University of Virginia Library

“Yesterday being the Day set apart by the Members of the late
House of Burgesses, as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer,
devoutly to implore the Divine Interposition for averting the heavy
Calamity which threatens Destruction to the civil Rights of America,
the same was accordingly observed by the Inhabitants of this Place,
who repaired to Church and heard an excellent Sermon preached by
the Reverend James Marye, from Psalm xii., Verse iii.—Help, Lord,
for the godly Man ceaseth, for the Faithful fail from among the Children
of Men.—The Reverend Mr. Wilson read Prayers.”

“Enclosed you have the Boston Trade Act, and a resolve of our
House of Burgesses. You will observe that it is confined to the members
of their own House, but they would wish to see the example
followed through the country, for which purpose the members, at
their own private expense, are sending expresses, with the resolve,
to their respective counties. Mr. Massie (the minister of Fairfax),
will receive a copy of the resolve from Colonel Washington, and
should a day of prayer and fasting be appointed in our county, please
to tell my dear little family that I charge them to pay a strict attention
to it, and that I desire my three eldest sons and my two oldest
daughters may attend church in mourning, if they have it, as I believe
they have.”