WEDNESDAY, May 30, 1781.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from Major Nelson, on the subject of recruiting his corps of cavalry, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the commissioners of escheated property in the county of Prince William, respecting the sale of certain escheated lands in the said county; which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

A motion was made, that the House do come to the following resolution:

Whereas, by the sudden depreciation of the continental money, large sums are likely to be brought into the treasury to be exchanged, by persons not being citizens of this State and others, whereby great injury is likely to accrue to the State, in issuing the new money of Congress at a great depreciation, in depriving the State of a possibility of paying a late demand of Congress, and in preventing the citizens of this State from getting what money they may be possessed of redeemed:

Resolved, therefore, That the treasurer of this State be requested and advised not to exchange, or receive to exchange, for the money issued by a resolution of Congress of the 18th day of March, 1780, any continental money, as directed by an act of October, 1780, until the sense of the legislature can be had relative thereto.

And the said resolution being read a second time was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. Ordered, That Mr. Taylor of Caroline, do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. On a motion made,

Ordered, That writs issue for the election of delegates to serve in this present General Assembly, for the county of Dinwiddie, an election having been omitted to be made in the said county, on the day appointed by law.

Mr. Taylor of Caroline presented, according to order, a bill "for calling in and exchanging this State's quota of continental money;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time."

Mr. Taylor of Caroline presented, according to order, a bill "to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and also on all prizes;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

A bill, "concerning the adjournment of the Supreme Courts, was read the second time;" and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time.

A motion was made, that the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Governor be desired to employ a proper number of trusty persons as riders, to convey to him the necessary information concerning the state of the war in this Commonwealth.

And the said resolution being read a second time was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. Ordered, That Mr. Henry do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A memorial of Robert Poage, Caleb Wallace, David Rice, William Read, John H. Holt and Joshua Early, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that in their opinion the measures adopted for the prosecution of the war and the defence of the State have been founded on ill policy and conducted improperly; that they conceive a plan by which the State might be divided into districts, having a joint regard to the equality of property and the number of militia in each district, which district should furnish a soldier "in perpetuo," and supply him with sufficient arms and clothing, would be more eligible and better contribute to the security and defence of the State; and praying that the Legislature will countenance such a plan of defence.

Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table.

The order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth, being read;

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

Resolved, That this House will, on Saturday next, proceed by joint ballot with the Senate to the choice of a Governor or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth for the ensuing year; and also, of three members of the Privy Council or Council of State, in the room of those who have resigned.

Ordered, That Mr. Page do acquaint the Senate therewith.

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

THURSDAY, May 31, 1781.

Another member having taken the oaths required by law, took his seat in the House.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, enclosing one from Baron Steuben, with a representation of the present state of the Virginia line; which was read and ordered to be referred to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth.

Ordered, That Mr. Garrard have leave to be absent from the service of this House for the remainder of the

session.

An engrossed bill, "concerning the adjournment of the Supreme Courts;" was read the third time;

Resolved, That the bill do pass; and that the title be, "an act concerning the adjournment of the Suprem Courts."

Ordered, That Mr. Lee do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A bill, "for calling in and exchanging this State's quota of continental money," was read the second time, an ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House, to-morrow.

A bill, "to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and als on all prizes," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House, to-morrow A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Augusta, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presente to the House, and read; setting forth, that the requisition of men from their county under the late draft law is unequa and unjust, inasmuch as they are compelled to furnish a proportion of the deficiency of certain counties that hav heretofore failed to raise their quotas; that any estimate formed upon the numbers of their militia, and not guided b the amount of property, will be unjust; and praying relief.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Common

wealth.

Ordered, That a committee of Privileges and Elections be appointed.

And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Henry, Cabell, Taylor (of Caroline), Pride, Page, Tyler, Strother Nicholas, Hardy, Talbot, Digges, Lomax, Field, Lee, Mayo, Woodson, Morgan, Peyton, Campbell (of Washington] and Syme; and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to examine in the first place all returns of writ for electing delegates to serve in this present General Assembly, and to compare the same with the form prescribe by law; and to take into their consideration all such matters as shall or may come in question touching returns, elec tions and privileges, and to report their proceedings, with their opinions thereupon, from time to time to the House and the said committee are to have power to send for persons, papers and records, for their information.

Resolved, That in all cases of controverted elections, to be heard at the bar of this House or before the com mittee of Privileges and Elections, the petitioners do, by themselves or by their agents, within a convenient time t be appointed, either by the House or the committee of Privileges and Elections, as the matter to be heard shall b before the House or the said committee, deliver to the sitting members, or their agents, lists of the persons intende by the petitioners to be objected to, who voted for the sitting members, giving in the said lists the several heads o objection, and distinguishing the same against the names of the voters excepted to; and that the sitting members do by themselves or their agents, within the same time, deliver the like lists on their parts, to the petitioners or thei agents.

Ordered, That a committee for Courts of Justice be appointed.

