his reelection as governor, and to report his answer to
the House. On the 7th of June, however, after a service of little more
than two weeks, his own sad apprehensions respecting his health seem
to have been realized, and he was obliged to ask leave to withdraw
from the House for the remainder of the session.[317]

At the autumn session of the legislature he was once more in his
place. On the 6th of November, the day on which the House was
organized, he was made chairman of the committee on privileges and
elections, and also of a committee "for the better defence of the
southern frontier," and was likewise placed on the committee on
propositions and grievances, as well as on the committee on courts of
justice. On the following day he was made a member of a committee for
the defence of the eastern frontier. On the 10th of November he was
placed on a committee to bring in a bill relating to the enlistment of
Virginia troops, and to the redemption of the state bills of credit
then in circulation, and the emission of new bills. On the 22d of
November he was made a member of a committee to which was again
referred the account between the State and the United States. On the
9th of December he was made a member of a committee to draw up bills
for the organization and maintenance of a navy for the State, and the
protection of navigation and commerce upon its waters. On the 14th of
December he was made chairman of a committee to draw up a bill for the
better regulation and discipline of the militia, and of still another
committee to prepare a bill "for supplying the army with clothes and
provisions."[318] On the 28th of December, the House having knowledge
of the arrival in town of poor General Gates, then drooping under the
burden of those Southern willows which he had so plentifully gathered
at Camden, Patrick Henry introduced the following magnanimous
resolution:--

"That a committee of four be appointed to wait on Major
General Gates, and to assure him of the high regard and
esteem of this House; that the remembrance of his former
glorious services cannot be obliterated by any reverse of
fortune; but that this House, ever mindful of his great
merit, will omit no opportunity of testifying to the world
the gratitude which, as a member of the American Union, this
country owes to him in his military character."[319]

On the 2d of January, 1781, the last day of the session, the House