and integrity. He was seconded by Archibald Cary, Esq., a Delegate for the County of Chesterfield. Thomas Johnson, Esq., a Delegate for the County of Louisa, then recommended Thomas Ludwell Lee, Esq., as a proper person to fill that office, and was seconded by Bartholomew Dandridge, Esq., a Delegate for the County of New-Kent. And on the question being put by the Clerk, the said Edmund Pendleton was elected President, and conducted to the Chair, from whence he addressed himself to the Convention in the following manner:

“GENTLEMEN: Be pleased to accept my sincere thanks for the honour done me in your election to this high and important office, which I esteem the more, as it affords a publick testimony that my former endeavours for the proper discharge of that trust have not been unacceptable to my country. I beg leave to assure you of my unremitted attention to the arduous duties of my appointment, which I will endeavour to execute with the utmost impartiality; and, conscious of my want of abilities, I shall rely with confidence on your candour to make the most favourable interpretation of all my actions.

“We are now met in General Convention according to the ordinance for our election, at a time truly critical, when subjects of the most important and interesting nature require our serious attention.

“The administration of justice, and almost all the powers of Government, have now been suspended for near two years. It will become us to reflect whether we can longer sustain the great struggle we are making in this situation; and the case of criminals confined and not tried, and others who may be apprehended pursuant to our laws, deserves particular notice.

“Our Military and Naval arrangements, as well as the funds for supporting them, will call for our revision; and the ordinance prescribing a mode of punishment for the enemies of America in this Colony, being very defective, will require amendment.

“There are some articles more immediately necessary for our people, particularly salt, which it may be wise to encourage the production and manufacture, either by increased bounties, or erecting publick works, as shall be judged most effectual to that end.

“Several resolutions of Congress, and letters from our Delegates on these and other subjects, I am directed by the Committee of Safety to lay before you, together with several petitions they have received, on which it was not within their powers to determine.

“In the discussion of these, and all other subjects which may come under our consideration, permit me to recommend calmness, unanimity, and diligence, as the most likely means of bringing them to a happy and prosperous issue.”

Ordered, That a Committee of Privileges and Elections be appointed of the following persons: Mr. Digges, Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Bland, Mr. Archibald Cary, Mr. Whiting, Mr. Jones, Mr. Fitzhugh, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Dandridge, Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Henry, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Richard S. Taylor, Mr. Selden, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Blair, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Thomas Lewis, Mr. Nelson, and Mr. Thomas Ludwell Lee.

And they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and examine, in the first place, the certificates of the election of Delegates to serve in this present Convention, and to take into consideration all such matters as shall or may come in question touching returns, elections, and privileges; and to report their proceedings, with their opinions thereupon, from time to time, to the Convention; and the said Committee are to have power to send for persons, papers, and records, for their information.

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

Resolved, That in all cases of controverted elections, to be heard at the bar of this House, or before the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the petitioners do, by themselves, or by their agents, within a convenient time, to be appointed either by the Convention or the Committee of Privileges and Elections, as the matter to be heard shall be before the Convention or the said Committee, deliver to the sitting Members, or their agents, lists of the persons intended to be objected to who voted for the sitting Members, giving in the said lists the several heads of objection, and distinguishing the same against the names of the voters excepted to; and that the sitting Members do, by themselves or their agents, within the same time, deliver the like list, on their parts, to the petitioners, or their agents.

Ordered, That Mr. Edmund Pendleton, Jun., be appointed Clerk to the Committee of Privileges and Elections.

A Petition of the Committee of the County of Norfolk, in behalf of themselves and their constituents, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that, by the Ordinances of a former Convention, Courts-Martial and elections of Delegates are directed to be held at the respective County Court-Houses; that, by the burning of the Borough of Norfolk, the Court-House of the said County hath been destroyed, and the place where it stood at present in the power of the enemies of America, by means whereof neither Courts-Martial or elections of Delegates for the said County can now be regularly held; and praying for such relief in the premises as should seem meet.

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

Whereas by the late destruction of the Court-House of the County and Borough of Norfolk the proper officers have not been able to hold elections of Delegates for the said County and Borough to serve in Convention, so that the said County and Borough remain unrepresented therein,

Resolved, therefore, That the Sheriff, or Mayor, or Clerk of the Committees of the said County or Borough, respectively, be, and they are hereby, authorized to appoint some convenient place and time, not exceeding twenty, nor under ten days, after the receipt of this Resolution, for the election of Delegates to serve in the General Convention for the said County and Borough of Norfolk, and shall publish notice thereof, and proceed to the election of such Delegates in the same manner as is by law directed in the election of a Burgess to be made during the sitting of any General Assembly, and shall deliver to each of the Delegates elected a certificate, under his hand and seal, that such Delegate was duly elected for the said County or Borough; and that the said Delegates, so to be elected, shall have full authority to sit and vote in any General Convention for one full year, to be computed from the days respectively appointed by law lor holding the Courts for the said County and Borough in the month of April last, in the same manner as if such Delegates had been elected according to an Ordinance of the last Convention.

Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. Thomas Price be appointed Chaplain to the Convention, and that he read prayers every morning, at nine o’clock.

Ordered, That Mr. Francis Eppes be appointed Messenger to this Convention,

Ordered, That Robert Hyland, William Hicks, John Creagh, and William Drinkard, be appointed Doorkeepers to the Convention.

Resolved, That this Convention will observe, in their debates, the same Rules and Orders as are established in the House of Burgesses.

Mr. Thomas Lewis, a Delegate for the County of Augusta, informed the Convention that Daniel Smith, late Sheriff of the said Cotinty, had delivered up to him £120, due for Quit-Rents, to be paid to the Receiver-General, but that he refused to be concerned therewith, unless the said Smith would agree that he should take the sense of the Convention respecting the disposition thereof, to which he consented.

Resolved, That the said sum of £120 be paid into the hands of the Treasurer, to be by him safely kept until the further order of the Convention.

Resolved, That the President be desired to issue his Warrant for the election of Delegates for the County of King and Queen, the same having been prevented by bad weather.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety do state and report the case of John Goodrich, Jun., who hath been apprehended as a suspected person, and that he be confined to his room in the City of Williamsburgh, under a proper guard; and that William Harwood, Gent., surety for the appearance of the said John Goodrich, be discharged from his recognizance on delivering said Goodrich to the commanding officer.

Ordered, That the several Resolutions of the General Congress, Letters from the Delegates therein, and other