to him the Resolve of this Board, and as to the points of Inquiry directed to be made, Mr. Fox informed the Committee that the Commissioners of Phil'a County had contracted with a certain Lewis Phrahl, Gun Smith, for the making of one hundred and fifty Firelocks, that none were yet ready for use, but that he expected twenty-four of them would be deliver'd on Saturday next, and the Gun Smith had promised to deliver for the future twelve firelocks every week, until the whole number of one hundred and fifty were completed. That the Commissioners were not under contract with any other workmen for the making of any more arms than the above 150. That he, Mr. Fox, was ready and desirous to employ Persons to make the Number of Firelocks required by the Vote of the Assembly, but could not get workmen to undertake to make them.

That the Commissioners had provided Cartouch Boxes for the whole number of Arms required.

That he would readily employ the Workmen the Board had inform'd him of, and that he would order an advertizement to be put in the News Papers to invite Work-men who were willing to contract for the making the Firelocks, to apply to the Commissioners to be employed by them.

October 24th.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Doct'r Kearsley went off this morning guarded by an Escort of Light Horse under the Command of Capt. Markoe, for Lancaster, and from thence to be conveyed by a guard to York Town, there to be put into the custody of the Committee of York County, who are to see the Sentence of this Board effected.

I. Brooks went at the same time under the same Guard for Lancaster, there to be deliver'd to the Committee of that County, who are to see the Sentence of this Board carried into Execution against him.

Letters were wrote, Read and Approved of, and sent by Capt. Markoe to the Committees of Lancaster and York County, Enclosing the Resolves and Sentence against Doct. Kearsley and I. Brooks.

Doct. Kearsley, in order to reimburse the Expenses that have or may accrue to this Board on his account, this day drew the following order for the payment of the Same, Which order was deliver'd to Mr. Thos. Wharton, jun'r.:

"Gentlemen:

"PHILADELPHIA, 23rd October, 1775.

"Please to pay to Robert Morris, Esq'r., Vice Presid't of the Board of Safety, or to his order, all the Expenses that have accrued to the Board of Safety on my account, and that may accrue in Escorting me to York Town.

"I am, Gentlemen,

"Your humble Servant,

"Signed, JOHN KEARSLEY.

"To Abel James, Esq'r., Mr. William Pollard, Capt. John Wilcox, Mr. Thomas Lawrence."

Resolved, That a Second Lieutenant be appointed to each of the Armed Boats, whose pay shall be twelve Dollars p month.

October 25th. At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.,

Robert Morris,
Bernard Dougherty,
John Cadwalader,
Owen Biddle,

James Mease,

George Gray,

PRESENT:

Andrew Allen,
Daniel Roberdeau,

George Clymer,

Alexander Wilcocks,

Samuel Miles,

James Biddle.

Joseph Fox, Esq'r., a Commissioner of this County, made application to this Board for five hundred pounds, in order to advance to the Gun Smiths, to forward making the Firelocks for this County.

The Board taking the said application into consideration,

Resolved, That this Board will advance the Commissioners and Assessors the said five hundred pounds, in order to forward the making the 1500 Firelocks for this County.

An Order was drawn on Robert Morris, Esq'r., in favour of George Havener, for twelve pounds, for making 12 Quarter Barrels of Gun Powder, which the Board directed to be paid.

Upon application of George Taylor, Esq'r.,

An order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r., Treasurer of this Board, for two hundred and fifty pounds, being in part payment for the Canon Ball made by him under the order of this Board.

October 26th. At a Meeting of the Committee cf Safety.

John Cadwalader,

By Direction of this Board,

An order was this day drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r., Treasurer to this Board, for one thousand pounds, in favour of Thomas Wharton, jun'r, John Nixon, & James Mease, Committee of Ac

counts.