And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Tyler, Taylor (of Caroline), Pride, Nicholas, Hardy, Baker, M'Car ty, Lomax, Henry, Morgan, and Peyton; and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take into thei consideration all matters relating to Courts of Justice, and such other matters as shall, from time to time, be referre to them, and report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon, to the House; and the said committee are to in spect the Journals of the last session, and to draw up a state of the matters then depending and undetermined, and the progress that was made therein, and report the same to the House; and also to examine what laws have expire since the last session, and inspect such temporary laws as will expire with the end of this session, or are near expir ing, and report the same to the House, with their opinion which of them are fit to be revived and continued; and th said committee are to have power to send for persons, papers and records for their information.

Ordered, That Mr. Adam Craig be appointed clerk to the committee of Privileges and Elections, and to th committee for Courts of Justice.

It being represented to this House by Thomas Hughes, that an opposition has been made by some of the peopl of Augusta in arms, to a law passed by the last Assembly, and that Zachariah Johnston, a member for that county hath been the principal instigator of such opposition:

Resolved, That an inquiry ought to be made into it, and that the persons most likely to give the necessary in formation, be called upon to attend on the eleventh day of next month.

Ordered, That the foregoing information be referred to the committee of Privileges and Elections; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House; and the said committe are to have power to send for persons, papers and records for their information.

Ordered, That the letters, papers and information, respecting the accounts of Meriwether Smith, Esq. which were depending before the last session of Assembly, be referred to Messrs. Nicholas, Henry, Powell, Baker, W Cabell, Talbot, Lomax, W. Moore, Field, Strother, Taylor (of Caroline), Woodson, Digges and Triplett; that the do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Ordered, That the letter from Major Nelson, which lay on the table, be referred to the committee of the whol House on the state of the Commonwealth.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the stat of the Commonwealth; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Page reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the state of the Commonwealth under their consideration, 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 agreed to by the House, as followeth :

Resolved, That the corps of cavalry commanded by Major Nelson, ought to be augmented to the number o

sixty men each troop, and by two companies of infantry to consist each of one hundred men, properly officered; the officers to be appointed out of the supernumerary officers now in the pay of this State; the whole to be organized as a legionary corps.

Ordered, That a bill or bills, be brought in pursuant to the said resolution; and that Messrs. Page, Henry, and Taylor (of Caroline), do prepare and bring in the same.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth.

The House proceeded to consider the resolution which lay on the table for procuring horses to mount the first and third regiments of dragoons, and the same being twice read was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House as followeth:

It appearing, that the prices allowed by the last Assembly for purchasing horses to mount the first and third regiments of dragoons have been insufficient;

Resolved, That the resolution of the said Assembly be repealed, that the Governor, with the advice of Council, be desired to take proper measures to mount the said regiments.

Ordered, That Mr. Nicholas do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.
And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

FRIDAY, June 1, 1781.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill "for calling in and exchanging this State's quota of continental money ;" and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Tyler reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under their consideration and made some progress therein, but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to move the House for leave to sit again.

bill.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the said

A memorial of Edmund Pendleton and John Taylor, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that they have claim to certain lands in the State of North Carolina, which, before the extension of the boundary line, were supposed to be within this State; that they have obtained patents and other legal confirmation of their title, but that the said lands are about to be granted by the Assembly of North Carolina to certain settlers and residents who pretend a claim thereto; and praying the interference and a representation of the legislature on their behalf:

Also, a petition of Nathaniel Tally, executor, &c. of John Tate, dec.; setting forth, that he is guardian to the orphans of the said testator, and for their maintenance did, at the time there were no taxes in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, lease the lands for the term of eight years on the consideration of twenty-four pounds per annum; that the depreciation of money and weight of taxes now imposed will produce ruin to the orphans; and praying relief.

Ordered, That the said memorial and petition be referred to the committee for Courts of Justice; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Mr. Page presented, according to order, a bill, "to establish the corps of cavalry commanded by Major Nelson into a legionary corps ;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

The orders of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth; and also on the bill "to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and also on all prizes," being read;

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

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

SATURDAY, June 2, 1781.

A motion was made that the House do come to the following resolution :

Resolved, That the Governor be desired, to day, to commission some fit person or persons as Brigadiers General, to command a corps of volunteers to act against the enemy on the present emergency; and that the said Brigadier or Brigadiers General be empowered and directed to appoint proper Field Officers, Captains, Subalterns and other officers to act in the said corps of volunteers.

And the said resolution being read a second time was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. Ordered, That Mr. Henry do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A motion was made, that the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That his excellency the Governor be desired to call for the immediate assistance of Brigadier General Morgan, to take the command of such volunteers, militia, or others, as he may be able speedily to embody, and

march to join the army under command of the Honorable Major General Marquis La Fayette; that this Assembly have the utmost confidence in the active exertions of General Morgan in the present emergency, and that the Governor do transmit to the said General so many proper commissions as may be necessary for the Field Officers, Captains, Subalterns and others, to be by him appointed.

