the cause of this refolution, which he apprehended he perfectly understood, proceeded immediately to prevent the effects, which he forefaw would follow of confequence. There was a public magazine belonging to the colony in the capital of Williamsburgh, which was laid up there, in cafe of any emergency arifing from the tumults of the negroes, or any other accident that might happen in the country. The Governor intended to fecure this magazine for fear the colonists hould make ufe of it in a way detrimental to the interests of government. He employed the captain of an armed veffel which lay at a few miles diftance in James's river, with a detachment of marines to convey the powder by night aboard the ship.Tho' this measure was conducted with great privacy, it was by fome means difcovered the next morning, when the apparent fecrecy and feeming myfteriousnefs of the act, increased the confternation and alarm, among the inhabitants, who immediately affembled with fuch arms as they had in their poffeffion, with an intention of demanding or perhaps obtaining reftitution of the gunpowder. The mayor and corporation however prevented their proceeding to any extremities whilft they prefented an addrefs to the Governor, ftating the injury, reclaiming the powder as a matter of right, and fhewing the dangers to which they were peculiarly liable from the infurrection of the flaves, a calamity which for fometime had been particularly apprehended, and which the removal of their only defence would at any time accelerate.

His Lordship acknowledged that the gun-powder had been removed by his order, and faid that as he had heard of an infurrection in a neighbouring county, and did not think it fecure in the magazine, he

had

had removed it to a place of perfect fecurity; but promised that it fhould be returned when ever any infur rection rendered it neceffary. He also faid, that it had been removed in the night to prevent giving an alarm; and expreffed great surprise at the people's affembling in arms; and further obferved, that he did not think it prudent to put powder into their hands in fuch a fituation. Whether this anfwer fatesfid the magiftrates or not does not appear very evident, but for the prefent they prevailed on the people to retire quietly to their own houses, without any particular outrage being committed. It appeared that they were far from intending any outrage, for it was proved by the most inconteftible evidence before the affembly that the officers of the men of war on that ftation, and particularly the gentlemen that removed the powder, and were most particularly obnoxious, appeared publicly in the streets during the time of the greatest commotion without receiving the fmalleft infult. A report being however fpread in the evening, that a detachment from the men of war were upon their march to the city, the people again took to their arms, and continued all night upon the watch, as if in expectation of an attack from an enemy.They alto from this time encreased the night paroles; and fhewed an evident defign to protect the magazi ne from any further attempts.

The whole value of the gunpowder and arms in the magazine, for any purpofe to which they were capa ble of being converted, either in the hands of friends or enemies, appeared very inadequate to the alarm, fufpicion, and difturbance which this meafure excited. -The quantity of powder removed amounted only to fifteen half barrels, containing fifty pounds each,

of

a very ordinary fort, and the remaining stock left in the magazine, to about fix of the fame fort. Neither does it appear that the number of ferviceable muskets was sufficient to answer any effential purpose, or even to justify apprehension, and the caution of ftripping these of their locks only marked their fufpicion, from whence it proceeded. A confiderable quantity of old arms and common trading guns were not touched. Upon the whole, this act derived its only importance from time, manner, and circumstance. A jealoufy had arifen between the governor and the colonists, from a caufe exceedingly obvious, and nei. ther the conduct of the one nor the other was direct ed by candour and difintereftedness. The governor feems to have been exceedingly irritated at the behaviour of the people in these commotions, and probly refented it too highly, (confidering the times) af fembling in arms, not only without, but with an evident intention to oppofe his authority. In this warmth of temper fome threatenings were thrown out which, upon cool reflection would probably have been avoided. Among these a threatening of fetting up the royal ftandard, of enfranchifing the negroes, arming them against their mafters, and deftroying the city, with other expreffions of a fimilar nature and tendency, fpread a general alarm throughout the colony, and excited a fort of abhorrence of government, and an incurable fufpicion of its defigns.-Several public meetings were now held in different counties, in all which the measures of feizing and removing the powder, as well as the governor's threatenings were reprobated in the ftrongeft terms. Some of the gentlemen of Hanover, and others of the neighbouring Counties, were not fatisfied with fimple declarations.

They

They affembled in arms to a confiderable number, under the conduct of a Mr Henry, who was one of the provincial delegates to the general congrefs, and marched towards Williamsburgh with an avowed defign to obtain reftitution for the gun powder, and to take fuch effectual measures for fecuring the public treasury, as should prevent its experiencing a fimilar fate with the magazine. A negociation was however entered into with the magiftrates, when they had arrived within a few miles of the town, in which it was fully fettled, that the Receiver-general of the colony's promise for paying the value of the powder, fhould be accepted as a reftitution, and that upon the inhabitants engaging for the future to guard both treasury and magazine, the infurgents fould return to their habitations.

The Governor began now to perceive that the affair was ferious, and that the people were in earneft; he thought himself and his family in danger, and provided for fafety aboard the Fowey man of war in James's river; while his Lordship, with the affiftance of a detachment of marines, converted his palace to a little garrifon, fortified it in the best manner he was able, and furrounded it with artillery. A proclamation was then iffued by the Governor and his council, in which Henry and his followers were charged with rebellious practices, in extorting the value of the powder from the Receiver-general, and the prefent commotions were attributed to difaffection in the people and a defire of changing the eflablished form of government, ferving only to afford more room for altercation, and to encrease the heat and difcontent. Several county meetings were held, the conduct cf Henry vindicated and applauded, and refolutions

B

refolutions paffed that at the rifque of every thing dear, he and his followers fhould be indemnified from all fuffering, lofs and injury, upon that account. The charge of difaffection was peremptorily denied, and thofe of changing the form of government, and caufing the present troubles, retorted. They infifted that they wanted nothing but to preferve their ancient conflitution, and only opposed innovations, and that all the disturbances fprung from the governor's late conduct.

As there are times when all circumstances feem to confpire towards the nourishment and increase of political, as well as natural disorders, fo it appeared now in Virginia, every thing tended to one common cen. tre of distrust, jealousy, and discontent. The copies of fome letters from the governor to the minifter of the American department were by fome means procured and published; fevere cenfures paffed upon them, as containing not only unfavourable, but unfair and unjust representations, as well of facts, as of the temper and difpofition of the colony.

Thus

one diftrust begot another, until all confidence being totally loft on both fides, every falfe report that was circulated was believed on either, and ferved up for a time to keep up the public fever.

unexpectedly convened by The grand motive for this their approbation and ac

In this ftate of commotion and diforder, upon the arrival of dispatches from England, the General Af fembly was fuddenly and the governor, June 1ft. measure was to procure ceptance of the terms included in Lord North's conciliatory motion, and the parliamentary refolutions founded thereon. His lordship accordingly in his speech used his utmost addrefs to carry his point: he

ftated