well Lee, Paul Carrington, Dudley Digges, James Mercer, Carter Braxton, William Cabell and John Tabb. Most of these names will be familiar to the reader versed in the annals of his country.

Edmund Pendleton was a member of the first congress in the year 1774, and was again appointed at the next election; but in the year 1775 his bad state of health induced him to decline the honour of a third election. He was for many years one of the judges of the court of appeals, in which he presided at the time of his death. In 1787 he was appointed president of the convention which met to consider the constitution proposed for the government of the United States. For its adoption he was a powerful advocate. In the year 1789 he was appointed by Washington district judge, but declining the office, it was filled by the appointment of Cyrus Griffin. During the administration of Adams the venerable judge published a pamphlet against a war with France. He died in Richmond, October 26th, 1803, in the eighty-third year of his age.

George Mason was not less illustrious as a statesman nor less virtuous as a citizen. He was a member of the general convention which, in the year 1787, framed the federal constitution, as well as of the convention of Virginia which in the following year met for its adoption. In the former body he refused to sign his name to the instrument formed by his coadjutors; in the latter he used the whole force of his reasoning powers against its adoption. In George Mason the friends to the federal constitution found, next to Mr. Henry, their most powerful opponent. He opposed the general plan as tending to consolidation, and contended for a reservation to the states of all powers not delegated. He was so averse from that section that allowed the slave trade for twenty years, that he wished rather to exclude the southern states from the union than admit so illegal a traffic. He died at his seat at Gunston Hall in the year 1792, at the age of sixty-seven years.

John Page, equally distinguished for his talents and his patriotism, was worthy the

many important trusts committed to his hands. From the commencement of the revolution till his death, he was the friend and faithful servant of his country. He was one of the representatives from Virginia in the first congress

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under the federal constitution. In the year 1800 he was chosen one of the electors of president, and in 1802 was elected governor of Virginia. He died at Richmond, October 11th, 1808, in the sixty-fifth year of his

age.

Richard Bland was a political writer, and an active member of the house of burgesses about the commencement of the revolution. He published, in the year 1766, an inquiry into the rights of the British colonies, in answer to a pamphlet published in London in the preceding year.

The convention voted for the service of the state, two regiments of regulars to serve for one year, and also ordered that a portion of the militia should encamp by regiments, for the purpose of improving in military exercises. These were denominated mninute men, from the nature of their enlistment, which required

them to be ready to march at a minute's warning.

The general committee met soon after at Hanover town, where those who had been elected officers by their companies repaired to get their commissions. The committee also appointed a commissary of stores, and another of provisions, in order that supplies adequate to the wants of the army might be ready. Their attention was next turned to Norfolk, where it was expected Dunmore, who had not yet left the coast of Virginia, would make an attack. Captain Davis, of the Norfolk volunteers, was ordered to collect and mount all the cannon he could procure. The committee after making these arrangements adjourned to meet in Williamsburg.

Meanwhile Dunmore, whose force consisted of three or four armed vessels and two companies of the fourteenth regiment just arrived from the West Indies, together with a few negroes and tories, was preparing for an attack on Hampton. The inhabitants of that place had excited his lordship's vengeance by affording

shelter to two young men of the name of Barron, who had annoyed his fleet and burnt two of his vessels. These adventurous patriots commanded two pilot boats, with which they hovered near the enemy, and when pursued they made Hampton their place of retreat. Hampton was unable to resist Dunmore without military aid, and it was a question with the committee whether policy required the defence of the coast, or whether it should be abandoned to the enemy. The disgraceful idea of wasting the country before the invaders, was warmly and successfully reprobated by John Page, the early and steady friend of the revolution. It was accordingly determined to send a force to the assistance of Hampton; and captain Nicholas, of the second regiment of regulars, and captain Lyne of the King and Queen county minute men, were appointed for that purpose. These were followed by colonel Woodford, with one hundred riflemen of the Culpeper battalion...

Before the arrival of Woodford an attack was made on the town by a party of the enemy,