PAT. HENRY, jun. To ROBERT CARTER NICHOLAS, esq. treas. GARLAND ness as follows, to wit: "That an officer with | treasury. If therefore you apprehend the least 16 men was detached to seize the king's danger, a sufficient guard is at your service. receiver general, with orders to detain him; I beg the return of the bearer may be instant, and this, it was supposed, might be done with- because the men wish to know their destinaout impeding the progress of the main body. tion. With great regard, I am, sir, your most The said receiver general not being appre-humble servant, hended, owing to his absence from home, the said detachment, according to orders proceeded to join the main body on its march to Williamsburg, and the junction happened the 3d instant at Doncastle's ordinary about sunset. A little after sunrise next morning, the commanding officer being assured that proper satisfaction in money should be instantly made, the volunteers halted, and the proposal being considered by them was judged satisfactory as to that point; and the following receipt was given, viz., "Doncastle's ordinary, New Kent, May 4, 1775: Received from the hon. Richard Corbin, esq. his majesty's receiver general, £330, as a compensation for the gun-powder lately taken out of the public magazine by the gover-convention. It appears also to this committee, nor's order; which money I promise to convey to the Virginia delegates at the general congress, to be under their direction, laid out in gun-powder for the colony's use, and to be stored as they shall direct, until the next colony convention or general assembly, unless it shall be necessary, in the mean time, to use the same in defence of this colony. It is agreed that in case the next convention shall determine Test, It was then considered that as a general congress would meet in a few days, and probably a colony convention would shortly assemble, and that the reprisal now made would amply replace the powder, with the charges of transportation, the commanding officer wrote the following letter, and sent it by express. SIR-The affair of the powder is now settled, so as to produce satisfaction to me, and I earnestly wish to the colony in general. The people here have it in charge, from Hanover committee, to tender their service to you, as a public officer, for the purpose of escorting the public treasury to any place in this colony, where the money may be judged more safe than in the city of Williamsburg. The reprisal now made by the Hanover volunteers, though accomplished in a manner least liable to the imputation of violent extremity, may possibly be the cause of future injury to the To which an answer was received from the said Mr. Nicholas, importing that he had no apprehensions of the necessity or propriety of the proffered service. For which reasons, and understanding, moreover, from others, that the private citizens of Williamsburg were in a great measure quieted from their late apprehension for their persons and property, the volunteers judged it best to return home, and did so accordingly, in order to wait the further directions of the general congress, or colony that before, and on the march, strict orders were repeatedly given to the volunteers to avoid all violence, injury and insult, towards the persons and property of every private individual; and that in executing the plan of reprisal on the persons of the king's servants and his property, bloodshed should be avoided, if possible; and that there is the strongest reason to believe that the foregoing orders, respecting private persons and property, were strictly observed. Resolved, That this committee do approve of the proceedings of the officers and soldiers of the volunteer company, and do return them their most sincere thanks for their services on the late expedition; and also that the thanks of this committee be given to the many volunteers of the different counties who joined, and were marching and ready to co-operate with the volunteer company of this county. Ordered, That the clerk do transmit a copy of those proceedings to the printers, and desire that they will be pleased to publish the same in the Gazettes, as soon as possible. By order of the committee, BART. ANDERSON, Clerk. (A copy) | that in his councils we can no longer confide; a set of miscreants, unworthy to administer the laws of Britain's empire, have been permitted impiously to sway. How unjustly, cruelly, and tyrannically, they have invaded our rights, we need not put you in mind. We only say, and we assert it with pride, that the subjects of Britain are one; and when the honest man of Boston who has broke no law, has his property wrested from him, the hunter on the Allegany must take the alarm, and, as a freeman of America, he will fly to his representatives, and thus instruct them :-Gentlemen, my gun, my tomahawk, my life I desire you to render to the honor of my king and country; but my liberty to range these woods on the same terms my father has done, is not mine to give up; it was not purchased by me, and purchased it was; it is entailed on my son, and the tenure is sacred. Watch over it, gentlemen, for to him it must descend unviolated, if my arm can defend it; but if not, if wicked power is permitted to prevail against me, the original purchase was blood, and mine shall pray-seal the surrender. setting forth, that however distinguished from Resolved, That it be an instruction to the commanding