Resolved, That a Tax on all Estates, real and Personal, within this Province, shall be raised and levied by the Respective Commissioners and Assessors of the several Counties in the Province, in the same manner and Mode as the Provincial Tax by the Laws now in Force, is raised, levied and recovered, and shall be paid to the Provincial Treasurer, which said Tax first mentioned, shall commence immediately after the sinking of the Bills of Credit now remaining to be sunk, of those sums granted to the King during the course of the last war; which Tax, for the purposes aforesaid, the several Commissioners and Assesors are enjoined and required to raise, levy, recover, and pay, as they regard the Freedom, Welfare, and safety of their Country.

Extract from the Journals.

CHAS. MOORE, Cl'k of Assembly.

At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety, appointed by the Resolves of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, July 3rd., 1775.

1st. Resolved, That Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., was unanimously chosen President.

2nd. Resolved, That William Govett be Clerk, and that he engage not to disclose the proceedings of the Committee without leave. 3rd. Resolved, That Cola. John Cadwalader & Mr. Samuel Morris, jun'r, do provide patterns of Musketts, Bayonetts, Cartridge Boxes, and Knapsacks, to be sent to the different Countys.

4th. Resolved, That the barrels of the Muskets be 3 feet 8 inches in length, well fortfy'd, the bore of sufficient size to carry 17 Balla to the Pound, the Bayonetts 16 inches long.

5th. Resolved, That Messrs. Robert Morris, Robert White, & Thomas Wharton, jun'r., do, with the utmost Expedition, procure any quantity of Powder and Salt Petre, in their Power.

July 4th, 1775.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Benjamin Franklin,

Robert White,

Andrew Allen,

Daniel Roberdeau,

John Dickinson,

George Ross,

Robert Morris,

Thomas Wharton, jun'r.,

Samuel Morris, jun'r.,
John Cadwalader,
Owen Riddle.

1st. Resolved, That the Committee go to Red Bank to-morrow, to take a view of the River and Islands, and that the following Gent'n be requested to attend, viz't:

Luke Morris,

Oswell Eve,

John Wharton,

Thomas Penrose,

Major Nicholas,
Thomas Hanson,
Peter Reeve.

2d. Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle wait on the Commissioners and Assessors of this County, and desire that this Committee may have a conference with them on Thursday morning next, at six o'clock.

3d. Resolved, That this Committee meet every day at six o'clock, A. M., Sunday excepted.

4th. Resolved, That if any Member shall think it necessary to call an extraordinary meeting, that he do it by giving the Clerk directions to give the Members proper Notice.

5th. Resolved, That the Committee for providing Powder and Salt Petre, do procure at the same time two thousand Stand of good Fire Arms.

6th. Resolved, That Doc't. Franklin be requested to procure A Model of a Pike, to be produced to the Committee at their next meeting.

July 6th, 1775.-At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.

The Committee, agreeable to the 1st resolve of the 4th inst., went to Red Bank Mud or Fort Island, & viewed them and several parts of the River, and find the Channel from the Fort to the Barr to be 150 fathom or thereabout. And Report that it is at present impracticable to lay a Boom across that part of the River.

1st. Resolved, That Mess. Robert White & Owen Biddle be a Committee for the Construction of Boats & Machines, for the defence of the River, and it is Recommended to them to employ John Wharton, Joseph Marsh, Emanuel Eyres, Jacob Miller & Thomas Davis & Joseph Govett.

2nd. Resolved, That Colo. Dickinson, Colo. Roberdeau, Colo. Cadwalader & Colo. Ross, be a Committee for inspecting into the Ordinance and Military Stores, and make such repairs and supply such deficiencys as may be thought necessary, and that they report to the

board a proper Person as an Assistant Commissary of Stores, and that the said Committee provide a Model of a Pike or Spear.

3rd. Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle return the thanks of this Board to the Author of the written proposals for raising & employing a Regiment of Soldiers, & for other matters therein contain'd.

The Gentlemen that were to provide patterns of Cartouch Boxes and Knapsacks, produced the same to this Board, and are approved of.

July 7th, 1775.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

1st. Resolved, That Mr. John Wharton immediately procure materials & make preparations for building a Boat or Calevat, and that he exhibit a model of one to-morrow morning, when he will have further instructions for the construction of one.

2nd. Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle give the thanks of this Board to Mr. Lewis Nicholas, for his plan delivered the Committee this day.

July 8th-At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.

A model of a Pike Staff was produced, and one ordered to be made.

1st. Resolved, That Mr. John Wharton immediately build a Boat or Calevat of 47 or 50 feet keel, thirteen feet broad, & four and a half feet deep.

2nd. Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle apply to Stephen Paschall, & give him directions to make a Pike, agreeable to the Pattern produced by Doct'r Franklin.

July 10th-At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.

On an application being made by Colo. Roberdeau & Colo. Cadwalader, that this board would take under consideration the Expences incur'd by the Officers of the Association, And the Board not finding themselves sufficiently empower'd,

1st. Resolved, That the same be earnestly recommended to the consideration of the Commissioners & Assessors of the several Countys of this Province.

2nd. Resolved, That Emanuel Eyres immediately Build a Boat, agreeable to the Model produced by him this day.

July 11th-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

1st. Resolved. That Messrs. Robert White & Owen Biddle, do provide a Sail for one of the Boats now building under their direction.

The Committee appointed for the Building Boats and constructing the Machines for the defence of the River, Report that they have been Viewing a number of Pine Loggs, which they think will be proper for the Service.

2nd. Resolved, That the said Committee do purchase the above mentioned Loggs.

The President delivered to Mess" Robert White & Owen Biddle, his order on Capt. Loxley for such Guns and Military Stores as they may have occasion for.

July 12th-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

George Ross, Esq., produced a motion of the Assembly of the 30th June, Resolving that the Committee of Safety draw an Order on their Treasurer in favour of himself & James Wilson, Esq., for the sum of fifty pounds each, being for their services in attending the Continental Congress, which was accordingly done, and delivered to Mr. Ross, being the President's draft of this date on Michael Hillegas.

July 13th.-At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.

1st. Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be given to Mr. Ebenezar Robinson, for his plan for stopping the Channel of the River Delaware.

July 14th. At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

1st. Resolved, That the Board will go down this morning and view the Ground on which it is proposed to raise a Battery.

2nd. Resolved, That Mr. Robert Morris, Messrs. George Gray, Samuel Morris, jr., & Thomas Wharton, jr., be a Committee to wait on the Provincial Treasurer, and know if a sum of Money can be borrowed of him until the Money for this Board is Emited. 3rd. Resolved, That Owen Biddle be directed to procure Four Ton of Grape Shot.