more speedy expediting the business, he employed a clerk to assist, who, together with himself, were employed from the 23d of Februaryto the 16th of Mayin settling the same; that it further appeared that sundry persons at Pittsburghadvertised that they were willing to undertake to receive the said money at the Treasury, and carry it to Pittsburgh, and pay it to the several claimants for two and a half per centum; that it also appeared that the said Harviehas repaid to the Treasurer the balance which remained in his hands, being £65 14s. 11 ¾d.; 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 Harviebe allowed the sum of £200 for his services, the loss he sustained, and all his expenses.

Resolved, That the said Joseph Neavillebe allowed for his services the sum of £20.

Resolved, That Mr. Charles Simms, who was necessarily employed as a Clerk by the said John Harvieand Joseph Neaville, be allowed for his services the sum of £50.

On a motion made, Resolved, That this Convention will on Mondaynext again resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony.

Adjourned till Monday, ten o’clock.

Monday, June 17, 1776.

Ordered, That the several persons appointed to fix on convenient places and provide the necessary materials for making Salt by the operation of the sun, and to make report, do immediately proceed to erect proper Works for carrying the said necessary business into execution: that John Burtonbe added to the Commissioners appointed for the County of Accomack, and that any three of the respective Commissioners be a sufficient number to proceed in the said business.

Resolved, That this Convention will on Thursdaynext proceed, by ballot, to the appointment of Delegates to represent this Colony in General Congress for one year, from the 11th day of Augustnext.

Mr. Cary, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported that the Committee had, according to order, proceeded to the examination of Charles Henley, who was apprehended on suspicion of his being inimical to the rights and liberties of America;and that it appeared, from the deposition of Fenwick Lyell, that the said Charles Henley, about the 26th of Marchlast, came on board the ship Dunmore, lying off Norfolk, on purpose, as he said, to inform Lord Dunmore, that if he would send a tender back with him he would load her with live-stock, for that the Princess Annepeople chose that he should have it rather than the Shirtrnen; that on the 30th of March, being Saturday, the deponent heard the said Charles Henleysay, that he was to go round to Currituck, in a tender to be commanded by Lieutenant Wright, and would bring the people a plenty of fresh provisions in a short time; 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 Charles Henleyis guilty of giving intelligence to the enemies of Americain Virginia, and ought to be subject to the penalties and forfeitures prescribed and inflicted by an Ordinance intituled An Ordinance for prescribing a mode of punishment for the enemies of Americain this Colony.

A Petition of Abraham Hite, the younger, was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that, by command of the Lieutenant of the County of Hampshire, he acted as Commissary of Provisions for the Militia, in the Northern Department, in the late expedition against the Indians, from some time in Julytill November, in which character he contracted for provisions, received and had them transported to the proper stations, where he attended at times to see them properly stored, and was at great trouble in procuring wagons, having them appraised, and doing every incident duty therein with diligence and success; that being related to the County Lieutenant, he directed him to avoid every imputation of partiality, to charge the country with the days he was wholly employed in the business aforesaid, and no more, which amounted to twenty-six, for which he obtained a certificate, and he was allowed only five shillings per day by the Commissioners for his services, from a rule established with respect to others employed in the like service, which, so far from being an adequate satisfaction for his services, was not sufficient to have defrayed his necessary expenses, and praying such further allowance as should be judged reasonable.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Publick Claims; that they examine into the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereon, to the Convention.

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. Caryreported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their further consideration the state of the Colony, 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 a Board of Commissioners be appointed to superintend and direct all the Naval affairs of this Colony.

Resolved, That two Row-Galleys be immediately built, and employed for the defence of the Counties of Northamptonand Accomack, over and above the Vessels already directed by the Committee of Safety.

Resolved, That proper small Vessels, for the expeditious transportation of the Troops over the several navigable Rivers, ought to be immediately provided.

Resolved, That proper persons be appointed to examine the Channels of the several navigable Rivers in this Colony, and report what places may be proper to erect Batteries.

Ordered, That Mr. Archibald Cary, Mr. Travis, Mr. Wilson Miles Cary, Mr. Edmund Randolph, Mr. Curie, Mr. Blair, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. Banister, do prepare and bring in an Ordinance pursuant to the three first Resolutions of the Committee; and that Mr. Travis, Mr. Banister, Mr. Curie, and Mr. King, be appointed Commissioners to examine accurately the Channel of James River, the nature of the several shoals, the distance of the nearest parts of the channels to the shores, and also the nature of these shores, whether high or low, pursuant to the fourth Resolution of the Committee; that Mr. John Perrin, Mr. Stephen Bingham, Mr. Thomas Archer, and Mr. Robert Ruffin, be appointed Commissioners for the like purposes for York River;Mr. Richard Mitchell, Mr. Hugh Walker, Mr. John Gordon, and Mr. Rodham Lutisford, for Rappahannock River;Mr. John West, Jun., Mr. William Ramsay, Mr. Richard Conway, and Mr. John Augustine Washington, for Potomack River; and Mr. William Cowan, Mr. Anthony Holliday, and Mr. John King, for Nansemond River.

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, Jen o’clock.

Tuesday, June 18, 1776.

Several intercepted Letters and Papers on the subject of Indianaffairs were laid before the Convention, read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Major-General Leeto Brigadier-General Lewis, with several Papers enclosed; which were read, and ordered to be referred to a Committee of the whole Convention.

Resolved, That the Convention will immediately resolve itself into a Committee on the said Letter and Papers.

The Convention accordingly resolved itself into a Committee on the said Letter and Papers; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and Mr. Caryreported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Letter and Papers from Major-General Leeto Brigadier-General Lewis, 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 two Battalions of Minute-men and Militia, lately ordered to the assistance of North-Carolina, be called down to supply the place of such Regular forces as may be ordered to the southward.