officers of the regiments or troops to be raised, that they permit dissenting clergymen to celebrate Divine worship, and to preach to the soldiers, or exhort, from time to time, as the various operations of the military service may permit, for the ease of such scrupulous consciences as may not choose to attend Divine service as celebrated by the chaplain. That our countrymen and the world may know our disposition, we choose that this be published. And we have one request to add, that is, that the sons of freedom who appeared for us at Philadelphia, will accept our most ardent, grateful acknowledgments; and we hereby plight them our faith, that we will religiously observe their resolutions, and obey their instructions, in contempt of power and temporary interest; and should the measures they have wisely calculated for our relief fail, we will stand prepared for every contingency. We are, gentlemen, your dutiful, etc. THE FREEHOLDERS OF BOTETOURT. ADDRESS OF THE FREEHOLDERS OF BOTETOURT WILLIAMSBURG, Oct. 1775. PROCLAMATION Gentlemen-For your past service you have OF LORd Dunmore offeRING FREEDOM TO THE SLAVES BELONGING TO THE REBELS In Norfolk and the adjacent country, Dunmore counted on numerous adherents. The rash advice, together with his own impetuous, haughty and revengeful temper, early impelled him to a measure characterized by folly, and fraught with incalculable mischief, not only to the people of Virginia, but to his own cause. Under date of Nov. 7th, he issued the following our thanks, and we presume it is all the reward you desire. And as we have again committed to you the greatest trust we can confer (that of appearing for us in the great council of the colony) we think it expedient you hear our sentiments at this important juncture. And first, we require you to represent us with hearts replete with the most grateful and loyal veneration for the race of Brunswick, for they have been truly our fathers; and at the same time the most dutiful affection for our sov-proclamation, the style of which strongly indiereign, of whose honest heart we cannot entertain any diffidence; but sorry we are to add, cates the agitation of a perturbed mind, whilst its substance betrays a blind, impolitic, ruin FROM LORD Dunmore, to GENERAL HOWE, "As I have ever entertained hopes that an accommodation might have taken place be- "I must inform you, that with our little corps tween Great Britain and this colony, without I think we have done wonders. We have taken being compelled by my duty to do this most and destroyed above fourscore pieces of orddisagreeable, but now absolutely necessary nance, and by landing in different parts of the duty, rendered so by a body of men, unlawfully country, we keep them in continual hot water; assembled, firing on his majesty's tenders, and but as captain Leslie tells me he means to give the formation of an army, and an army now you particulars enough, I shall say no more on on its march to attack his majesty's troops, that subject. Among the prisoners, we have and destroy the well disposed subjects of this taken one Oliver Porter, and Deane, two colony. To defeat such treasonable purposes, natives of Boston, bringing in gunpowder to and that all such traitors, and their abettors North Carolina. The latter was sent from may be brought to justice, and that the peace Boston to influence the minds of the people, in and good order of this colony may be again which he has been but too successful. He restored, which the ordinary course of the civil was taken from on board a schooner going law is unable to effect, I have thought fit to from this place to the Western Islands, to issue this my proclamation, hereby declaring bring powder to this colony; and the others that, until the aforesaid good purposes can be have carried arms against his majesty in this obtained, I do, in virtue of the power and author- province. I have sent them more with a view ity to me given, by his majesty. determine to of intimidating others than to punish them, as execute martial law, and cause the same to be they expect here that, so sure as they are sent executed throughout this colony; and to the to Boston, they are to be hanged. Robinson end that peace and good order may the sooner is a delegate of our convention. Matthews be restored, I do require every person capable was a captain of their minute-men. Perhaps of bearing arms to resort to his majesty's they may be of some use to you, in exchanging standard, or be looked upon as traitors them for good men. The sloop not sailing so to his majesty's crown and government, and soon as I expected, I have to inform you that, thereby become liable to the penalty the law on the 14th inst, I had information that a inflicts upon such offences; such as for- party of about a hundred of the North Carolina feiture of life, confiscation of lands, etc., etc. rebels had marched to the assistance of those And I do hereby further declare all indented in this colony, and were posted at a place called servants, negroes, or others (appertaining to the Great-Bridge, a very essential pass in the rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear country. I accordingly embarked our little arms, they joining his majesty's troops as soon corps in boats, in the night of the 14th, with as may be, for the more speedily reducing his between twenty and thirty volunteers from colony to a proper sense of their duty to his Norfolk. We landed