Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/182

 158 SKETCHES OF THE

ney, commander, and departed for Boston, carrying with her the now obnoxious capt. Foy. The governor's domestics left the palace, and removed to his farm at Montibello, about six miles below Williamsburg; and the governor, himself, fixed his station at the town of Portsmouth. In this posture of things, on Monday, the 24th of July, 1775, the colonial convention met at the city of Richmond.

The proceedings of this convention were marked by a character of great decision and vigour. One of their first measures was an ordinance for raising and embo- dying a sufficient force for the defence and protection of this colony. By this ordinance, it was provided, that two regiments of regulars, to consist of one thousand and twenty privates rank and file, should be forthwith raised and taken into the pay of the colony; and a competent regular force was also provided for the protection of the western frontier. The whole colony was divided into sixteen militaiy districts; with a provision, that a regiment of six hundred and eighty men, rank and file, should be raised on the eastern shore district, and a bat- talion of five hundred in each of the others; to be forth- with armed, trained, furnished with all military accou- trements, and ready to march at a minute's warning.

A committee, called the committee of safet}*, was also organized, with functions and powers analogous to those of the executive department; and apparently designed to supply the vacancy occasioned by the gover- nor'?^ abdication of that branch of the government.

The convention now proceeded to the appointment of officers to command the regular forces. The lofty stand which Mr. Henry had taken in the American cause, his increasing popularity, and the prompt and enersfctic movement which he had made in the affair of

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