[Williamsburg] Thursday June 18th 1778.
The Governor having laid before the Board a Letter from the President of Congress inclosing a Resolution of Congress laying an Embargo on Provisions & recommending to the respective States to take the most effectual measures for carrying the Same into immediate execution2 they do advise his Excellency to accompany the publication of the said Resolution in the public Gazettes with a Requisition to the Naval Officers to pay due attention and to enforce the Law as it respects Embargoes—3 the Board also advise the Governor upon this occasion, to write to the Commissioners of the Navy desiring them to give direction to the Commanders of the Armed Vessels belonging to this State to exert their Vigilance in preventing & detecting the Violation of this Salutary measure.4
Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia 2: 149–50.
1. Gov. Patrick Henry.
2. Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress, enclosed a copy of the resolution, dated 8 June, in letters to Gov. Patrick Henry of 9 June and, because the copyist had omitted a clause of the resolution, again on 13 June. JCC 11: 578–79; Letters of Delegates 10: 51 and 88. In a letter to the States of 10 June, Laurens explained the rationale that led Congress to enact the embargo: “Experience hath shewn that the Marine force of our Enemies enables them to secure, for the support of their Armies, almost the whole of our exported provisions, and therefore Congress, impressed with the necessity of preventing the supplies derived to our foes from this source, and desirous of supplying the Armies of the United States, have, upon mature deliberation, laid an Embargo on provisions of all kinds, and they earnestly request the vigorous exercise of the powers of your State to carry into effectual execution this most necessary measure.” Letters of Delegates 10: 67.
3. The Virginia Gazette on 19 June published the text Congress’ resolution and immediately below it the following notice: “Williamsburg, June 18, 1778. The several Naval Officers in this state are required to conform strictly to the foregoing resolution of Congress, and more especially to take bonds from the masters of vessels, and to give the notices required by law in cases of embargo. By advice of Council. Patrick Henry.”
4. In the minutes for the Virginia Navy Board’s meeting of 18 June is the following notation: “Letter from the Governor rec’d read and fil’d,” but there is no mention of Board instructions concerning the embargo in the minutes for that day or subsequent days. DS, Vi, Navy Board Journal, p. 413 and passim.
