willing to offer free trade, 199; on committee to draft declaration of rights and plan of government, 200; leads party advocating a democratic constitution, 201; complains of lack of assistance, 203; fears aristocratic tendencies of committee, 203, 204-206; thanks John Adams for his pamphlet, 205; hearty letter of Adams in reply, 206, 207; writes fifteenth and sixteenth articles of Virginia bill of rights, 208; elected governor of State, 211; his letter of acceptance, 212-213; takes oath of office and occupies Dunmore's palace, 214; congratulated by his old troops, 214, 215; by Charles Lee, 215; by the Baptists of Virginia, 216, 217; his reply to the latter, 217; suffers from illness, 218; moves family from Hanover to Williamsburg, 219; seeks to maintain dignity of office, 219, 220; continues in ill-health but resumes duties of office, 220; receives letter from Washington advising preparations for defense, 221; his activity in military preparations, 222; sneered at by his enemies, 222, 223; alleged by Jefferson to have planned a "dictatorship," 223-225; doubted by Wirt, 226; real meaning of the term at that time only extraordinary power, 227-229; authorized by legislature in 1776 to exercise military powers in emergency, 231, 232; utter baselessness of Jefferson's charges against, 233; has continued confidence of Assembly, 234; reelected governor, 234; issues proclamation urging Virginians to volunteer, 235; labors to keep Virginia troops in field, 236; sends a secret messenger to Washington for exact information, 236; explains to Washington the difficulties of raising troops in Virginia, 237, 238; second letter accepting governorship, 239; marries Dorothea Dandridge, 241; his labors in trying to furnish supplies, 241; great official correspondence, 241, 242; his aid desired by Conway cabal, 243; receives an anonymous letter against Washington, 243-245; sends it to Washington with a warning, 245, 246; sends second letter assuring him of his confidence, 247; replies of Washington to, 248-250; his strong friendship with Washington, 251, 252; its significance in his later career, 251; warns R. H. Lee of prejudices against him in Virginia, 252, 253; despairs of public spirit in Virginia, 254; urges adherence to French alliance and rejection of North's peace offers, 255; twice receives extraordinary powers in 1777, 256; reelected to a third term, 256; his reply, 256; reports the success of George R. Clark's expedition, 258-260; again receives extraordinary powers, 260; writes to president of Congress concerning military situation, 260-262;