CHAP. II.] THE GARDEN BOOK. 75 Vignerons, who came over with Mr. Mazzei.' The manner was as follows: April 6. A trench 4 feet deep and 4 feet wide, was dug. At the bottom were put small green bushes, and on them a thin coat of dung and earth mixed, which raised the bed to within 24 feet of the surface. The cuttings, which were from 3 to 6 feet long, and which had been hitherto buried in the earth, were then produced. About 18 inches of their roots were dipt into a thick paste made of cowdung and water, and then planted in the bottom, the Raisins 3 feet apart, the rest about 2 feet, having a stick stuck by each, to which it was bound with bear-grass, in order to support it, while the earth should be drawn in. The earth was then thrown in, the mould first, and afterwards the other earth in the same order in which it was dug, leaving the bottom clay for the last. The earth was thrown in very loose, and care was taken to avoid trampling in it. The trench was not quite filled, but left somewhat hollowing to receive and retain the water, and the superfluous earth was left on each side without the trench. Then the supporting sticks were drawn out, and would have served for the other rows, had the plantation been to be continued. In such a case the rows are to be 4 feet apart, so that, in fact, the whole surface is taken up to the depth of 4 feet. The best way of doing it is to dig every other trench, and leave the earth which is thrown out exposed for a twelvemonth. Then the vines may be planted at any time from the middle of November to the first week in April. Afterwards dig the other alternate trenches, and leave the earth of these also exposed for a twelvemonth. When the latter trenches are planted, leave the superfluous earth in ridges between the rows of vines till by the subsidence of the earth it becomes necessary to pull it into the trenches. If any of your grapes turn out illy, cut off the vine and engraft another on the stock. An acre in vines where they are 24 feet apart in the row will admit 4,316 in all. 7. Sowed, planted, etc., as follows: 8. No. 1. Cocomere di Pistoia. Watermelons. 34 hills. 7. Zucche bianche. White pumpkins. 22 monticini. Meadow. 9. Do. Black do. 42 hills. di monacho. 8 monticini. Lauri. 9 monticini. 11. In making a stone wall in my garden, I find by an accurate calculation that 74 cubical feet may be done in a day by one hand, who brings his own stone into place and does everything. 25. Sowed four rows of forward peas. two do. of 1 His gardeners at this period were from the same quarter, and this accounts for his frequent use of Italian names in the garden record. 4. The blue ridge of mountains covered with snow. 5. A frost which destroyed almost everything. It killed the wheat, rye, corn, The leaves of the trees were many tobacco plants, and even large saplings. 14. Cherries ripe. 16. First dish of peas from earliest patch. 26. A second patch of peas come to table. June 4. Windsor beans come to table. 5. A third and fourth patch of peas come to table. 13. A fifth patch of peas come in. July 13. Last dish of peas. 18. Last lettuce from Gehee's. 23. Cucumbers from our garden. 31. Watermelons from our patch. Aug. 3. Indian corn comes to table. Black-eyed peas come to table. Nov. 16. This morning the northern part of the Blue Ridge is white with snow. 17. The first frost sufficient to kill anything. CHAPTER III. 1773-1775. Meeting of the House of Burgesses, 1773-Causes of Irritation-Committee of Correspondence appointed-House dissolved by Governor Dunmore-Claims of Virginia and Massachusetts to the Honor of originating Committees of Correspondence-Claims of Revolutionary Precedence between the Colonies-Unjust Imputations on some-Dabney Carr's Character-His Intimacy with Mr. Jefferson, Marriage and Death-His FamilyMeeting of the Burgesses in 1774-Boston Port Bill-Fast Day Proclaimed-House Dissolved-A Convention agreed on-Proceedings of Albemarle Freeholders-Their Remarkable Resolutions drawn by Jefferson-Hanover Resolutions Fairfax Resolutions Convention Meets-Delegates to Congress Jefferson's proposed InstructionsTheir Fate Their Novel Positions, and Extraordinary Character-Jefferson placed in a Bill of Attainder-Instructions adopted by the Convention-Meeting of CongressThe Virginia Committees of Safety-Jefferson Chairman of the Albemarle Committee -The Second Convention of Virginia-Henry's Proposition to arm the Colony-His Eloquence-Richard H. Lee-Jefferson chosen P. Randolph's Substitute to CongressLogan's Speech-Public Powder abstracted by the Governor's Orders-Albemarle Volunteers ask Washington's Advice-Disturbances-Henry advances with a Military Force on Williamsburg-The Governor succumbs-Lord North's Conciliatory Proposition Jefferson succeeds Randolph in Congress-Remains to draw up the Answer of Virginia-Its Contents-Final Rupture between Lord Dunmore and the House-Overthrow of Royal Government in Virginia. WHEN the Virginia Assembly met in the spring of 1773, an event had occurred to rouse them from their torpor. The intolerable insolence of an armed government vessel (the Gaspee), stationed in Narraganset Bay to enforce the revenue laws, had led to its being decoyed aground and burned.' This called out an Act of Parliament "for the better securing his Majesty's dockyards, magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores," by which the destruction of the least thing appertaining to the British navy, down, as the historian Gordon remarks, to the "button of a mariner's coat, the oar of a cutter's boat, or the head of a 1 June 10th, 1772. 