necessary to be at some little expenses in treating the men, which he hopes the Convention will allow.

The question being put, that the said Petition be referred to a Committee, it passed in the negative.

Ordered, That the said Petition be rejected.

A Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the Parish of Stratton Major, in the County of King and Queen, was presented to the Convention, and read, praying that the Vestry of the said Parish may be dissolved, and a new one chosen.

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

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance entitled An Ordinance for augmenting the Ninth Regiment of Regular forces, providing for the better defence of the frontiers of this Colony, and for raising six Troops of Horse; and that Mr. Archibald Cary, Mr. Bowyer, and Mr. Dandridge, do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance entitled An Ordinance for prescribing a mode of punishment for the enemies of America in this Colony; and that Mr. Henry, Mr. Edmund Randolph, and Mr. Henry Lee, do prepare and bring in the same.

A Petition of Joseph Boot was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that being a soldier and artificer in the late war, he received several wounds in the service of his country, which render it difficult for him, in the decline of life, to gain a support; and praying his case may be inquired into, and such relief granted him as shall be thought just.

Also, a Petition of George Becket, setting forth that he was a soldier in Captain Lee’s Company, and by an overstrain in lifting some pieces of wood for the use of the said Company, he received a hurt, which renders him incapable of walking; and, being advanced to the age of fifty-three years, he has little hopes of recovering his strength so as to be able to go through the fatigues of a campaign; and praying that some provision may be made for him.

Also, a Petition of Peter Wilson, setting forth that he served in the Militia in the County of Augusta, from 19th of June to the 31st of August, 1774, under the command of Captain John Lewis; that he then inlisted himself under the said Captain to serve in the expedition against the Shawanese, and was not discharged before the 15th November following, for which time he hath not been paid, owing to an oversight in Captain Lewis, in not returning him on his pay-roll; and praying that justice may be done him on the said account.

Also, a Petition of Champion Travis, setting forth that his dwelling-house, and offices thereunto belonging, in the Town of Jamestown, for many months past have been, and now are, occupied and appropriated by a detachment from the Virginia Army, as Guard-Houses; that, though they were taken for this purpose without his knowledge or privity, no satisfaction was expected for the use of them, nor would any now have been expected, had not the soldiery stationed there spoiled or destroyed a great part of his said property; and praying such relief as shall be thought just and reasonable.

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

Mr. Henry, from the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Petitions of sundry Inhabitants of the Counties of Amelia, Caroline, Chesterfield, Lunenburgh, and Mecklenburgh, praying that so much of the Ordinance as exempts Overseers from serving in the Militia may be repealed; 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 Petitions are reasonable.

Mr. Henry, from the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County of Chesterfield, to them referred, praying that they may not be obliged to attend musters so often as once a fortnight; 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 said Petition is reasonable.

Ordered, That the Committee of Propositions and Grievances do prepare and bring in an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance intituled An Ordinance for raising and imbodying a sufficient force for the defence and protection of this Colony, pursuant to the said Resolutions; and that they receive a clause, or clauses, to repeal so much of the said Ordinance as gives a jurisdiction to the Court of Hustings in the City of Williamsburgh to adjudge all penalties to be inflicted under the same on the Officers and Soldiers in the said City, either for neglect of duty, or misbehaviour in any respect whatever, and for permitting Courts-Martial to be held in the said City, in the same manner, and by the same Officers, as they are held in Counties; and also for returning into the body of Militia the remainder of the Minute Company in the said City; and that they also receive a clause, or clauses, to compel Millers on the Eastern-Shore to attend musters.

Mr. Henry, from the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Petition of John Ballendine, to them referred, praying that he might be allowed the difference between 2s. 6d. per pound for a quantity of Gunpowder he sold to the Committees of several Counties and the price he is now obliged to give to replace the like quantity; 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 Petition be rejected.

Mr. Starke, from the Committee appointed to inquire for a proper Hospital for the reception and accommodation of the sick and wounded soldiers, reported, that the Committee had accordingly made the said inquiry, and that at the instance of the Committee, Dr. William Rickman, lately appointed by the General Congress to be Physician and Director-General to the Continental Hospital, accompanied them to the College, Palace, and other places, and he advised that, though the College has room enough for the purpose of an Hospital, yet, by reason of the many partitions therein, it will not admit of that thorough passage of air so absolutely necessary for invalids; that the College has, at a very considerable expense, been lately repaired, white-washed, and thoroughly cleaned, for the reception of scholars, who are expected to return to their studies on Monday next, at which time the vacation ceases; that there are a large and valuable library and apparatus in it, which might probably be damaged in the removal, perhaps totally ruined; that several young gentlemen in the country have been accustomed to receive maintenance and education there as scholars on certain foundations established by different benefactors. That it also appeared, from examination of the Palace, and the opinion of Dr. Rickman, that it is adapted in all respects, without any alterations of consequence, for an Hospital, whether considered as to size, situation, plan, or necessary offices; that, added to this, there stands a publick building in the centre of the park, which may be taken as an appendage to the Hospital, whither persons labouring under epidemical or infectious disorders may be removed, and the diseases thereby prevented from spreading. That the following private houses within the City of Williamsburgh may be purchased, to wit: Dr. James Carter’s, which is but small, yet has many convenient buildings, which might be applied also to the purpose of Hospitals, and the whole may be procured for the sum £1,000; Mr. James Hubard’s, which does not contain many rooms, but they are commodious and airy, and may be had for the sum of about £1,200, which, with the repairs lately made, it cost him, with the privilege reserved him of repurchasing on the same terms, and in the same condition, if at the end of the present troubles the publick should be inclined to sell it; also Mr. John Hatley Norton’s, which is airy and pleasant, but the outhouses are few in number, and not in good repair; this may be had for £1,300, and that it appears to them that no one of the three private houses above-mentioned would singly be sufficient.