within four miles of the majesty's crown and dignity. I do further bridge, and arrived there a little after daylight; order and require all his majesty's liege sub- but, to our great mortification, fonnd the birds jects, to retain their quit-rents or other taxes had flown the evening before. But hearing due, or that may become due in their own cus- that a body, between 2 and 300, of our rebels tody, till such a time may again be restored to were within about ten miles of us, we deterthis at present most unhappy country, or de- mined to beat up their quarters, and accordmanded of them for their former salutary pur-ingly proceeded about eight miles, when they recruiting business, victualling, clothing, etc. drawn on you for £5000 sterling, and have appointed a pay-master, who will keep exact accounts. I wish you would inform me, by the return of the sloop, what bounty money may be given to those who enlist.—Having heard that 1000 chosen men belonging to the rebels, a great part of whom were riflemen, were on their march to attack us here, or to cut off our provisions, I determined to take possession of the pass at the Great-Bridge, which secures us the greatest part of two counties, to supply us with provisions. I accordingly ordered a stockade to be erected there, which was done in a few days; and I put an officer and 25 men to garrison it, with some volunteers and, who have defended it against all the efforts of the rebels for these eight days past. We have killed several of their men, and I make no doubt we shall now be able to maintain our ground there; but should we be obliged to abandon it, we have thrown up an intrenchment on the land side of Norfolk, which I hope they never will be able to force. Here we are contending, with only a very small part of a regiment, against the extensive colony of Virginia. If you could but spare me, for a few months, the 64th regiment now in the castle, and the remaining part of the 14th, I really believe we should reduce this colony to a proper sense of their duty." fired on our advanced guards from the woods: | posed. I have now, in order to carry on the on which I immediately ordered our people to rush upon them, and at the same time sent a party of the regulars, with the volunteers, to out-flank them. The enemy immediately fled on all quarters, and our people pursued them for a mile or more, killed a few, drove others to a creek, where they were drowned, and took nine prisoners, among whom is one of their colonels. We only had one man wounded, who is recovering. I immediately upon this issued the enclosed proclamation; which has had a wonderful effect, as there are no less than 300 who have taken and signed the enclosed oath. The blacks are also flocking from all quarters, which I hope will oblige the rebels to disperse, to take care of their families and property, and had I but a few more men here, I would immediately march to Williamsburg, my former place of residence, by which I should soon compel the whole colony to submit. We are in great want of small arms; and if two or three field pieces and their carriages could be spared, they would be of great service to us; also some cartridge paper, of which not | a sheet is to be got in this country, and all our cartridges are expended.—Since the 19th of May last I have not received a single line from any one in administration, though I have wrote volumes to them, in each of which I have prayed to be instructed, but to no purpose. I am therefore determined to go on doing the best of my power for his majesty's service. I have accordingly ordered a regiment, called the Queen's own loyal regiment, of 500 men, to be raised immediately, consisting of a lieutenant-colonel commandant, major, and ten PROCEEDINGS companies, each of which is to consist of one IN THE CONVENTION OF VIRGINIA RE LATING TO THE PROCLAMATION OF LORD captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, and fifty privates, with non-commissioned officers in proportion. You may observe, by my proclaWILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, January 25, 1776. mation, that I offer freedom to the blacks of all Resolved, unanimously, that this convention rebels that join me, in consequence of which do highly approve of col. Woodford's conduct, there are between 2 and 300 already come in, manifested, as well in the success of the troops and those I form into corps as fast as they under his command, as in the humane treatcome in, giving them white officers and non-ment of, and kind attention to, the unfortunate, commissioners in proportion. And from these though brave officers and soldiers, who were two plans, I make no doubt of getting men made prisoners in the late action near the Great enough to reduce this colony to a proper sense Bridge, and that the president communicate to of their duty. My next distress will be the col. Woodford the sense of his country on this want of arms, accoutrements and money, all occasion. of which you may be able to relieve me from. Whereas lord Dunmore, by his proclamation, The latter I am sure you can, as there are dated on board the ship William, the 7th day many merchants here who are ready to supply of November, 1775, hath presumed, in direct me, on my giving them bills on you, which you violation of the constitution, and the laws of will have to withdraw, and give your own in this country, to declare martial law in force, their room. I hope this mode will