Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/112

 88 SKETCHES OF THE

" Be it resolved^ That a standing committee of corre- spondence and enquiry be appointed, to consist of eleven persons, to wit: the honourable Peyton Ran- dolph esquire, Robert C. Nicholas, Richard Bland, Richard H. Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendle- ton, Patrick Heniy, Dudley Digges, Dabney Can', Archibald Cary, and Thomas Jefferson, esquires, any six of whom to be a committee, whose business it shall be to obtain the most eaiiy and authentic intelligence of all such acts and resolutions of the British parliament, 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, respecting those important considera- tions; 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 com- mittee, that they do, without delay, inform themselves particularly of the principles and authority, on which was constituted a court of enquiry, said to have been lately held in Rhode Island, with powers to transport persons accused of offences committed in America, to places beyond the seas, to he tfled.

" The said resolutions being severally read a second time, were, upon the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the house, nemhie contradicente.

" Resolved, That the speaker of this house do trans- mit to the speakers of the different assembhes of the British colonies on the continent, copies of the said re- solutions, 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 com- mittee/^

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