An Ordinance prescribing the Oaths of Office to be taken by the Governour and Privy Council of the Commonwealth of Virginia was read a second time, and ordered to be fairly transcribed, and read a third time.

The Convention took into their consideration the Report of the Committee of Privileges and Elections on the case of George Blair, made on the 4th day of June which was again read, and agreed to.

Resolved That Thomas Everard and John Tazewell, Gentlemen, be added to the Committee appointed to burn the old Treasury Notes.

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

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o’clock.

Friday, July 5, 1776.

An Ordinance prescribing the Oaths of Office to be taken by the Governour and Privy Council of the Commonwealth of Virgini having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass, and that the title thereof be, An Ordinance prescribing the Oaths of Office to be taken by the Governour and Privy Council, and other Officers of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and for other purposes therein mentioned.*

Resolved, That the sum of £1,000 be laid out in Furniture for the Palace in this City, including the Furniture already there belonging to the country, at a reasonable appraisement, and that Mr. Digges, Mr. Blair, Mr. Everard, and Mr. Randolph, be desired to procure the same.

Resolved, That such of the inhabitants of Botelourt County as are settled on the Western Waters, and under

Be it ordained by the Delegates and Representatives of VIRGINIA, in Convention assembled, and it is ordained by the authority of the same, That if any free person or persons shall, in any manner or by any device, ways, or means, aid, abet, or assist the enemy, he, she, or they, so offending, being duly convicted before the Commissioners appointed, and according to the mode prescribed by the said Ordinance, shall forfeit all his, her, or their estates, real and personal, to the use of the Commonwealth, and, moreover, be imprisoned during such time as the said Commissioners shall direct, not extending beyond the continuance of the present war with Great Britain,

And whereas two of the Judges appointed to take cognizance of matters relating to vessels and their cargoes, have been appointed to other offices, and the third hath resigned: To supply their places, thereby become vacant, Be it ordained, That James Hubard, Joseph Prentis, and John Tyler, Esquires, be, and they are hereby, constituted Judges to hear and determine all causes maritime arising within and belonging to the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, all offences committed on the high seas, and all captures of vessels and their cargoes from the enemies of America, and from the inhabitants of this or any other of the United Colonies, made liable to seizure and confiscation by Ordinances of Convention and the Kesolutions of the Continental Congress thereby adopted; for which purpose, the said Judges, or any two of them, may hold a court at such place within this Colony as they may think most proper for the execution of their office, and may adjourn from time to time, and to any other place they may judge necessary, the said Judges having taken before the Governour and Privy Council, and having administered to the Advocate, Clerk, and Marshal, appointed by them, the respective oaths prescribed in the said Ordinance. And the said Judges and their officers shall be paid for their services such allowance, and in such manner, as by the said Ordinance is directed.

And be it further ordained, That all trials in the said Court of Admiralty shall be by juries of freeholders, to be empannelled by the Marshal, and sworn according to the methods of proceeding in courts of common law; for summoning which juries the said Judges, or any two of them, may issue their precept to the Marshal. And if any juror, summoned by virtue of such precept, shall fail to attend, he shall forfeit fifty shillings, to be levied by fieri facias issuing out of the said Court, unless, having been duly cited, he shall show good cause to the contrary, within ten days.

And be it further ordained, That the Resolutions of the Continental Congress relative to the capture of vessels and their cargoes, made on or before the third day of April last, shall be in force in this Colony.

And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That in all cases of captures, before any suit shall be commenced for the condemnation thereof, the prosecutor shall give caution for the costs of the claimant or defendant which shall be awarded in case judgment shall be entered for him.

And whereas there is no provision made for the maintenance of the wives and children of those persons who may be adjudged inimical:Be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That out of the lands and other estate of every person who hath been or shall be condemned, under this or the former Ordinance for punishing the enemies of America, there shall be allowed, by the Commissioners appointed by the Court condemning such person as aforesaid, such part of the said estate as they shall judge reasonable to the wife and children of such person for their maintenance and subsistence.

And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance shall be in force until the first day of December next.

*An Ordinance prescribing the Oaths of Office to be taken by the Governour and Privy Council, and other officers of the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA, and for other purposes therein mentioned.

Be it ordained by the Delegates or Representatives of the Counties and Corporations in VIRGINIA, now met in Convention, That the Governour, Privy Council, Members of the General Assembly, and Officers of Government, shall take the oaths hereinafter prescribed, before they shall enter into the execution of their respective offices, in the following manner:

THE OATH OF THE GOVERNOUR.