be agreeable and to be executed throughout this colony, to you; it is the same that general Gage pro-whereby our lives, our liberty, and our property, are arbitrarily subjected to his power and di- | end, most evidently appears from the whole rection: and whereas the said lord Dunmore, tenor of his conduct. The supposed design of assuming powers which the king himself can- the Canada bill having been to draw down not exercise, to intimidate the good people of upon us a merciless and savage enemy, the this colony into a compliance with his arbi- present manœuvres amongst the Roman Cathtrary will, hath declared those who do not olics in Ireland, and the schemes concerted immediately repair to his standard, and submit with Doctor Connelly, and other vile instruin all things to a government not warranted by ments of tyranny, which have appeared by the the constitution, to be in actual rebellion, and examination of the said Connelly, justify the thereby to have incurred the penalties inflicted supposition, and most fully evince his lordship's by the laws. for such offences; and hath offered inimical and cruel disposition towards us, and freedom to the servants and slaves of those he can best determine whether we have been is pleased to term rebels, arming them against wrong in preparing to resist, even by arms, their masters, and destroying the peace and that system of tyranny adopted by the ministry happiness of his majesty's good and faithful and parliament of Great Britain, of which he is subjects, whose property is rendered insecure, become the rigid executioner in this colony. and whose lives are exposed to the dangers of The many depredations committed also upon a general insurrection. We, as guardians of the inhabitants of this colony, by the tenders the lives and liberty of the people, our consti- and other armed vessels employed by his lordtuents, conceived it to be indispensably our ship for such purposes; the pilfering and plun duty to protect them against every species of dering the property of the people, and the actual despotism, and to endeavor to remove those seduction and seizure of their slaves, were truly fears with which they are so justly alarmed. alarming in their effects, and called aloud for justice and resistance. The persons of many of our peaceable brethren have been seized and dragged to confinement, contrary to the principles of liberty, and the constitution of our country: yet have we borne this injurious treatment with unexampled patience, unwilling to shed the blood of our fellow-subjects, who, prosecuting the measures of a British parliament, would sacrifice our lives and property to a relentless fury and unabating avarice. If a governor can be authorized, even by majesty itself, to annul the laws of the land, and to introduce the most execrable of all systems, the law martial; if, by his single fiat, he can strip us of our property, can give freedom to our servants and slaves, and arm them for our If it were possible the understandings of men could be so blinded, that every gleam of reason might be lost, the hope, his lordship says, he hath ever entertained of an accommodation between Great Britain and this colony, might pass unnoticed; but truth, justice, and common sense, must ever prevail, when facts can be appealed to in their support. It is the peculiar happiness of this colony, that his lordship can be traced as the source of innumerable evils, and one of the principal causes of the misfortunes under which we now labor. A particular detail of his conduct, since his arrival in this colony, can be considered only as a repetition, it having been already fully published to the world by the proceedings of the general assembly, and a former convention; but the un-destruction, let us bid adieu to every thing remitting violence with which his lordship endeavors to involve this country in the most dreadful calamities, certainly affords new matter for the attention of the public, and will remove every imputation of ingratitude to his lordship, or of injustice to his character. His lordship is pleased to ascribe the unworthy steps he hath taken against this colony to a necessity arising from the conduct of its inhabitants, whom he hath considered in a rebellious state, but who know nothing of rebellion except the name. Ever zealous in support of tyranny, he hath broken the bonds of society, and trampled justice under his feet. Had his lordship been desirous of effecting an accommodation of these disputes, he hath had the most ample occasion of exerting both his interest and abilities; but that he never had in view any such salutary valuable in life; let us at once bend our necks to the galling yoke, and hug the chains prepared for us and our latest posterity! It is with inexpressible concern we reflect upon the distressed situation of some of our unhappy countrymen, who had thought themselves too immediately within the power of lord Dunmore, and have been induced thereby to remain inactive. We lament the advantage he hath taken of their situation, and at present impute their inactivity, in the cause of freedom and the constitution, not to any defection or want of zeal, but to their defenceless state; and whilst we endeavor to afford them succor, and to support their rights, we expect they will contribute every thing in their deliverance: yet if any of our people, in violation of their faith plighted to this colony, and the duty they |