And the said resolution being read a second time was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. Ordered, That Mr. Henry do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider of the most speedy and effectual measures for procuring arms and military stores.

And a committee was appointed of Messrs. Henry, Nicholas, Page, Travis, Taylor of Caroline, Ronald and Strother.

Ordered, That Messrs. Taylor of Caroline, Nicholas, Peyton, Talbot, Campbell of Washington, and Triplett, be added to the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill "to establish martial law within miles of our

camp and that of the enemy."

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, enclosing others from the county Lieutenants of Augusta, Rockbridge and Rockingham, respecting certain dissensions in the said counties, which were read.

Ordered, That the letters from the county Lieutenants of Augusta and Rockbridge, be referred to the committee of Privileges and Elections.

Ordered, That the letter from the county Lieutenant of Rockingham, do lie on the table.

Ordered, That Mr. Campbell of Rockbridge, have leave to be absent from the service of this House for the remainder of the session.

A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Caroline, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that they see with concern, the many evils resulting from the toleration given to toryism and the too great indulgence of the laws toward people inimically disposed; and praying that some mode may be devised by which persons of that character shall be discriminated and compelled to leave the State.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

The orders of the day, for the House to proceed by joint ballot with the Senate, to the choice of a Governor or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth, and of three Privy Counsellors; and also, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth; and on the bills "for calling in and exchanging this State's quota of continental money;" and "to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and also on all prizes," being read;

Ordered, That the same be put off till Monday next.

Resolved, That in case the enemy shall be in possession of this place on Monday next, this House do adjourn to Penn's Ordinary, in the county of Amherst, there to meet on the eleventh day of this month.

Resolved, That this House adjourn until Monday next, 10 o'clock; then to meet at this place, unless the enemy shall be in possession of the same.

MONDAY, June 4, 1781.

Resolved, That during the present dangerous invasion, forty members be a sufficient number to compose a House to proceed upon business.

There being reason to apprehend an immediate incursion of the enemy's cavalry to this place, which renders it indispensable that the General Assembly should forthwith adjourn to a place of greater security;

Resolved, That this House be adjourned until Thursday next, then to meet at the town of Staunton, in the county of Augusta.

At the town of Staunton, in the county of Augusta.

THURSDAY, June 7, 1781.

The House met according to their adjournment.

The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the Honorable William Fleming, a member of the Privy Council or Council of State, stating certain matters for the consideration of the General Assembly; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth.

The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the President of Congress, enclosing sundry resolutions of that body, of the 22d instant, on the subject of supply; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That this House will, on Tuesday next, proceed by joint ballot with the Senate, to the choice of a Governor or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth for the ensuing year; and also, of three members of the Privy Council or Council of State, in the room of those who have resigned.

Ordered, That Mr. Page do acquaint the Senate therewith.

A petition of Mann Page, Esq. one of the executors of John Tayloe, Esq. deceased, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that Will, a negro man slave, belonging to the estate of the testator, was condemned to suffer death for treason, by the judgment of Prince William county court, which sentence the petitioner considers as illegal, because a slave cannot commit treason; that by the Constitution, the power of granting a pardon for that offence is reserved to the legislature; and praying that the said slave may be pardoned.

Ordered, That the said petition, be referred to the committee for Courts of Justice; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill, "to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and also, on all prizes;" and that Mr. Page do prepare and bring in the same. Mr. Page presented, according to order, a bill "to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and also, on all prizes;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

FRIDAY, June 8, 1781.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from John Walker, Esq. to his excellency the Governor, respecting the removal of the public stores; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A bill," to enable the Congress of the United States to levy a duty on certain goods and merchandizes, and also, on all prizes," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House immediately.

The House accordingly, resolved itself into a committee on the said bill; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Tyler reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under their consideration, and made some progress therein, but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to move the House for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the said bill.

Mr. Taylor of Caroline, presented according to order, a bill "for establishing martial law within

miles

of the American army or the enemy's camp;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Ordered, That leave be given'to bring in a bill "to amend the act, for raising two legions for the defence of the State;" and that Mr. Page do prepare and bring in the same.

A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Henry, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that they are greatly injured by the present mode for regulating impresses, inasmuch, as the certificates granted them for property taken for public use are refused to be received or allowed by the sheriffs, collectors, public treasurer and auditors; and praying relief.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee for Courts of Justice; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Mr. Page presented, according to order, a bill "to amend the act, 'for raising two legions for the defence of the State;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "for calling in and exchanging this State's quota of continental money;" and that Mr. Taylor of Caroline, do prepare and bring in the same.

A bill "to establish the corps of cavalry commanded by Maj. Nelson into a legionary corps;" was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House, to-morrow.

Mr. Taylor of Caroline, presented according to order, a bill "for calling in and exchanging this State's quota of continental money;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time. The order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth, being read;

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

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.