Actually, it was well before Lexington and Concord: In response to news of the Boston Port Act, the House of Burgesses resolved on May 24, 1774 that June 1, 1774-the day Boston harbor was to be closed-was to be a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer to show solidarity with Bostonians. Many Virginians observed the occasion. GW, for example, still in Williamsburg on June 1, wrote in his diary "Went to church and fasted all Day." According to Jefferson, the resolution itself had been "cooked up" by Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, himself, and others on the night of May 23. To whom did they turn to introduce the resolution on May 24 in the House? Robert Carter Nicholas, of course. Jefferson wrote that "To give greater emphasis to our proposition, we agreed to wait the next morning [May 24th] on Mr. Nicholas, whose grave and religious character was more in unison with the tone of our resolution, and to solicit him to move it." (Lends weight to the nomination of RCN for outstanding 18th century figures!) Linda H. Rowe Historical Research Colonial Williamsburg Foundation 757-220-7443 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html