WHEREAS, divers books belonging to the State Library are miss, ing, & there is reason to apprehend that the same are in the hands of persons who have had recourse to the said Library, & who have neglected to return them; therefore,

Ordered, That Public notice be given to all persons having Books belonging to the State, to return the same to the Secretary without delay, otherwise the Council will be induced to think they are detained from improper motives, and to take further measures for the recovery of them.

The Hon'ble George Ross, Esq'r, Judge of the Admiralty, attended in Council & took the Oath required by the Constitution to qualify him for his said Office.

The Council met.

PHILAD'A, Thursday April 22, 1779.

PRESENT:

His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.

John Macky, & Esq'rs.

Jacob Arndt,

The Memorial of Theobald Shubel being read,

Ordered, That the same be transmitted to the Justices of the Supreme Court, & that they be desired to make immediate enquiry into the facts charged, & do therein what to Justice shall apper

tain.

A letter from His Excell'y Gen'l Washington, dated the 19th ins. was read.

A Petition of Matthew Gregg, Waggon Master of the County of Cumberland, being read & Considered,

Ordered, That the Petitioner be informed, That as Waggon Masters are absolutely necessary for the Public Service, & as it has been a practice for the Quarter Master General to pay the Waggoners when called forth under the Waggon Law, by a parity of reasons every other necessary Officer ought to be paid in the same manner, & that it will very much embarrass that service from which the Quarter Master's department has derived so much benefit, if difficulties are made in Payment.

Mr. Drayton returned 2 Vols. of State Tracts belonging to the State Library.

Whereas, the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, on the 31st. day of August last,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Supreme Executive Council, to appoint Auditors to hear & determine the claims of

John Eyre, and such other persons as have had Timber & Plank taken from them by the Enemy, & employed in building the Redoubts & bridge near this City;

And the said John Eyre now applying to have the said Resolve carried into execution,

Ordered, That William Ball, Esq'r, William Moore, Esq'r, & Mr. John Purviance, be a Committee for the purpose aforesaid; And that they be directed to give Public notice of the time & place of their meeting, & report to the Gen'l Assembly at their next meeting.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of James Dundas, Paymaster at Billingsport, or his order, for the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds, for which Sum he is to account.

Ordered, That Two Companies of the Battalion of Artillery of this City & the adjoining districts, be immediately called into service, to relieve the Garrison at Mud Island & Billingsport, consisting of Col. Proctor's Reg't, now called into the field for other service; And that the Lieutenant of the City & adjoining Districts, be directed to draw out the said two Companies as soon as may be, & send one of them to Mud Island, and the other to Billingsport.

The Council met.

PHILAD'A, Friday April 23, 1779.

PRESENT:

His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.

Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.

Joseph Hart,

John Macky, & Esq'rs.

Jacob Arndt,

A Petition of James White, praying permission for his Wife to go into New York, was read.

Application of James Walsh to be appointed Superintendant of Arms, was read.

Application of Major Eyre, for the Payment of the Money due for the Ship General Green, was read.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Benj'a Eyer & Co., or their order, for the Sum of Fifty-three Thousand & Fiftyseven Pounds & Eleven Shillings, consideration Money for the Ship General Green, purchased of the said Company for the use of the State.

Information being received that there remains in the hands of Esq'r Patterson, about 160 Stand of Arms & some Ammunition, which was sent to arm the Militia who escorted the Convention

Troops thro' this State, & which Mr. Patterson is desirous of delivering up,

Ordered, That William Henry, Esq'r, Lieu. of the City, be requested to send a suitable person to bring down the said Arms & Ammunition.

An application from Maj. Armstrong, for Money to Pay the Workmen employed at Billingsport, &ca.; thereupon,

Ordered, was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Col. John Bull, or his order, for the Sum of Two thousand Pounds, to be charged to his account.

The Council met.

PHILAD'A, Saturday April 24, 1779.

PRESENT:

His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.

Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.

Joseph Hart,

John Macky, &.

The return of Justices for

Jacob Arndt,

(Blank in Council Book.)

Esq'rs.

Petition of Capt. B. Van Hier, praying that his Troop of Horse may be allowed to draw enumerated Articles, was read & rejected. WHEREAS, it hath been heretofore represented by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief to this Board, that the intercourse which has been maintained by the passing of so many Persons to New York, is exceedingly prejudicial to the Interests of America generally, & the safety of the Army in particular; & it being also apparent that some persons who have been recommended to go within the Enemies line on condition of not returning, have nevertheless returned, & are now residing in this State.

