n, and hopes that no request of this kind
for the future, until circumstances will admit, will be made.

"Officer for day to-morrow, Lieutenant-Colonel McClenahan.
Officers for guard, Lieutenant Garland, Ensign Barksdale. For
guard, 8 p. 1 s. 1 c."

"WILLIAMSBURG, May 17th, 1776.

"Parole--Convention.

"Let it not be forgot that this day is set apart for
humiliation, fasting, and prayer: the troops to attend divine
service."

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

1776.

Richard Henry Lee moves a Resolution for a Separation--Seconded
by John Adams--Declaration of Independence--Jefferson--General
Orders--Thomas Nelson, Jr., and the Nelsons--Benjamin Harrison,
Jr., and the Harrisons--George Wythe.

ON the 7th day of June, 1776, a resolution in favor of a total and
immediate separation from Great Britain was moved in congress by Richard
Henry Lee, and seconded by John Adams. On the twenty-eighth a committee
was appointed to prepare a declaration of independence, the members
being Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R.
Livingston. Richard Henry Lee being compelled, by the illness of Mrs.
Lee, to leave congress on the day of the appointment of the committee,
and to return to Virginia, his place was filled by Roger Sherman. The
declaration, adopted on the 4th day of July, 1776, was composed, in
committee, mainly by Mr. Jefferson, but much modified by congress. The
Virginia delegates who subscribed it were George Wythe, Richard Henry
Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Jr., of Berkley, Thomas
Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, and Carter Braxton.[652:A]

Thomas Nelson, Jr., eldest son of the Honorable William Nelson, some
time president of the council of Virginia, was born at York, in
December, 1738. His mother was of the family of Burwell. After having
been under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Yates, of Gloucester, he was sent
at the age of fifteen to England, where he remained seven years, for the
completion of his education. He enjoyed the superintending care of Dr.
Porteus,[653:A] and was at the school of Dr. Newcome, at Hackney, at
Eton in 1754, and at Cambridge. While on his voyage returning to
Virginia he was elected (1774) a member of the house of burgesses, being
then just twenty-one years of age.[653:B] He was a member of the
conventions of 1774 and 1775, and d