continental expenses which it is expected our inhabitants are to pay, that they would, without hesitation, have taken all the regular Forces found necessary for their defence into Continental pay; that the Delegates be desired to submit this matter to the revision and further consideration of the Congress, who, it is hoped, will be of opinion that it is reasonable the Continent in general should bear at least an equal share of the expenses of our present two Regiments, consisting of one thousand and twenty Privates, with their proper Officers, from the time of their entering into the service, which we think it equitable and just to fix about the first of November, allowing for the difference of time when the several Companies were completed; that, should the Congress adhere to their resolution of taking into Continental pay no more than six Battalions, it be earnestly recommended to them to suffer our two present Regiments (to be completed as before mentioned) to stand first in the arrangement, since otherwise the Officers first appointed by this Convention, most of whom have already gone through a laborious and painful service, will be degraded in the ranks, and there is too much reason to apprehend that great confusion will ensue.

A Petition of John Goodrich, was presented to the Convention, and read; praying, among other things, that the Committee of Safety might be directed to pay him the balance of his Account against the publick.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of the said John Goodrich, relative to the importation of Gunpowder, and other articles for the use of the Colony.

Resolved, That the Cargo of the Brig Fanny, lately taken by Captain Barron, and carried to Cumberland, be disposed of, as the Committee of Safety shall direct, for the use of this Colony; the said Committee being directed to pay to Captain Barron one-tenth of the value of the said Cargo, another tenth to the mate and sailors, allowing three shares to the mate.

The Convention then took into consideration the Report of the Commissioners appointed to examine, state, and settle the claims against the Indians, and the Resolulution thereupon, which was agreed to by the Convention.

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

Thursday, January 11, 1776.

An 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, which had been fairly transcribed, was read a third time.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass; and that the title be, "An Ordinance for raising an additional number of Forces for the defence of this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned."

Mr. Digges, from the Committee to whom the Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County of Caroline was referred, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the said Petition, and that it appeared that the Committee of the said County did not, previous to their election in November last, appoint any persons to superintend the said election, in order to determine the right of any person to vote who should offer a list, although the Chairman, and several of the members, were present at the said election. And that they 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:

Resolved, That the election of Committee-men for the said County of Caroline, was illegal, and that a new Committee be chosen for the said County.

The Convention then proceeded, by ballot, to the appointment of a Colonel to the Third Regiment; and the members having prepared tickets, with the name of the person to be appointed, and put the same into the ballot box, Mr. Digges, Mr. Carrington, Mr. John Walker, and Mr. Dandridge, were appointed a Committee to examine the same, 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 Hugh Mercer, Esq.,

Resolved, therefore, That the said Hugh Mercer be appointed Colonel to the Third Regiment.

The Orders of the Day—for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, and on the Ordinances for continuing and amending an Ordinance appointing a Committee of Safety; for establishing a General Test; to amend an Ordinance, entitled An Ordinance for regulating the election of Delegates, and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and for establishing a mode of making Tobacco Payments during the discontinuance of the Inspection Law;—being read,

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

The Convention took into consideration that part of the Report made on Friday last, from the Committee to whom it was referred to inquire whether the Salt, or other Goods lately taken at Hampton, were imported agreeably to the terms of the Continental Association, which related to the Brig Carlett, and Goods imported in her, and came to the following Resolution thereupon:

Resolved, That the said Brig Carlett be delivered to the owners, and that the Goods imported in her be sold for the use of this Colony, and the money paid into the hands of the Treasurer.

Ordered, That the Treasurer do pay to Mr. Sampson Matthews the Account of the Augusta and Botetourt Brigade, he entering into bond, with sufficient security, for paying the same to the persons entitled thereto.

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

Friday, January 12, 1776.

The President informed the Convention, that the Committee of Safety had inquired into the property of the Brig Fanny, and that it appeared to them, from the Register of the said Vessel, that she belonged to Joseph Hewes, Esq., of North Carolina; that, from instructions given John Cunningham, Master of the said Vessel, he was instructed to proceed in the said Brig to Antigua, to unload his cargo, and then take freight to any part of Europe, to return with a load of Salt, as should be thought best by Messrs. Joseph and Samuel Brown, merchants, whose directions he was to follow; that the said Cunningham produced two charter-