that such allowance may be made her and her children, out of her said husband’s estate, as to this Convention shall seem just and reasonable.

Ordered, That the said several Petitions be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; that they inquire into the allegations thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

The Orders of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, and on the Ordinance for augmenting the Ninth Regiment of Regular forces, providing for the better defence of the frontiers of this Colony, and for raising four Troops of Horse, being read,

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

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to inquire into and report the cause and means of depreciating the value of the Paper money of this country, and at what rates the goods are sold at the publick Store, do also inquire and report what money hath been advanced, and to whom, for the pay of the soldiers in the Regular service, and whether the same hath been actually paid to such soldiers; and that Mr. Starke and Mr. David Mason be added to the said Committee.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Thursday, June 6, 1776.

The Convention being informed that David Ross had delivered a Colonel’s commission to a person to bring the Indians against this country, and that they were in motion accordingly,

Ordered, That the said information be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; that they examine into the matter thereof, and report the same as it shall appear to them, with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention; and that the said David Ross be sent for, in custody of a messenger, and he is to take care that he be safely conveyed to this City, to answer the said information.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to examine into the condition of the several Prisoners confined in the publick Jail; and that Mr. Starke, Mr. Gilmer, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Edmund Randolph, be of the said Committee.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the Chair, and Mr. Cary reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Letters from Major-General Lee, Brigadier-General Howe, and Colonel Stephen, of the Fourth Regiment, 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 Mr. Drayton, and Mr. Elliot, Officers from South-Carolina, be permitted to recruit soldiers in this Colony, provided they do not inlist any of the Regulars, Marines, or Minute-men, already engaged here in the Continental or Colonial service.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Commanding Officer of the Continental Troops of the neighbourhood of Elizabeth River to erect Batteries, or Breastworks, on both sides of the said river, where he thinks necessary, in order effectually to protect the Harbours of Norfolk and Portsmouth; and that he be informed that this Colony will give him all possible assistance towards completing and defending the same.

Ordered, That the Committee of Safety be directed to engage with Mr. James Hunter, of Fredericksburgh, for as many good Muskets, with Bayonets, Sheaths, and steel Ramrods, as he can manufacture within twelve months from this time, at the rate of £6 for each stand; and that they allow the same price to any other person who shall manufacture Arms within this Colony, of equal goodness with the sample now produced by the said Hunter.

Ordered, That Mr. Taylor, Mr. Page, and Mr. Thornton, be added to the Committee to whom the Reports of the Committees for the Counties of Caroline and Spottsylvania were referred.

The Orders of the Day, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Declaration of Rights, and on the Ordinance for augmenting the Ninth Regiment of Regular forces, providing for the better defence of the frontiers of this Colony, and for raising four Troops of Horse, being read,

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

Resolved, That this Convention will to-morrow again resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Friday, June 7, 1776.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported, that they had, according to order, proceeded to the examination of James Walker, who was apprehended on suspicion of being inimical to the rights and liberties of America, 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.

Resolved, That the said James Walker be tried by the Court of Commissioners for the County of Norfolk.

A Representation of Brigadier-General Lewis was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth the necessity of retaining Mr. John Stadler, Engineer in the Continental Army, in the service; which could only be done by increasing the pay and allowance made him by the Continental Congress, on which he could not support himself.

Resolved, That the said John Stadler be allowed 10s. per day, including the pay allowed him by Congress, and all travelling expenses which may exceed that sum, a theodolite and chain to be furnished by the publick, together with a servant and horse, to carry those instruments; that his rations be equal to those of a Captain, and that forage be allowed him for two horses; and that the said pay do commence from the 4th day of May last, and continue so long as he shall remain in the service of this Colony.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, examined into the cases of John McIntire, Alexander Thompson, George Oldner, William Ancock, and Stephen Sampson, Jun., who were apprehended on suspicion of their being inimical to the rights and liberties of America; and that it appeared to them, that the said John McIntire was formerly a sailor in a vessel belonging to William Black, and was impressed on board a man-of-war, from which he made his escape, and was taken in the neighbourhood of Norfolk. That the said Alexander Thompson was a resident in Portsmouth, and taken from thence and sent to the publick Jail, but that no testimony was offered them respecting his conduct. That it appeared the said George Oldner hath been unfriendly to the American cause, but committed no act which brings him within the Ordinance for imprisoning the enemies of America. That the said William Ancock was taken near Norfolk, and is a sailor belonging to the Otter man-of-war. That the said Stephen Sampson was taken in company with the said William Ancock, and is an apprentice to Thoroughgood Smith & Co., of the Eastern-Shore. And that they 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 McIntire be discharged from confinement.

Resolved, That the said Alexander Thompson be discharged from confinement.

Resolved, That the said George Older be removed from the County of Norfolk to an interior part of the country, agreeably to a Resolution of this Convention.

Resolved, That the said William Ancock is a prisoner of war, and that this Resolution be communicated to the Commanding Officer.

Resolved, That the said Stephen Sampson be delivered to the said Thoroughgood Smith & Co.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, examined the cases of five Negro slaves now in the publick Jail; and that it appeared to them, that the said slaves came from the Eastern-Shore to Norfolk in a vessel belonging to Edmund Bailey, of the County of Accomack, which they took from him in the night, with design to join Lord Dunmore; that they were taken by a party of soldiers in the pay of this Colony, and sent to Jail by order of Colonel Woodford; that three of the said slaves, named Joe Acum, Joe, and Gabriel,