Richard Bland declined accepting the appointment of Deputry to the General Congress

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Saturday, August 12, 1775.

Richard Bland, Esq˙, returned the Convention his most grateful acknowledgments for the great honour they had been pleased a third time to confer on him, by appointing him one of the Deputies to represent this Colony in General Congress, and said this fresh instance of their approbation was sufficient for an old man, almost deprived of sight, whose greatest ambition had ever been to receive the plaudit of his Country, whenever he should retire from the publick stage of life; that the honourable testimony he lately received of this approbation, joined with his present appointment, should ever animate him, as far as he was able, to support the glorious cause in which America was now engaged; but that his advanced age rendered him incapable of taking an active part in these weighty and important concerns, which must necessarily be agitated in the great Council of the United Colonies, and therefore begging leave to decline the honour they had been pleased to confer on him, and desiring that some person more fit and able might supply his place.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Thanks of this

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The President accordingly delivered the Thank' s of the Convention to the said Richard Bland, Esq˙, in his place, who expressed the great pleasure he received from this distinguished testimony of his Country' s approbation of his services.

Resolved, That this Convention will, on Tuesday next, proceed to the appointment of a Deputy to represent this Colony in the room of the said Richard Bland, Esq.

Mr˙ Cary, from the persons appointed, presented to the Convention, according to order, an Ordinance for regulating the election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-Men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and the same was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

A Letter from the Officers of the Volunteer Companies in Williamsburgh was presented to the Convention, and read; setting forth, that the bearer, Mr˙ John Farquharson, had supplied the Troops under their command with all kinds of Vegetables, and they had conceived an exceeding good opinion of him, and hoped he would meet with the favour and approbation of the Convention.

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

An Ordinance for regulating the election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-Men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned, was read a second time, and ordered to be committed.

Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a Committee on the said Ordinance.

The Members from the County of Frederick informed the Convention, that some gentlemen in their County had purchased a number of Rifles, and a quantity of Gunpowder, at a low rate, which they were willing and proposed to deliver up, for the use of the publick, at the same price at which those articles had been purchased by them.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Bland, Mr˙ Pendleton, Mr˙ Henry, Mr˙ Cary, and Mr˙ Richard Henry Lee, be a Committee to examine and state the said proposition, and report the same, together with their opinion thereupon, to the Convention.

Resolved, That the Resolution of this Convention, directing the Committees of the several Counties to appoint Officers, and to have fifty Men immediately enlisted in each County, be rescinded; and that where any Officers have been appointed and Men enlisted, in pursuance of the said Resolution, they be immediately disbanded.

Resolved, That the Officers so appointed, and Men so enlisted, be in the pay of this Colony from the time of their appointment and enlistment to the time of their being disbanded.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Adams, Mr˙ Randolph, Mr˙ Carrington, Mr˙ Pendleton, and Mr˙ Mayo, be a Committee to examine, state, and report the claims of such Officers and Men who shall apply to them for that purpose; and that the Committee appointed by the House of Burgesses to examine, state, and settle the claims of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, do also examine, state, and settle the claims of such Officers and Men as may have been appointed and enlisted under the former Resolution, in the Counties of Frederick and Augusta.

Mr˙ Zane, from the persons appointed, presented, according to order, an Ordinance for appointing Commissioners to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service, and for making provision to pay the same; which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and

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Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, resolve itself into the said Committee.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in an Ordinance to encourage the making Saltpetre, Gunpowder, Lead, the refining Sulphur, and providing Arms for the use of the Colony; and that Mr˙ Richard Henry Lee, Mr˙ Henry, Mr˙ Robert Carter Nicholas, Mr˙ Gary, Mr˙ Lynch, and Mr˙ Pendleton, do prepare and bring in the same.

The Order of the Day, for a call of the Convention, and for the appointment of Officers to command the Regular Forces to be raised for the defence of this Colony, being read,

Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, proceed to the appointment of the said Officers; and that the order for the call of the Convention be put off till Tuesday next.

Adjourned till Monday, nine o' clock.