“I, A. B., elected Governour of Virginia by the Representatives thereof, do solemnly promise and swear that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, execute the said office diligently and faithfully, according to law, without favour, affection, or partiality; that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Constitution of the same; and protect the people thereof in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises, and privileges; and will constantly endeavour that the laws and ordinances of the Commonwealth be duly observed, and that law and justice, in mercy, be executed in all judgments; and lastly, I do solemnly promise and swear that I will peaceably and quietly resign the Government to which I have been elected at the several periods to which my continuance in the said office is or shall be limited by law and the Constitution. So help me God.”

THE OATH OF A PRIVY COUNCELLOR.

“I, A. B. elected one of the Privy Council of Virginia by the Representatives thereof, do solemnly promise and swear that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, execute the said office diligently and faithfully, according to law, without favour, affection, or partiality; that I will be faithful to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and will support and defend the same, according to the Constitution thereof, to the utmost ef my power; and that I will keep secret such proceedings and orders of the Privy Council as the Board shall direct to be concealed, unless when the same shall be called for by either House of Assembly. So help me God.”

Which oaths shall be administered, that to the Governour by any four of the Privy Council, and the other by the Governour, on or before the 6th day of this instant, July, for which purpose he is required to summon the Privy Council to attend him at Williamsburgh; and until that time the powers of the Committee of Safety, according to the ordinances of Convention, shall continue, and no longer.

THE OATH OF A SENATOR AND DELEGATE.

“I, A. B., do solemnly promise and swear that I will be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Virginia; that I will well and truly demean myself as a Senator [or Delegate, as the case may be] of the General Assembly to which I have been elected, in all things appertaining to the duties of the same, according to the best of my skill and judgment, and without favour, affection, or partiality. So help me God.” Which oath shall be administered by any Privy Councillor.

THE OATH OF THE SECRETARY, ATTORHNEY-GENERAL, AND CLERK OF A COUNTY COURT.

“I, A. B., do solemnly promise and swear that I will be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that I will well and truly demean myself in the office of Secretary [Attorney-General, or Clerk of the County Court of . . . . . . . ., as the case may be] to which I have been appointed, in all things appertaining to the duties thereof, according to the best of my skill and judgment, and without favour, affection, or partiality. So help me God.”

Which oaths shall be administered, those to the Secretary and Attorney-General by any four of the Privy Council, and the other by the Court of which the officer is Clerk.

And every Attorney-at-Law shall, before he be permitted to practise in any Court, take the following oath before such Court:

“I, A. B., do solemnly promise and swear that I will be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that I will well and truly demean myself in the office of an Attorney-at-Law. So help me God”

And every other person heretofore required by law to take the oaths of Government now taking, instead thereof, an oath before some Court of Record, that he will be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that he will well and truly demean himself in his olfice, in all things appertaining to the duties thereof, according to the best of his skill and judgment, and without favour, affection, or partiality, shall be deemed sufficiently qualified to execute his office.

And all members of Committees of Inspection and Observation shall take the like oath, which any two members of such Committees, respectively, are hereby empowered to administer.

And whereas doubts may arise concerning the powers of the Governour and Privy Council, to the great injury of the community in this time of war and publick danger: Be it ordained, That, superadded to the powers given to the Governour and Privy Council by the form of Government passed this Convention, the Governour, with the advice of the Privy Council, shall have and possess all the powers and authority given to the Committee of Safety by an Ordinance appointing a Committee of Safety, passed at Richmond, July, 1775, or by any resolution of Convention; and also to direct such military movements and operations as, in their judgment, shall be necessary for the safety and security of the Commonwealth: Provided always, and be it ordained, That the powers given by the said Ordinance and Resolutions, hereby transferred to the Governour and Council, and the authority herein also given to direct military movements and operations, shall continue no longer than until the 10th day after the meeting of the next Convention or General Assembly.

And be it further ordained, That Thomas Everard and James Cocke, Esquires, shall be, and they are hereby, appointed Commissioners to examine, state, and settle all publick accounts referred to them for that purpose, by the Governour and Privy Council; each of which Commissioners shall be allowed the sum of ten shillings per day for his services therein, until the end of the next meeting of the Convention or General Assembly.