The Upper House. 141

By the house of Delegates May the i4^lh 1701
May it Please Your Excellency

In Answer to the message of the 10^th Instant by Col^o Ham-
mond and Col^o Jenkins relating to the Militia this house did
referr it to a Comittee to Consider what Law might be made
to render the Militia more usefull who have reported to this
house that the Constitution of this Country will not Admitt of
any better Law to be made to which this house Concurrs
Signed p Order W Taylard Cl House Del

His Excellency Col^o Francis Nicholson his Matys Lieu^t
& Governo^r Generall of the Colony & Dominion of Virginia
was pleased by Letter to Communicate to his Excellency the

Original
Journal.

Proceedings of himselfe and his Ma^tys Councill of Virginia as
to the Embargoing of Ships now outward bound for England :
viz :

Virginia ss^t
Att the Councill Chamber att his Matys Royal Colledge of
William and Mary the 8th day of May 1701

Present His Excellency in Councill

Severall Letters from England and other Parts being read in
Councill and giving great Cause to believe that there either
now is or suddainly will be a Vigorous War on foot his Ex-
cellency and his Ma^tys honble Councill do thereupon Conceive
That it will be very dangerous for any Ship or Vessel to go to
Sea unless in fleets or under Convoy and being desirous as
much as in them lyes to provide for their Safety and Security
Ordered that the Collectors & Nav^ll Officers of the Several
Districts be and hereby are Injoyned and required that they
Clear noe Ship nor Vessell after the 6^th of June next and that
what Ships nor Vessels they Clear they shall oblige them to
Come into the Mouth of James River to the usuall Place of
making up fleets and thereto remaine untill the 12th of June
in order to Saile
And in Case any Ship or Vessel should not be ready to
Saile by that time it is further Ordered that the Collectors &
Nav^ll Officers of the respective districts shall not Clear any

p. 27

Ship or Vessell after that time untill further Orders And that
they give Imediate Notice of this Order unto the Severall mas-
ters of Ships and Vessells within their Districts
Whereas for the better Safety and Security of the Merchants
Ships and Vessels Sailing out of this Colony to the Several
Ports whereunto they are bound
Orders are given to the Coll^rs and Navall officers in the sev-
erall Districts of this Colony not to Clear any Ship or Vessel

p. 28