papers mentioned by the President, and by him laid before the Convention, do lie on the table.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Tuesday, May 7, 1776.

Resolved, That the Committee of Privileges and Elections be empowered to examine into the conduct of such persons as are or may be taken up or committed for being inimical to the rights and liberties of America; that they state their several cases, and report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to this Convention.

A Petition of William Criddle was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that he inlisted as a common soldier in Captain John Markham’s Company of Regulars; and when on duty in the Town of Norfolk, in the month of January last, his right arm was unfortunately taken off by a cannon-ball, whereby he is rendered totally incapable of serving longer, or acquiring a support in future; and praying such relief as shall be thought just and reasonable.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to Mr. Carrington, Mr. Read, Mr. Archibald Cary, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Digges, and Mr. Nelson; and they are to report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Resolved, That this Convention will, on Friday next, resolve itself into a Committee, to take into their consideration the state of the Colony.

A Petition from the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County of Chesterfield, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that a small part of the Ordinance for the better regulation of the Militia, whereby they are required to attend muster once a fortnight, proves a little burdensome, especially on the poorer sort, who have not a slave to labour for them; that they acknowledge the wisdom of the Convention, in the regulation aforesaid, at the time the same was made; but that, having now learned the most essential parts of the military exercise, and having an Army regularly trained, which will be able, under God, to withstand any invasion that may be made till they could join them, they conceive the necessity of calling them so frequently from their homes doth not exist; that they promise cheerfully to join in defence of their just rights whenever the same may be necessary.

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

Ordered, That the several Sheriffs do pay into the hands of the Treasurer all the Money due from them for Quit-Rents, to be by him safely kept till the further order of the Convention.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to encourage the making of Salt, Saltpetre, and Gunpowder; and that Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Archibald Cary, Mr. Henry, Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Mercer, Mr. Travis, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Thomas Lewis, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Terry, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Lockhart, Mr. Gilmer, Mr. Charles Lewis, Mr. Read, and Mr. Watkins, do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Banister, Mr. Starke, Mr. Bullitt, Mr. Poythress, Mr. Wilson M. Cary, Mr. Randolph, and Mr. Read, be added to the Committee of Privileges and Elections.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety do lay before the Convention the Secretary of State’s intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, of Maryland, and also the Act of Parliament enclosed therein.

The President laid before the Convention an intercepted Letter from Ralph Wormeley, Jun., Esq., to John Grymes, with the Resolution of the Committee of Safety thereupon; also a Recognizance entered into by the said Ralph Wormeley, taken for his appearance before the Convention when thereto required; which being read,

Ordered, That the said Ralph Wormeley be sent for in custody, under a strong guard.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Wednesday, May 8, 1776.

The President laid before the Convention, according to order, the Secretary of State’s intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, of Maryland, and also the Act of Parliament enclosed therein.

Ordered, That the same do lie on the table.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance, entitled An Ordinance for establishing a mode of making Tobacco Payments during the discontinuance of the Inspection Law, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and that Mr. Dandridge and Mr. Gray do prepare and bring in the same.

The. President laid before the Convention a Letter from Mr. John Tayloe Corbin to Mr. Charles Neilson, containing sentiments inimical to America, together with the Proceedings of the Committee for the County of King and Queen thereupon; which being read,

Ordered, That the said Letter and Proceedings be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, and that the said John Tayloe Corbin be sent for in custody under a strong guard.

The President also laid before the Convention the Proceedings of the Courts of the Counties of Northampton and Stafford, upon the trial of several Negro Slaves therein mentioned, who were convicted of Felony, and sentenced to be executed; which being read,

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety do write to the said Courts of Northampton and Stafford, directing a suspension of the execution of the Slaves aforesaid, till the further order of the Convention.

Ordered, That a Committee of Propositions and Grievances be appointed, of the following persons: Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Henry, Mr. William Harwood, Mr. Isaac Smith, Mr. William Cabell, Mr. Penn, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Maclin, Mr. Tazewell, Mr. Patteson, Mr. John Cabell, Mr. Acrill, Mr. Field, Mr. Strother, Mr. Mayo, Mr. Bird, Mr. Tipton, Mr. King, Mr. Meriwether Smith, Mr. Edmondson, Mr. West, Mr. Pickett, Mr. Scott, Mr. Thomas M. Randolph, Mr. Woodson, Mr. Syme, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Norvell, Mr. Wills, Mr. Faulcon, Mr. Gordon, and Mr. Clapham.

And they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take into their consideration all propositions and grievances that shall be referred to them, and to report their opinions thereupon to the Convention; and the said Committee are to have power to send for persons, papers, and records, for their information.

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

A Petition of John Ballendine was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that he is now engaged in opening the navigation, by a canal, from Westham to Richmond, on James River, as also in an Iron work lately discovered up the said river, equally serviceable to the publick; and that it will greatly promote the same if the Convention would direct the several Slaves confined in the publick Jail to be employed therein, and would also lessen the expense attending their imprisonment; and praying that the said Slaves may be delivered to him, for the purposes aforesaid.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Propositions and Grievances; and they are to report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Ordered, That the Treasurer do lay his Accounts before the Convention.

Ordered, That Mr. Johnson, Mr. Meriwether, Mr. Garland, Mr. Farmer, Mr. Montague, Mr. Speed, Mr. Goode, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Cralle, Mr. Nathaniel Lyttleton Savage, Mr. George Savage, Mr. Madison, Mr. Moore, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Williams, Mr. Watts, Mr. Booker, Mr. Muse, Mr. McCarty, Mr. Gray, Mr. Henry Taylor, Mr. Brent, Mr. Cocke, Mr. Faulcon, Mr. Gee, Mr Richard Cary, Mr. Washington, Mr. Travis, Mr. James Taylor, and Mr. Samuel Harwood, be added to the Committee of Privileges and Elections.

Ordered, That the Chaplain be desired to preach on Friday, the 17th instant, at the Church in the City of Williamsburgh, being the day set apart by the General Congress to be kept as a publick Fast, and that the Printers be directed to republish the Resolution of the General Congress recommending the said Fast.

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

The Convention being informed that Captain Taylor, Commander of one of the armed Vessels fitted out for the