Resolutions of the House of Burgesses Establishing a Committee of Intercolonial Correspondence

Upon a motion made—
The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, upon the state of the colony.
Mr. Speaker left the chair.
Mr. Bland took the chair of the committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. Bland reported from the committee that they had directed him to make the following report to the House, viz.:
Whereas, the minds of His Majesty’s faithful subjects, in this colony, have been much disturbed by various rumors and reports of proceedings, tending to deprive them of their ancient, legal and constitutional rights;
AND whereas, the affairs of this colony are frequently connected with those of Great Britain, as well as of the neighboring colonies, which renders a communication of sentiments necessary; in order, therefore, to remove the uneasiness, and to quiet the minds of the people, as well as for the other good purposes above mentioned,—
Be it resolved, that a standing committee of correspondence and inquiry, be appointed, to consist of eleven persons, to wit: the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard Bland, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton, Patrick Henry, Dudley Digges, Dabney Carr, Archibald Carey [Cary], and Thomas Jefferson, Esqs., any six of whom, to be a committee, whose business it shall be, to obtain the most early and authentic intelligence of all such acts and resolutions of the British Parliament, or proceedings of administration, as may relate to, or affect the British colonies in America; and to keep up and maintain a correspondence and communication with our sister colonies respecting these important considerations; and the result of such proceedings, from time to time to lay before this House.
Resolved, that it be an instruction to said committee, that they do, without delay, inform themselves particularly of the principles and authority, on which was constituted a court of inquiry, 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.
The said resolutions being severally read a second time, were, upon the questions severally put thereupon, agreed to, by the House, nemine contradicente.
Resolved, that the speaker of this House 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.