Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/179

 been put in sending their members twelve miles to wait on his excellency, on board of one of his majesty^s ships of war, to present their addresses — they state that they think it would be highly improper, and too great a de- parture from the constitutional and accustomed mode of ti'ansacting business, to meet his excellency at any other place than the capitol, to present such bills as were ready for his signature — and therefore, beseech him to return for this purpose.

To all this he gave a very short answer; that as to the arms, he had already declared his intention, and conceived they were meddling with a subject which did not belong to them: he desired to know whom they designed by the term nicle invader; that the disorders in Williamsburg and other parts of the country, had driven him from the palace; and that if any inconve- nience had arisen to the assembly on that account, he was not chargeable with it; that they had not been deprived of any necessary or free access to him; that the constitution undoubtedly vested him with the power of calling the assembly to any place in the colony, which exigency might require; that not having been made acquainted with the whole proceedings of the assembly, he knew of no bills of importance, which if he were inclined to risk his person again among the people, the assembly had to present to him, nor whether they were such as he could assent to.

In the course of their correspondence he required the house to attend him on board the Fowey, for the purpose of obtaining his signature to the bills; and some of the members, to prevent an actual dissolution of the government, and to give effect to the many necessary bills which they had passed, proposed to yield to

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