foresees shifting of British attack to Virginia, 262; reports situation to Washington, 263; reports Matthews's raid to Congress, 264-267; issues a proclamation to warn State, 266; declines reelection on ground of unconstitutionality, 268; complimented by General Assembly, his reply, 268; his administration sneered at by Tucker, 269; complimented by Washington, 269, 270; declines election to Congress, 271; retires to his estate, Leatherwood, 272; remains in retirement a year, 272; writes despondent letter to Jefferson, 273-275; chosen to General Assembly, 275; at once assumes leadership, 275; overwhelmed by committee work, 276; again in later session, 276-278; introduces resolutions to console Gates after Camden, 277; introduces resolution authorizing governor to convene legislature elsewhere in case of invasion, 278; his flight with legislature from Tarleton's raid, 281; ludicrous anecdotes of popular surprise at his flight, 282-284; said by Jefferson to have been again considered for a dictatorship, 285; contrary evidence, 286, 287; his further labors in sessions of 1782, 1783, 1784, 287; again elected governor, 288; difficulty of estimating his labors in legislature, 288; favors rescinding of measures against Tories after war, 289; his speech in their behalf, 290, 291; urges economic benefits of their return, 291; presents bill repealing acts against British goods, 292; advocates free trade, 292; wishes to solve Indian problem by encouraging intermarriage, 292, 293; almost succeeds in carrying bill to that effect, 293; antagonizes popular opinion in the foregoing projects, and also in religious liberality, 294; his amazing mastery over the House, 294, 295; his appearance in legislature described by Roane, 295-297; more practical than Madison, 296; superior to Madison and Lee in debate, 296; death of his mother, 299; brings his family from Leatherwood to Salisbury, 299; his showy style of living, 300; letter to Washington, 301; urges him to accept shares in James and Potomac navigation companies, 302; declines a third term and retires, 302; publicly thanked by delegates, 302; resumes practice of law in Prince Edward County, 303; returns to Assembly until 1790, 303; continues popular leader, 303. _Opponent of the Federal Constitution._ His relation to the Constitution not understood, 298; not an extreme advocate of state rights, 303; an early advocate of a central authority, 304; supports in the main the policy of strengthening the federal government, 305; proposes to Madison to "invigorate" the government, 305; considered by Madison a "champion of the federal cause" until 1787, 306;