Hanover. Previous to his departure from Williamsburg he received an address from the officers and soldiers of his regiment, in which they expressed their regret at his leaving them, but applauded his spirited resentment to what they styled a most glaring indignity. From this address it appears that Mr. Henry's resignation was owing to some disgust at the new arrangement that had taken place, or to some part of the conduct of the committee of safety. Immediately after his return home he was chosen one of the delegates to represent the county of Hanover in convention.

+

On Monday the 6th of May, forty-five members of the house of burgesses met at the capitol in Williamsburg, pursuant to their last adjournment; but it being their opinion that they could no longer act under the ancient constitution, they unanimously dissolved themselves. The same day the general convention of delegates, from the different counties and corporations, met at the capitol, and having appointed Edmund Pendleton president, and

P

John Tazewell clerk, they proceeded to the consideration of the important affairs of the colony.

On the 15th of the same month the convention, after appealing to "the Searcher of hearts" for the sincerity of their former declarations in favour of peace and union with the mother country, adopted unanimously the following

resolution.

"That the delegates appointed to represent "this colony in general congress be instructed "to propose to that respectable body to declare "the united colonies free and independent States, "absolved from all allegiance to, or depen"dence on the crown or parliament of Great "Britain; and that they give the assent of this

colony to such declaration, and whatever "measures may be thought necessary by con

gress for forming foreign alliances, and a "confederation of the colonies at such time 66 and in the manner that to them shall seem "best: provided, that the power of forming governments for, and the, regulations of the "internal concerns of each colony be left to "the colonial legislatures." They also appoint

ed a committee to prepare a declaration of rights, and a plan of government* for the colony.

The declaration of rights prepared by the committee, in consequence of the resolution of the house, after having undergone some slight alterations was, on the twelfth of June, approved by an unanimous vote of the convention. On the 29th of the same month a constitution or form of government, built on the solid base of equal rights, was unanimously adopted by the house. In order to put this government in motion, it was declared in the last clause of the constitution," that the represen"tatives of the people, met in convention, "shall choose a governor and privy council " and such other officers, directed to be chosen "by both houses, as may be judged necessary "to be immediately appointed. The senate to "be first chosen by the people, to continue till "the last day of March next, and the other "officers until the end of the succeeding ses"sion of the assembly."los srit

*Note III. Appendix.

In pursuance of the above regulation the following appointments were made under the new plan of government.

Patrick Henry, Esquire, Governor.

John Page, Dudley Digges, John Tayloe, John Blair, Benjamin Harrison of Berkeley, Bartholomew Dandringe, Charles Carter of Shirley, and Benjamin Harrison of Brandon, counsellors of state.

Thomas Whiting, John Hutchings, Cham. pion Travis, Thomas Newton jun. and George Webb, Esquires, commissioners of admiralty.

Thomas Everard and James Cocke, Es. quires, commissioners for settling accounts. Edmund Randolph, Esquire, attorney ge

neral.

On the 5th of July the general convention adjourned themselves, to meet on the first Monday of October following. During their session they passed, beside the declaration of rights and plan of government, several ordinances for the defence and internal improvement of the colony, the most important of which were the following:

An ordinance for erecting salt works in the colony. For establishing a board of commissioners to superintend and direct the naval affairs of the colony. For raising six troops of horse. For arranging the counties into districts for electing senators, &c. They also resolved to expunge from the litany such parts as related to the king and royal family, and substituted in the morning and evening service such forms of expression as were better suited to the new state of affairs.

The declaration of independence, so strongly recommended by the Virginia convention, was passed in congress on the Fourth of July 1776; and agreeably to an order of the privy council, it was proclaimed on the 25th of the same month at the capitol, the court-house, and the palace at Williamsburg, amidst the acclamations of the people, and accompanied by the firing of cannon and musquetry.

Lord Dunmore having left Hampton Roads with his whole fleet, sailed up the bay of Chesapeake, and about the first of June landed on Gwynn's island, near the mouth of the Rappa