Mr. Holt, from the Committee to whom the Petition of Andrew Lush was referred, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the said Petition, and had agreed on a Report, and come to a Resolution thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk’s table, where the same was again twice read, as follows:

It appears to your Committee, from the information of Brigadier-General Howe, that in the month of December last a boat’s crew of armed men, of Lord Dunmore’s party, came in the night up a creek near the dwelling of the Petitioner, and fired on him and his people, on which he ordered the fire to be returned, and killed one and wounded another of the enemy; and that the Petitioner’s wife and son, hearing the firing, went to the door, and the enemy happening to fire at that time, wounded her in the thigh, and broke his arm, both of whom languished long under their wounds, during which time the Petitioner was obliged to employ a Doctor, and was at great expense in effecting their cure, and being deprived of the profits of his trade of a Block-maker, became greatly distressed.

Resolved, That the prayer of the said Petition is reasonable, and that the Petitioner ought to be allowed the sum of £45, to enable him to discharge the Doctor’s bill, and other expenses incurred in effecting the cure of his said wife and son.

And the question being put, that the Convention doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution,

It passed in the negative.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Resolved, That the former Resolution of this Convention, for appropriating the Palace, and as many of the out-buildings as might be necessary, for the purpose of a publick Hospital, be now rescinded; and that the Committee appointed to notify to the Governour his appointment do also inform him the Convention desire he will make the same his place of residence.

Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, proceed, by ballot, to the appointment of a Member of the Privy Council in the room of Thomas Nelson, Esquire, who hath declined the said appointment, on account of his age and infirmities.

Ordered, That Mr. Wythe be added to the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance intituled An Ordinance for establishing a mode of punishment for the enemies of America in this Colony.

Resolved, That Mr. Richard Henry Lee, Mr. George Mason, Mr. Treasurer, and Mr. Wythe, be appointed a Committee to devise a proper Seal for this Commonwealth.

An Ordinance for amending an Ordinance intituled An Ordinance for raising and imbodying a sufficient force for the defence and protection of this Colony, was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the whole Convention.

Resolved, That this Convention will to-morrow resolve itself into a Committee on the said Ordinance.

Ordered, That Charles Washington, James Tutt, John Tenant, and Thomas Lomax, Gentlemen, or any three of them, be appointed to sell, at publick auction, on six months credit, taking bond and security, the Sloop Olive, together with her standing rigging, anchor, and cable, the Sloops Lark, Speedwell, and Susannah, together with their tackle, apparel, and furnitures, slave and slaves, to them respectively belonging, as contained in the inventory thereof, which were seized by Captain Taylor.

The Orders of the Day, for a call of the Convention, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony, and on the Ordinance to enable the present Magistrates and officers to continue the administration of justice, and for settling the general mode of proceedings in criminal and other cases till the same can be more amply provided for, being read,

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Tuesday, July 2, 1776.

Mr. Henry Lee, from the Committee appointed, presented, according to order, an Ordinance to amend an Ordinance intituled An Ordinance for establishing a mode of punishment for the enemies of America in this Colony; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance to enable the present Magistrates and officers to continue the administration of justice, and for settling the general mode of proceedings in criminal and other cases; 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 said Ordinance, and had gone through the same, and made several Amendments thereto; 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.

Ordered, That the said Ordinance, together with the several Amendments, be fairly transcribed, and read a third time.

Resolved, That the sum of £450 per annum be allowed to Alexander Purdie, Printer, to continue to the end of the next session of General Assembly, as a full consideration for printing the Journals of the Convention and Assembly, and the Laws and Ordinances of each session, and sending as many copies of the Laws and Ordinances as there are acting Justices in the commission in each respective County, and one other, which is to be half-bound for the use of the Court, and ten to the Clerks of the Courts of Hustings in the City of Williamsburgh and Borough of Norfolk, and printing Inspector’s Receipts and Books, Proclamations, and publick Advertisements.

Resolved, That Peter Pelham be allowed £40 per annum for his salary as Keeper of the publick Jail, until the end of the next session of Assembly.

Resolved, That the Treasurer do advance to the said Peter Pelham £100 per annum, in four equal payments.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded, by ballot, to the appointment of a Member of the Privy Council, in the room of Thomas Nelson, Esq.; and the Members having prepared tickets for the person to be appointed, and put the same into the ballot box, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Curle, Mr. Dandridge, and Mr. Madison, were appointed a Committee to examine the same, and report upon whom the majority falls, and it appearing, from their report, that the numbers stood as follows:

The question was then put, whether the said Benjamin Harrison, Esq., or the said Meriwether Smith, Esq., on whom the greatest numbers fell on the ballot, should be appointed a Member of the Privy Council, the majority appeared in favour of Benjamin Harrison, Esq.

Resolved, therefore, That the said Benjamin Harrison, Esq., be appointed a Member of the Privy Council.

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

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

Mr. Richard Lee, from the Committee of Publick Claims, reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration several claims for executed Slaves, and other matters, and had drawn up and stated an account thereof, and come to a 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 ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Henry Lee, from 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, and also 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, reported, that the Committee had had the said several matters under their consideration, and agreed upon the following Report:

It appears that sundry avaricious traders at Philadelphia, taking advantage of the ignorance of others as to the value

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