Robert Towers, Commissary, Reports his having receiv'd the following Articles into Store, vizt:

5 Barrels of Powder, w't 500 lbs., receiv'd from George Lush, being the damag'd Powder Sent him to be made good; Barrel of Ditto, 25 lbs., receiv'd from George Havener; 6 Ream of paper for Canon Cartridges, receiv'd from Tho's Phillips.

6 32 pound Cannon Ball,

Tun. lb. qr. cwt.

·W't 11 2 2 18, Rec'd from Geo. Taylor, Esq'r.

W't 1 5 0 0, Rec'd Wm.
Allen, Esq'r.

October 27th.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Upon application of Mr. Thomas Proctor to be appointed Captain of the Company of Artillery to be raised and employed at Fort Island

for the defence of this Province, This Board considering Mr. Proctor's Application,

Resolved, That the said Thomas Proctor be appointed Captain of the said Company.

Resolved, That Mr. David Rittenhouse be appointed Engineer to this Board.

Resolved, That Mr. Towers be directed to prove all the Muskets made in this City for the Provincial Service, and to Stamp such of them as are proof, with the letters P; and that a Copy of this Minute be handed to the County Commissioners, who are to notify the Smiths they contract with for said Muskets, of this Resolve, and that none of their Guns will be receiv'd or paid for by this Board, but such as have been so proved and Stampt as aforesaid.

Resolved, That Mr. Towers, Commissary, deliver and Send down to Fort Island a Gin, Handspikes, Pulleys, Ropes, and what other articles that may be thought necessary for carrying on the Public Works at that Island.

Upon application of James Jones, Mate; John Orkney, Second Mate; & John Clerk, Charles Heys, George Simpson, & George Stewart, Mariners belonging to the Rebeccah, & Francis Transport, Geor. Hastings, Mr., lately Stranded on Brig't Beach, on the Jersey Shores, a certificate was given them that they had been examined by this Committee, Discharged, and permitted to go at large.

Resolved, That Isaac Rotch be apointed Second Lieutenant to one of the armed Boats.

The Board taking into Consideration the application from Capt.. William Davis and others, offering their Service to act as Volunteers in the Battery to be erected at Fort Island, are of opinion that the thanks of this Board are due to those Gentlemen for their Generous offer to serve the Public without reward, which Mr. Nixon is desired by the Board to present to them. It is recommended to the said Gentlemen to qualify themselves in such Exercise of Great Guns, as will be useful in the department in which they offer to serve; And this Board do Resolve to Call upon them to act as Volunteers, under the officers apointed by this Board, Whenever the Public Service shall require.

October 28th.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Upon application of Anthony Martin, John Price, Larie McNeil, Thomas Pratt, Thomas Clough, John Smith, John Bachland, Simon Eastwood, & James Batchelor, Seamen, belonging to the Rebeccah, & Francis Transport, George Hastings, Master, lately Stranded on Brigantine Beach, on the Jersey Shore, a certificate was given them that they had been Examined by this Committee, discharg'd, and permitted to go at large.

By order of the Board, an order was deliver'd Mr. Owen Biddle, drawn agreeable to a resolve of the 26th Sep'r., and dated the 29th, on Mich' Hillegas, Esq'r., in favour of the Commiss'rs & Ass'rs of Lancaster Co'y, for six hundred pounds.

October 30th.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

On the information of Mr. Owen Biddle, that the Person sent down by the Committee of York County, to instruct the Committee for the Manufacture of Salt Petre in his mode of carrying on that Process, is now Ready to undertake the said Business, but cannot proceed for want of a supply of money; and Mr. Biddle offering to advance him Fifty pounds for the forwarding this necessary Work, provided this Board will secure to him the repayment of the same.

Resolved, That this Board, to forward so useful a work, will be Security to Mr. Owen Biddle for the Re-payment of the said sum of fifty Pounds.

A petition from Hannah Shee, for relief for herself and Children, was Read, her husband having been drowned in the Service of this Province. After consideration she was recommended by this