Resolved, That this Board will not in future give any recommendation but in cases of a particular & extraordinary nature, & then only to such as shall be recommended to the Board by persons of known good Character: And that in all cases where a recommendation is given upon condition of not returning without the permission of Public Authority, & two good Securities be given for the performance, or the application be rejected.

Ordered, That the following Pay be allowed to the Captain & other Sea Officers on board the Ship General Green, Viz:

Captain 50 Dollars 2d Lieutenant 24 Dollars ter Master 24 Dollars

month; 1st Lieutenant 30 Dollars & do;

do; Surgeon 24 Dollars do; Musdo; Master's Mate 15 Dollars do;

Boatswain 13 Dollars do; Boatswain's Mate 9 Dollars & do;. Gunner 13 Dollars do; Gunner's Mate 9 Dollars do; Carpenter 15 Dollars do; Gunner's Mate 9 Dollars do; Cooper 9 Dollars do; Midshipman 12 Dollars do; Armourer 9 Dollars do; Cook 9 Dollars do; Steward 10 Dollars do; That the Capt. of Marines receive 30 Dollars do, & the Lieutenants 20 Dollars do; That the Capt. of the Ship General Green be allowed 40 Dollars week for Subsistence in domestic Ports, in lieu of all Rations; whilst at Sea 20 Dollars Week for Cabbin expences; That the Lieutenants of the Ships, Surgeons, Captains, & Lieutenants of Marines, whilst in actual service & domestic Ports, be allowed 20 Dollars Week for subsistance, during such time as the Ship is not in condition to receive them on board.

A letter wrote to the board of War, requesting to know whether this State is a separate department from the department of the Commander in Chief, within the meaning of the Resolution of Congress of the Instant.

The Council met.

PHILAD'A, Monday April 26, 1779.

PRESENT:

His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.

Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.

Joseph Hart,
John Macky, &

Jacob Arndt, Esq'rs.

Mr. Peter Dehaven having declined the Office of Agent of forfeited Estates,

Ordered, That Mr Thomas Cuthbert be appointed to said Office, & that the Secretary give him notice thereof."

A Petition from Mr. Hunter, to Pass to New York, rejected; A like Petition from Mary & Middleton Braddock, in order to go to Europe, to their Friends, granted upon condition of not returning, and sureties given in £500 for the performance of the condition.

A Letter wrote to the Agents desiring them to recommend a second Lieutenant & Master to the Ship General Green, & that preference be given to the Old Supernumary Officers of the state, if of abilities. At the same time inclosed recruiting instructions, to Capt Caldwell, of the Marines; Also, enclosed Mr. Henry's list of the Stores under his care, & directed the Agents to take as much as they could from thence, to save expence.

A Letter received from the Board of War, informing that Rawlins Reg't would soon begin their March to Fort Pitt.

The Council met.

PHILAD'A, Tuesday April 27, 1779..

PRESENT:

His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.

Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.

Joseph Hart,

John Macky, &

Jacob Arndt, Esq'rs.

A Letter was written to Congress respecting a proposed resuming of the case of General Arnold.

Major Armstrong, superintendant of the workmen at the Fortifications on Delaware, applied for the use of a pair of Timber Wheels.

Ordered, That the Secretary be directed to request of Col. Mitchell, A. Q. M. G. to supply Maj. Armstrong with the use of a pair of Timber Wheels, on his application for it.

Petition of A. Kleir, Colonel, praying allowance of enumerated Articles, was read & rejected.

A return of an Election for chusing Justices of the Peace for the District of West Fallowfield, Sadsbury & West Cales, in the County of Chester, was read; by which it appears that William Cloughan, Esq'r, & Joseph Parker, were chosen; thereupon,

Ordered, That Will'm Cloughan, Esq'r, be appointed & Commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace for the County of Chester. The following Two orders were drawn on the Treasurer, Viz: In favour of Thomas Nevil, or his order, for the Sum of One Hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account; &

In favor of Robt. Lollar, Esq'r, Paymaster of Militia of the County of Philadelphia, or his order, for the Sum of One Thousand & five Hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account.

Application for a recommendation of Mrs. Duche to pass into the City of New York with her children, being now read,

Ordered, That a recommendation be given to Mrs. Duche, wife of the Rev'd Jacob Duche, to pass into New York with her children, she giving security not to return again without permission from the Authority of the State, in the Sum of £1500.