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Whereas the Minds of his Majesty's faithful Subjects in this
Colony have been much disturbed, by various Rumours and Reports
of Proceedings tending to deprive them of their ancient, legal, and
constitutional Rights; and whereas the Affairs of this Colony are
frequently connected with those of Great Britain, as well as of the
neighbouring Colonies, which renders a Communication of Senti-
ments necessary: In Order, therefore, to remove the Uneasinesses,
and to quiet the Minds of the People, as well as for the other good
Purposes above mentioned,
Be it resolved, that a standing Committee of Correspondence and
Inquiry be appointed, to consist of eleven Persons, to wit, the hon-
ourable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard
Bland, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton,
Patrick Henry, Dudley Digges, Dabney Carr, Archibald Gary, and
Thomas Jefferson, Esquires, any six of whom to be a Committee;
whose Business it shall be to obtain the most early and authentic
Intelligence of all such Acts and Resolutions of the British Parlia-
ment, or Proceedings of Administration, as may relate to or affect
the British Colonies in America; and to keep up and maintain a
Correspondence, and Communication, with our Sister Colonies, re-
specting these important Considerations; and the Result of such
their Proceedings, from Time to Time to lay before this House.
Resolved, that it be an Instruction to the said Committee, that
they do, without Delay, inform themselves particularly of the Prin-
ciples and Authority on which was constituted a Court of Enquiry,
said to have been lately held in Rhode-Island, with Powers to trans-
port Persons accused of Offences committed in America to Places
beyond the Seas to be tried.
Resolved, that the Speaker of this House do transmit to the
Speakers of the different Assemblies of the British Colonies on this
Continent Copies of the said Resolutions, and desire that they will
lay them before their respective] Assemblies, and request them to
appoint some Person, or Persons, of their respective] Bodies, to
communicate from Time to Time with the said Committee.
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Journal of
the Virginia
House of
Burgesses,
Va. State
Library,
Contempo-
rary copy.
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