Southall, that the letter from Mr. Richard Randolphto Mr. Richard Adamscame enclosed in one to him for Mr. Randolph, for his perusal, which, after he had read, he was desired to seal and contrive by some safe hand to Mr. Adams, which he did; that the deponent has heard Mr. Randolph, in a publick company, charge Mr. Adamswith a forgery in the Book of Claims.

That it also further appeared, from the testimony of Thomas Prosser, Joseph Lewis, Abraham Cowley, Samuel Price, William Barton, and John Pope, that they heard Mr. Richard Randolph, in a publick company, in the County of Henrico, charge Mr. Richard Adamswith having cheated the country of £3, by a forgery in the Book of Claims, and that he could prove it by Mr. ArchibaldGary. And that, upon the whole matter, the Committee had come to the following Resolution, 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 accusations contained in the Letter of the said Richard Randolphagainst the said Richard Adams, are false, scandalous, and malicious.

On a motion made, Ordered, That the said Richard Randolphdo pay the costs attending the said inquiry, and that the same be settled and assessed by the Committee of Publick Claims.

A Petition of Anne Cockswas presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that on the 7th of Novemberlast, according to the directions of Lieutenant Travis, who was empowered by the commanding officer of the Second Regiment to press into the country’s service as many boats and hands at Jamestownand the opposite ferries as should be sufficient for ferrying over that Regiment from Jamestownto Edwards’sLanding, at a small distance below Cobham, she sent her two boats with four Negro fellows; that the boats with the fellows continued in the service till the 14th of the same month, when two of them were discharged, but the other two, with both boats, were still detained in the service; that on the 21st, they were sent after a ferry boat which had drifted from the south shore, and was floating towards Hog Island;that whilst they were engaged in this business, a tender of the Kingfishersloop-of-war, then lying off Jamestown, bore down and made them prisoners; that she has been fortunate enough to recover one of the said slaves, who made his escape from the fleet at Norfolk, and praying a satisfaction for the loss she hath sustained in the other of the said slaves.

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 thereupon, to the Convention.

A Petition of Fenwick Lyellwas presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth that, by a determination of a Court-Martial, he hath been dismissed from the Naval service under Captain John Calvert, in the Row-Galley under his command, and praying the reasons of such his dismission may be inquired into, and himself restored to the office he held in the service aforesaid.

On the question being put, that the said Petition be referred to a Committee,

It passed in the negative.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

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

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

Ordered, That the Publick Printer do immediately print and publish one hundred copies of the Art of Making Common Salt, for the use of the Commissioners appointed to erect Works for making Salt by the operation of the sun.

Adjourned till to-morrow, ten o’clock.

Saturday, June 22, 1776.

Mr. Treasurer, from the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the Memorial of Colonel William Christianand Mr. Arthur Campbell, 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 so much of the said Memorial as relates to paying the said William Christianfor twenty-one days in which he was in the actual service of this Colony, in the year 1774, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, is reasonable; and that the sum of £14 3s. 6d.be paid to the said William Christianby the publick.

Resolved, That such other parts of the said Memorial as relate to the said William Christianand the said Arthur Campbell, be rejected.

On a motion made,

Ordered, That the Committee of Propositions and Grievances be discharged, from proceeding on the residue of the said Memorial respecting Colonel William Preston..

Mr. Starke, from the Committee appointed, presented, according to order, an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance entitled An Ordinance to provide for paying the expenses of the Delegates from this Colony to the General Congress; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. Archibald Cary, from the Committee appointed, presented, according to order, an Ordinance for establishing a Board of Commissioners to superintend and direct the Naval affairs of this Colony; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Ordered, That the Committee formerly appointed to examine into the cases of the several Criminals confined in the publick Jail do also examine into, and report, the case of Moses Riggs.

A Petition of Thomas Hugheswas presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that he was appointed a Lieutenant in the Army the 9th of Septemberlast, and thinking an officer in the service was entitled to a servant, he purchased one under a Pennsylvaniaindenture sold for debt, for whom he gave £ 20; that, on showing the indenture to the District Committee, and proposing to destroy it, they offered to take the said servant into the ranks, but that he declined it till he should submit the matter to the Convention; that he hath been at the expense of furnishing him with every necessary requisite for a soldier, made him mount guard, and had him in most of the skirmishes last fall; that he behaved, on all occasions, with great spirit; that a brother of the said servant coming on shore with a flag from the commanding officer at Norfolk, induced him to go on board the Otter, the 19th of Januarylast, and he is now lost to him; and praying that he may be allowed soldier’s pay for the said servant, from the said 9th of Septembertill the 19th of Januaryaforesaid, being the time he did the duty of a common soldier.

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 thereupon, 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 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 a temporary provision ought to be made for enabling the present Magistrates to continue the administration of justice, and for settling the general mode of proceedings in criminal and other cases, until that subject shall be more maturely considered by the Legislature.

Ordered, That Mr. Archibald Cary, Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Henry, Mr. Meriwether Smith, Mr. Edmund Randolph, and Mr. Banister, be a Committee to prepare and bring in an Ordinance pursuant to the said Resolution.

Resolved, That Joseph Neavilleand Enoch Innes, Gentlemen, be appointed Commissioners to dispose of the Estate of Lord Dunmore, in the County of Hampshire, in the room of John Neavilleand James Innes, Gentlemen, who are inconveniently situated for that purpose.