March 12, 1773 House of without delay inform themselves particularly of the principles and Burgesses, 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 be tried. Resolved, That the Speaker 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. Williams At a meeting of the Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry, at burg, March Williamsburg, on Saturday, the 13th of March, 1773: 13, 1773 Present-The honorable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, Richard Henry Lee, Dudley Digges, Archibald Cary, Dabney Carr, and Thomas Jefferson, Esquires. Resolved, That John Tazewell be appointed clerk of this committee, and he is to keep a fair record of the proceedings thereof from time to time. Peyton Randolph, Robert Carter Nicholas, and Dudley Digges, Esquires, are appointed a select corresponding committee, and they are directed to request of the Speakers of the Assemblies for the Colonies of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, a full account of the principles and authority on which was constituted a Court. of Enquiry, said to have been lately held in the Colony of Rhode Island, together with an authentic copy of their commission and proceedings. Also to procure a copy of an Act of Parliament passed in the present year of his Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act for the better preserving his Majesty's Dock-yards, Magazines, Ships, Amunition, and Stores," and all other Acts of Parliament which now are or may hereafter may be passed relating to the affairs of the British Colonies on the Continent of America, and copies of the Journals of the House of Commons from to the present time, as also of their proceedings in future sessions of Parliament. The corresponding members above mentioned are empowered to call meetings of this committee whenever any emergency may require their immediate attention. Ordered, That copies of the Acts of Assembly intituled "An Act for making it Felony to forge the paper currency of the other Colonies,” be immediately transmitted to the Speakers of the several Assemblies on the Continent. Williams At a meeting of the Select Committee of Correspondence, at Williamsburg, April burg, on Tuesday, the 6th of April, 1773: 6, 1773 Present-The honorable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Robert Carter Nicholas, and Dudley Digges, Esqrs. 6, 1773 The committee came to a resolution to correspond with Mr. John Nor- Williamston, of London, merchant, and directed a letter to be prepared requesting burg, April him to send them a copy of an Act of Parliament, passed in the present year of his Majesty's reign, intituled An Act for the better preserving his Majesty's Dock-yards, Magazines, Ships, Amunition and Stores, the Journals of the House of Commons from the session in 1765-6, and all other Acts of Parliament and proceedings of administration which may affect this or any of the Colonies on the Continent. A letter to Mr. Norton being accordingly prepared, was presented to the committee read and agreed to as follows: SIR: WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, April 6th, 1773. At a late session of our Assembly, the House of Burgesses judged it necessary to enter into several resolves, of which we take the liberty of enclosing you a copy, and at a general meeting of the committee they thought proper to appoint us three members of their body a select corresponding committee, with an injunction that we should take the earliest opportunity of procuring such Acts of Parliament and Journals of the British House of Commons, and all other authentic intelligencies which may answer the expectations and further the views of the House of Burgesses. Upon considering of a person in England with whom we could correspond with advantage, our attention was presently drawn to you as a gentleman of integrity and well known attachment to the interest of this Colony. We, therefore, desire the favor of you to procure and transmit to us, by the first good opportunity, a copy of an Act of Parliament, passed in the present year of his Majesty's reign, intituled An Act for the better preserving his Majesty's Dock-yards, Magazines, Ships, Ammunition and Stores, and of all other Acts or Resolutions of Parliament, or proceedings of administration lately passed or entered into, or which may hereafter take place, by which all or any of the Colonies on the Continent of America may be, either immediately or eventually affected. The Treasurer, some years ago, by order of the House of Burgesses, imported Journals in folio down to the Session of Parliament in the year 1765–6, inclusive, and as we are directed to have the collection made complete and continued so from time to time, we desire that you will also send us the whole Journals at large from the period above mentioned. We shall hope to hear from you by the first ship, and desire that your letters on these subjects may be directed to Peyton Randolph, Esq'r. We are Sir, your mo: ob't Servants, PEYTON RANDOLPH, ROB'T CARTER NICHOLAS, Williams Ordered, That the said letter and a duplicate thereof be sent by the burg, April first Ships. 6, 1773 Ordered, That letters be prepared to the Speakers of the several Assemblies for the Colonies of Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York, requesting an account of the principles and authority on which was constituted a Court of Enquiry, said to have been lately held in Rhode Island, together with an authentic copy of their commission and proceedings. A letter was accordingly prepared to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the province of Massachusetts Bay, which being read and approved of by the Committee, is as follows: SIR: WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, April 6th, 1773. The Speaker of the House of Burgesses of this Colony having transmitted to you a copy of the resolutions entered into by their House at their last session, constituting a Committee of Correspondence and Enquiry, permit us to refer you to those resolutions. That committee have appointed us a select corresponding committee, and in pursuance of direction