Robert Carter Nicholas chosen Speaker

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Thursday, August 17, 1775.

The Delegates being assembled, Edmund Pendleton, Esq˙, a Member for the Counly of Caroline, reminded them that the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq˙, having, in consequence of what was yesterday recommended to him by the Convention, retired, it became necessary that they should proceed to the choice of another President, to act in that office during his indisposition or absence; and he recommended Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq˙, as a gentleman in every respect qualified to fill that important office. Mr˙ Nicholas was then, by general consent, called to the chair; and after being seated, arose and returned his thanks to the Convention for the honour they had been pleased to confer on him. Professions of unworthiness, he said, he considered as more trite than sincere, and therefore declined every thing of that kind; but candour obliged him to acknowledge he felt the greatest diffidence in succeeding to an office lately filled by a worthy gentleman, of confessed abilities, so much to his own honour, and so greatly to the advantage of this Convention.

The President then reminded the Convention how much a due observance of order and decorum redounded to the honour and dignity of every society, and hoped a continuance of the same attention to those objects, which he had been hitherto happy to observe; that, on his part, no endeavours should be wanting to justify their choice; and that, on all occasions, he should conduct himself with the utmost impartiality.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Thornton and Mr˙ Harvie have leave of absence from the service of this Convention for the remainder of the session.

The Convention then proceeded, by ballot, to the appointment of the Committee of Safety; and the Members having prepared tickets with the names of eleven persons to be of the said Committee, and put the same into the ballot-box, Mr˙ Richard Henry Lee, Mr˙ Henry, Mr˙ Harrison, and Mr˙ Jefferson, were appointed a Committee to examine the same, and report on whom the majority fell: who retired, and after some time returned into Convention, and reported, that the numbers stood as follows:

Resolved, therefore, That the said Edmund Pendleton, George Mason, John Page, Richard Bland, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Paul Carrington, Dudley Digges, William Cabell, Carter Braxton, James Mercer, and John Tabb,

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Resolved, That William Woodford, Esq˙, be appointed Colonel to the second Regiment of Regular Forces to be raised for the defence and protection of this Colony, in the room of Thomas Nelson, Esq˙, who hath declined the said appointment.

The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded, by ballot, to the appointment of a Lieutenant-Colonel to the First Regiment; and the Members of the Convention having prepared tickets with the name of the person to be appointed, and put the same into the ballot-box, Mr˙ George Mason, Mr˙ Thomas Ludwell Lee, Mr˙ Banister, and Mr˙ Holt, were appointed a Committee to examine the ballot-box, and report on whom the majority falls; and it appearing, from their report, that there was a majority of the whole Convention in favour of William Christian, Esq.,

Resolved, therefore, That the said William Christian be appointed Lieutenant-Colonel to the said First Regiment.

The Convention proceeded, in the same manner, to the appointment of a Lieutenant-Colonel to the Second Regiment; and it appearing, from the report of the Committee, that there was a majority of the whole Convention in favour of Charles Scott, Esq.,

Resolved, therefore, That the said Charles Scott be appointed Lieutenant-Colonel to the Second Regiment.

The Convention proceeded, in the same manner, to the appointment of a Major to the First Regiment; and it appearing, from the report of the Committee appointed to examine the ballot-box, that the numbers stood as follows:

The question was then put, whether the said Francis Eppes, or the said Alexander Spotswood, on whom the greatest numbers full on the ballot, should be appointed Major to the First Regiment; the majority appeared in favour of Francis Eppes, Esq.

Resolved, therefore, That the said Francis Eppes be appointed Major to the said First Regiment.

The Convention then proceeded, in the same manner, to the appointment of a Major of the Second Regiment; and it appearing, from the report of the Committee appointed to examine the ballot-box, that the numbers stood as follows:

The question was then put, whether the said Alexander potswood, or the said George Matthews, on whom the greatest numbers fell on the ballot, should be appointed Major to the Second Regiment; the majority appeared in favour of Alexander Spotswood, Esq.

Resolved, therefore, That the said Alexander Spotswood be appointed Major to the said Second Regiment. The Convention proceeded, in the same manner, to the appointment of an Adjutant-General; and it appearing, from the report of the Committee appointed to examine the ballot-box, that there was a majority of the whole Convention in favour of Thomas Bullitt, Esq.,

Resolved, therefore, That the said Thomas Bullitt be appointed Adjutant-General.

The Order of the Day — for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the 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 for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony — being read,

Resolved, That the Convention will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee on the said Ordinances.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o' clock