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representative and guardian of their rights; freedom from taxes, except such as they should impose, acknowledged; and "neither forts nor castles to be erected, nor garrisons to be maintained without their consent"; the same freedom of trade "with all nations" secured to Virginia as the people of England enjoy; and finally, a full and total indemnity granted from "all acts, words, or writings done, spoken, or written against the Parliament or Commonwealth of England from the beginning of the world to this day."1 Thus did the Virginians of that day unite with the faith and loyalty of Cavaliers, the free spirit and sturdy independence of the ancient barons. of England.

This brief review of the early history of Virginia seemed indispensable, not only for the reestablishment of historical truth, but as furnishing the necessary key to the conduct of her patriots and statesmen at the period of which we are treating. Virginia still fondly cherished her connection with the mother country; she was loyal to the King as the constitutional head of the empire; but she was proud and jealous of the birthright of English freedom, which she claimed as her undoubted heritage. These blended feelings, expressed in all the acts of her public authorities, received nowhere a nobler utterance

1 See convention entered into pp. 363-368, and Jefferson's Notes with the Parliamentary Commis- on Virginia, p. 214. sioners in 1651, Hen. Stat. vol. I.

than in the frank and unstudied language of the Virginia militia officers at their meeting, already referred to, after the victorious close of their campaign against the Indians. There are, per haps, no better exponents of the true popular feelings of a country than its citizen-soldiers, called momentarily from the pursuits of civil life by a crisis of public danger.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted on the occasion alluded to:

"Resolved, That we will bear the most faithful allegiance to His Majesty King George the Third, whilst His Majesty delights to reign over a brave and free people; that we will, at the expense of life and everything dear and valuable, exert ourselves in support of the honor of his crown, and the dignity of the British empire. But as the love of liberty and attachment to the real interests and just rights of America outweigh every other consideration, we resolve that we will exert every power within us for the defence of American liberty, and for the support of her just rights and privileges, not in any precipitate, riotous, or tumultuous manner, but when regularly called for by the unanimous voice of our countrymen."

Here was the heart and mind of Virginia truly and manfully spoken. It gives the index to her character at this great epoch of her history. There was a reverence for authority; an hereditary attachment to the institutions derived from

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the mother country; a loyalty to the King, so long as he was content to "reign over a brave and free people ;" an undeviating adherence to law and order even in her resistance to oppression, which did not extinguish, but raised and ennobled, her proud spirit of independence, and her indomitable love of liberty.

If some of these were Cavalier traits, we have no need to be ashamed of them, as being undoubted historical facts; and if the truth of history requires us to add some others, of the same origin perhaps, to the social portraiture of our ancestors;-a genial fondness for sports and diversions, an elastic joyousness of temper, a

1 Nothing, perhaps, is better fitted to give an idea of the social temperament and habits of the Virginians of the middle of the last century, and to establish, if farther evidence were wanted, the genuineness of their Cavalier descent, than the following festive programme, taken from the Virginia Gazette of October, 1737 :"We have advice," says the editor, "from Hanover county, that on Saint Andrew's Day, there are to be Horse-Races and several other Diversions for the Enter tainment of the Gentlemen and Ladies at the Old Field near Captain John Bickerton's in that county, (if permitted by the Hon. Wm. Byrd, esquire, Proprietor of the said Land,) the substance of which is as follows, viz:

or Mares do run round a three miles Course for a Prize of Five Pounds. That every Horse shall be entered with Mr. Joseph Fox, and that no person be allowed to put up a Horse unless he hath subscribed for the Entertainment and paid half a Pistole.

"That a Hat of the value of 20s. be cudgelled for, and that after the first challenge made, the Drums are to beat every Quarter of an Hour for three Challenges round the Ring, and none to play with their left hand.

"That a Violin be played for by 20 Fiddlers; no person to have the liberty of playing unless he bring a fiddle with him. After the prize is won, they are all to play together and each a different tune, and to be treated by the

"It is proposed that 20 Horses company.

sympathetic nature, a free and uncalculating hospitality, and too great proneness to inaction and self-indulgence, except when the public cause summoned to exertion; we shall have arrived at the outlines of a character, which, although not in all respects free from the animadversions of the moral censor, yet, in the mixed and imperfect condition of humanity, forming a whole that might well be the basis of high deeds and noble aspirations.

“That 12 Boys, of 12 years of age, do run 112 yards, for a Hat of the cost of 12 shillings.

Stockings of one Pistole value be given to the handsomest young Country Maid that appears in the

"That a Flag be flying on said field. With many other WhimDay 30 feet high.

"That a handsome Entertainment be provided for the subscribers and their wives; and such of them as are not so happy as to have wives, may treat any other lady.

"That Drums, Trumpets, Hautboys, &c., be provided, to play at said Entertainment.

"That after Dinner, the Royal Health, His Honor the Governor's, &c., are to be drunk.

"That a Quire of Ballads be sung for by a number of Songsters, all of them to have Liquor sufficient to clear their Wind-Pipes.

sical and Comical Diversions, too numerous to mention.

"And as this mirth is designed to be purely innocent, and void of offence, all persons resorting there are desired to behave themselves with decency and sobriety; the subscribers being resolved to discountenance all immorality with the utmost rigor."

From the number of competitors on the violin, each bringing his own violin, the genius for that instrument must have been widely diffused, as well as highly appreciated, at that day in Virginia; and when it is recollected that Jefferson and Henry were both ready performers, it would seem, contrary to the notion of Themistocles, that a man

"That a pair of Silver Buckles be wrestled for by a number of brisk young men. "That a pair of handsome Shoes might play on the fiddle, and be, at be danced for. the same time, capable of raising a "That a pair of handsome Silk small to be a great State.

CHAPTER IV.

Battle of Lexington Lord Dunmore's Removal of the Gunpowder from Williamsburg- Assembling of the Independent Companies at Fredericksburg - Patrick Henry's Expedition to reclaim the Gunpowder - Address of Thanks to him from the County Committee of Orange drawn by Mr. Madison - Spirited Proceedings of the Committee in the Case of the Rev. Mr. Wingate - Lord Dunmore again convokes the Assembly - His Altercation with the House of Burgesses - The Governor quits the Palace and takes up his Residence on board a Ship of War - Protest and Closing Scene of the last House of Burgesses in Virginia - Another Convention meets at Richmond-Its Proceedings-Meeting of the Second Continental Congress Army raised for the Defence of American Liberty - Intention of National Independence disclaimed -Sincerity of these Professions called in Question by European Writers - Mr. Madison's Testimony on the Subject - Subsequent Measures of the King and Parliament bring on the Issue of Independence Public Mind in Virginia ripened for the Event by the iniquitous Conduct of the Royal Governor - New Convention elected in Virginia - Mr. Madison chosen a Member.

IN the preceding chapter we have seen the commencement of preparations in Virginia for the contingency, which seemed daily becoming more and more probable, of an appeal to arms in vindication of the rights of America. These preparations were soon justified by grave and signal events. In Massachusetts, an expedition