be Colonel, Haynes Morgan, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel, and John Glenn, Esq., Major, of the Second Battalion; they having been respectively so elected, by ballot.

The Order of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, being read,

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

A Representation from the Committee of the County of Augusta was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth the present unhappy situation of the country, and, from the Ministerial measures of vengeance now pursuing, representing the necessity of making the Confederacy of the United Colonies the most perfect, independent, and lasting; and of framing an equal, free, and liberal Government, that may bear the test of all future ages.

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

Resolved, That this Convention will to-morrow resolve itself into a Committee to take into their consideration the Letter from Major-General Lee, and the Resolutions of the Officers.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Saturday, May 11, 1776.

A Petition from the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County of Lunenburgh, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that they are deeply impressed with a tender sense and feeling for the distresses of his Majesty’s good subjects in this and the other Colonies on the Continent, and that they have steadily complied with the Ordinances of this Convention, and that it is with reluctance they find themselves obliged to petition for recalling the indulgence granted to Overseers, in exempting them from bearing arms in the Militia, and praying that the clause in the Ordinance, for such exemption, may be repealed.

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

Ordered, That Mr. Mercer and Mr. Rutherford be added to the Committee of Privileges and Elections.

Mr. Digges, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Petition of John Tayloe Corbin, to them referred, and 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:

Resolved, That the said John Tayloe Corbin, having discovered in the said Letter a disposition unfriendly and dangerous to the rights of this country, ought to be confined to that part of the County of Caroline which lies between the Rivers of Pamunkey and Mattapony; that the said John Tayloe Corbin be allowed fifteen days from this time to remove himself to the said place; and that he give bond and security, in the sum of £10,000, not to depart without those limits, until he shall be permitted so to do, on his sincere contrition and future good behaviour, by the Convention, or by the Committee of Safety, or others having the Executive powers of Government during their recess, nor give intelligence to, or in any manner aid or assist, the enemy.

Ordered, That the said John Tayloe Corbin be discharged from confinement, on entering into bond as aforesaid.

Mr. Digges, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported that the Committee had examined a Certificate of the election of Delegates for the County of Berkeley, and compared the same with the form prescribed by the Ordinance, 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 agreed to:

Resolved, That the Certificate of the election of Delegates to serve in the present Convention for the said County of Berkeley, is made in the form prescribed by the said Ordinance.

A Petition of Thomas Bachelor was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that on the 8th of November last he was appointed by the Vestry of Portsmouth Parish, in Norfolk County, to take care of and provide for the poor of that Parish; that he hath at this time four to maintain, three of whom are blind, and the fourth totally deprived of the use of her limbs; that as the inhabitants of that and the adjacent County are moving off with their families and effects, and he being also settled at Halifax in North-Carolina, he prays the Convention will be pleased to direct what steps he had best take to prevent those unhappy people from perishing.

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.

Resolved, That the Committees of the several Counties who were at the whole expense of transporting their respective quotas of Salt allotted them, by an Order of last Convention, do pay into the Treasury four shillings per bushel for the same, and no more.

A. Petition of John Dixon, Jun., was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that, being solely interested by the warmest motives for the good of his country, and being informed of the scarcity of military stores, he proposed to the Committee of Safety the scheme of a voyage for procuring those necessary articles, at the risk of his life and property; that in February fast he sailed from this Colony on the said voyage, in a vessel of his own, laden with a suitable cargo, which vessel and cargo were to be at the joint risk and profit of the Committee of Safety and himself; that off the Capes of Virginia he was brought to by the Roebuck man-of-war, when, agreeably to his orders, he threw overboard all his papers and letters of credit, and afterwards was taken near the Island of Antigua by a ship-of-war, where his vessel and cargo were confiscated, and he narrowly escaped being thrown into a dungeon; that all hopes of success being frustrated by the loss of his vessel, he determined to go to St. Eustatia, where he had some acquaintance and credit, to see what he could do towards supplying the loss his country and himself had sustained; that at St. Eustatia he prevailed with a merchant to furnish him with such useful articles as the place furnished, which he had the good fortune to bring safe into this Colony, to the value of £4,000, which are now safely landed for the use of the Army; that having a wife and family, and little able to support the loss aforesaid, he humbly submits his case to the consideration of the Convention, praying such relief as shall be thought just and reasonable.

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

A Petition of Humphrey Hendricks was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that in the month of March last he was called upon by Captain Cocke to attend him to his, place of rendezvous, in order to dress and sight Rifles for his Company; for which service he sent down his account to the Committee of Safety, amounting to £15 8s. 4d., who reduced the same to £8, and praying a further allowance.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Publick Claims; and that they do report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention

Mr. Carrington, from the Committee of Safety, laid before the Convention two Letters received from the Delegates appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The Order of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, being read,

Ordered, That the same be put off till Monday next.

Adjourned till Monday, ten o’clock.

Monday, May 13, 1776.

Ordered, That Mr. Meriwether Smith be added to the Committee of Privileges and Elections.

A Petition of Ralph Wormeley, Junior, Esquire, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that, having received a message from Lord Dunmore to attend him, he wrote a letter on the subject of it to excuse his going, but unfortunately expressive of his sentiments on the present face of things, which, with the deepest sorrow, he finds has raised the indignation and drawn the odium of his country