78 REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN VIRGINIA. [CHAP. III. cask belonging to the fleet," was made punishable by death; and the accused might, at the pleasure of his Majesty, be transported to any county in England for trial.' In December (1772), a commission arrived from England, appointing several colonial officers whose servility to government could be relied on, as a Court of Inquiry in the Gaspee affair, and intrusted with the power of deciding whether those whom they determined should be placed on trial should be transported to England. We have seen that the claim of this power of deportation for trial, under an ancient statute, drew forth the indignant remonstrances of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1769; and they now met incensed by the new statutory enactment and the attempted practical enforcement of a principle which, if allowed to go peaceably into execution, all foresaw would soon be extended far enough to place the liberty and life of every prominent colonist who should dare to render himself obnoxious to government, in the hands of packed and prejudiced foreign tribunals, and "judges predetermined to condemn." But, as usual, there was a difference between the old and young Whigs, in the House of Burgesses, as to the proper measures of opposition to be adopted. Mr. Jefferson (in his Memoir) thus describes the action of the latter: "Not thinking our old and leading members up to the point of forwardness and zeal which the times required, Mr. Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Francis L. Lee, Mr. Carr, and myself agreed to meet in the evening, in a private room of the Raleigh, to consult on the state of things. There may have been a member or two more whom I do not recollect. We were all sensible that the most urgent of all measures was that of coming to an understanding with all the other colonies, to consider the British claims as a common cause to all, and to produce a unity of action: and, for this purpose, that a Committee of Correspondence in each colony would be the best instrument for intercommunication: and that their first measure would probably be, to propose a meeting of deputies from every colony, at some central place, who should be charged with the direction of the measures which should be taken by all. We, therefore, drew up the resolutions, which may be seen in Wirt, page 87.9 These resolutions, after premising that the minds of his Majesty's faithful subjects in the Colonies were disturbed by 1 Gordon's History of the Independence, vol. i. p. 324. 2 Holmes' Annals of America, vol. ii. p. 176. Page 105 in the 7th (M'Elrath, Bangs & Co.) edition, which we use. CHAP. III.] RESOLUTIONS OF THE BURGESSES. 79 rumors of proceedings "tending to deprive them of their ancient, legal, and constitutional rights," proceed to designate "a Standing Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry," to obtain the earliest and most authentic intelligence of all proceedings in England in regard to the Colonies; "to keep up and maintain a correspondence and communication with the sister colonies, respecting those important considerations," and report from time to time to the House; and specially instructing the Committee "without delay, to 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 designated Committee consisted of Peyton Randolph (the Speaker), Robert C. Nicholas, Richard H. Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton, Patrick Henry, Dudley Digges, Dabney Carr, Archibald Cary, and Thomas Jefferson. To Mr. Jefferson (who, it might therefore be inferred, drafted or suggested them) it was proposed to move the resolutions in the House; but he "urged that it should be done by Mr. Carr, his friend and brother-in-law, then a new member, to whom he wished an opportunity should be given of making known to the House his great worth and talents." " Mr. Carr accordingly moved them on the 12th of March, in a speech remarkable for its force and eloquence, and was supported by Mr. Henry and Mr. R. H. Lee. There was nothing in the tenor of the resolutions that the moderate party could very well object to, and they passed without dissent. The Governor, the Earl of Dunmore-who had succeeded Lord Botetourt in 1772-immediately dissolved the House. The Committee of Correspondence met the next day, and prepared a circular to the other Colonies containing a copy of the resolutions, with a request that they might be laid before their assemblies, "and requesting them to appoint some person or persons of their respective bodies to communicate from time to time with the said [Virginia] Committee." Mr. Jefferson persistently claimed for Virginia the honor of originating the Committees of Correspondence between the legis 1 Memoir. |