we are now to request the favour of you to transmit us a full account of the principles and authority on which was constituted a Court of Enquiry, said to have been lately held in the Colony of Rhode Island, with powers to transport persons accused of Offences committed in America, to places beyond the seas to be tried, together with an authentic copy of their commission and proceedings. We have it also in command, to transmit to you a copy of an Act of our Assembly, made at their last session, to prevent counterfeiting the currency of other Colonies. This Colony having of late years sustained the greatest injury by having their paper currency forged, and it having been represented to our General Assembly that the principle author of this mischief is an inhabitant of North Carolina, they judged it necessary, as well to prevent such dangerous practices in future, as to show their regard for other Colonies, to pass this Act. Our Governor will transmit copies of this law to the different Governors on the Continent with a request that they would be pleased to recommend it to their several Assemblies to enact laws of the same import respecting Virginia, and we are to request your countenance and assistance upon so important an occasion. We have the honor to be very respectfully, Sir, your mo: ob't serv'ts, PEYTON RANDOLPH, Also a letter of the same import to the Speaker of the General Assem- Williamsbly of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New burg, April 6, 1773 England. Also to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Colony of Connecticut. Also to the Speaker of the General Assembly of the Colony of New York. Ordered, That the said letters be sent by next post. Copy of a letter agreed to by the Committee and ordered to be sent: To the Speaker of SIR: Of The Commons House of Assembly of the province of South Of The House of Representatives of the province of Pennsylvania. Of The House of Representatives of the Colony of North Carolina. Of the Representatives of the Colony of New Jersey. Of the House of Representatives of the province of New Hamp- WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, April 6th, 1773. This Colony having of late years sustained the greatest injury by having their paper currency forged, and it having been represented to our General Assembly at their last session, that the supposed principal author of this mischief is an inhabitant of North Carolina, they judged it necessary, as well to prevent such dangerous practices in the future, as to shew their regard for the other Colonies, to pass an Act to prevent counterfeiting the paper currency of other Colonies. Our Governor will transmit copies of this Act to the different Governors on the Continent with a request that they would be pleased to recommend to their different Assemblies to enact laws of the same import respecting Virginia. We have it in command to furnish the Speakers of the different Assemblies with the like copies, and to request the favour of their countenance and assistance in accomplishing our wishes upon so important an occasion. We therefore take the liberty of inclosing you a copy of the Act. We have the honor to be very respectfully, Sir, your mo. ob't serv'ts, PEYTON RANDOLPH, ROBERT CARTER NICHOLAS, Williams At a meeting of the Select Committee of Correspondence, at Williamsburg, April burg, on Thursday, the 6th Jan. 1774: 6, 1773 Present-The honorable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Robert Carter Nicholas, and Dudley Digges, Esqrs. A letter received from the Committee of Correspondence in Connecticut was laid before this committee and considered, and the following answer thereto agreed upon: Williamsburg, Jan'y GENT: 6, 1774 WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, Jan. 6th, 1774. We have, agreeable to your request, inquired into the proceedings of the General Court of this Colony, on the requisition made to them for Writs of Assistants to the Officers of his Majesty's Customs. We find two applications of this sort have been made by direction of the Commissioners of the Customs in Boston: One in the year 1769, the other in the year 1773, and we now inclose you copies of their Determinations, and also a copy of the Writ approved of by the judges. By the form of this it appears to have been their opinion that the Court was not warranted by the Statutes to grant the general and standing writs which the Commissioners had directed the Attorney-General to move for, but that whenever the officers thought these writs necessary, upon a motion to the Court, and an affidavit pursuant to the Statute, they would direct a proper writ to issue. In compliance with the latter part of your request, we have attentively considered this Determination of our Supreme Court, and think it strictly conformable to the Statutes, and that the Legislature never had an idea. of giving so dangerous and oppressive a power as that now claimed by the Commissioners. The whole authority for issuing these writs depends on the Stat. 12, Caz. 2, chap. 19. For the 14th Caz. 2, chap. 11, makes no alteration in the manner of obtaining the writ; the 7th and 8th of Will. 3d, only extends the laws relative to the customs to the plantations, and the 7th Geo., 3rd, directs that the Supreme Courts in America shall have power to issue them. That Statute is in these words: "That if any person or persons at any time after the first day of September, 1660, shall cause any goods for which Custom Subsidy or other Duties are due or payable by virtue of the Act passed this Parliament (intitled a Subsidy granted to the King of Tonnage and poundage and other sums of money payable upon merchandise exported and imported) to be landed or conveyed away without due entry thereof first made and the Customer or Collector, or his Deputy agreed with, that then and in such case upon oath thereof made before the Lord Treasurer or any of the Barons of the Exchequer or chief Magistrate of the port or place where the offence shall be committed, or the place next adjoining thereunto to issue out a warrant to any person or persons thereby enabling |