Intercepted Letters to be transmitted to the Committee of Safety unopened

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Wednesday, December 6, 1775.

A proposition from the Rev˙ John Dixon was presented to the Convention and read; setting forth, that by several experiments made in the County of Gloucester, he finds he can make considerable quantities of Salt, and desiring the encouragement of the publick in so useful an undertaking.

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

Resolved, That the Commanding Officer of the Forces raised for the protection and defence of this Colony do lay before the Convention a state and return of the Forces under his command, and of their several stations.

Resolved, That all intercepted Letters which are supposed to concern the publick be transmitted to the Committee of Safety, unopened.

Mr˙ Mercer, from the Committee appointed to report such of the Letters transmitted to the Committee of Safety from the Committee of the County of Elizabeth City, as concerned the publick, reported several of the said Letters.

Ordered, That the said Letters be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonel Woodford, in answer to one formerly written to him.

Ordered, That the said Letter be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

Several Letters lately received from the Committee for, the County of Elizabeth City were presented to the Convention, and ordered to be referred to the Committee formerly appointed to report such Letters as should be found to concern the publick.

The Commanding Officer of the Forces raised for the defence and protection of this Colony laid before the Convention, according to order, a state and return of the Forces under his command.

Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on the state of the Colony.

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˙ Treasurer reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the state of the Colony, but not having time to go through the same, had desired him to move for leave to sit again.

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

Adjourned till to-morrow, half after ten o' clock.