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

Upon application of Major An'y J. Morris for the use of the large House at the Barracks, for the Field Officers of the Pennsylvania Battalion now raising, the Board gave directions to Joseph Fox, Esq'r, Barrack Master, to deliver the Key of the said House to Major Morris.

Upon application of a Committee of Congress for 100 lbs. Gun Powder for Scaling of Canon; an order was drawn by direction of the Board, for Mr. Towers, Commissary, to deliver Capt. Reed 100 pounds of powder.

Upon application of Major Samuel Mifflin, for Captain Samuel Davidson to have leave of absence, to make a Voyage in his Ship in the Service of the Congress; it is

Resolved, That Captain Davidson have leave of absence to go a Voyage in the above mention'd employ.

The Congress this day sent to this Committee the following order, which is directed by this Board to be delivered to Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, for the use of the Pennsylvania Battalion now raising.

"Gent'n:

CONGRESS, 27th November, 1775.

"Please to pay to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania three thousand Dollars, for the Pay of the Battalion raised by order of the Congress in this Colony, the said Committee to be accountable for the Expenditure of said Sum.

"I am, Gent'n, your most

"obed't h'ble Serv't,

"Sign'd JOHN HANCOCK, Presid't.

"To Michael Hillegas & George Clymer, Esq'rs, Continental Treasurers."

Upon application of the Commanders of the armed Boats for an Increase to their allowance of Provisions, The Board, after having considered their application, do

Resolve, That the allowance of Provisions to the Captains of the armed Boats be three Rations, and the allowance of Provisions to the Lieutenants of the Boats be two Rations, which allowances they are to receive from the day of the date of their respective Commissions.

John Saunders, Pilot, confined in the Gaol of this County, by order and agreeable to a Resolve of this Board of the 11th Inst., now Petitions this Committee to be released from confinement; it is

Resolved, That as this Board think the time the said Jno. Saunders has been in confinement, is a sufficient punishment for his crime, as set forth in said Resolve of the 11th inst., and that he be now discharged from his present confinement, on his taking the following Oath :

"Philad'a. ss:

"John Saunders, Pilot in the Bay and River of Delaware, being sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, doth declare and promise to the Committee of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania, that whatever knowledge he may have obtain'd of the New Channel between the Chivaux de Frize, near Fort Island, he will not, on any account, devulge to any person or persons whatever, but will entirely keep secret.

"Sworn Nov'r 28th, 1775, before

Sign'd "JOHN SAUNDERS.

"JAMES BIDDLE."

29th November.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Upon application of Capt. Thomas Dorsey, for the payment of 17 Firelocks, purchased by him for the use of his Company, in the Pennsylvania Bat'n now raising for the service of the United Colonies, By order of the Board an order was drawn in his favour on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, Paymasters, for fifty-seven pounds twelve shillings.

Upon application of Congress, through Robert Morris, Esq'r., for Eight half Barrels of Powder, sent from Bermuda by Henry Tucker, Chairman of the Deputies of the several Parishes of that Island, belonging to Capt. John Cowper of North Carolina, for the use of the Inhabitants of that Province,

Resolved, That Robert Morris, Esq'r., give orders to Robert Towers, Commiss'y, to deliver the said 8 half Barrels of Powder for the use aforesaid, and that the Delegates in Congress pay this Board the portionable part of Freight and other Expences bringing the said Powder to this City.

Resolved, That Francis Procter be appointed Lieutenant of the Artillery Company Commanded by Thomas Procter.

The Commissioners & Assessors of Westmoreland County return'd the order sent them some time past, sign'd by Benj'a. Franklin, on Michael Hellegas, Esq'r., Treasurer to this Board, for one hundred pounds, dated 29th September last, and informs this Committee that they have purchased from Colo. St. Clair 100 Firelocks for the use of said County, at 40s. each; for the payment of them they have drawn an order on this Board for two hundred pounds; this Committee inform'd them by Letter that they will take the said Firelocks for the use of the Armed Boats, and requested they would get new ones made for their County, agreeable to the Resolve of As- ́ sembly.

Resolved, That the Committee of accounts do pay Colo. St. Clair two hundred pounds, and take his Note, condition'd to return said Money, in case the above mention'd Firelocks are not deliver'd to this Committee; an order was accordingly drawn in his favor on Thomas Wharton and others, the Committee of accounts, for said sum of Two hundred pounds.

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

Robert Towers, Commissary, Reports his having Received the following articles into Store:

4 half & 2 q'rs Casks Gun Powder, w't 250 lbs., from Oswald

Eve.

109 lbs. Salt Petre

Upon application of Capt. John Shea,

from Owen Biddle.

Resolved, That this Committee advance to Mr. Wigfal the sum of one hundred pounds, to enable him to prosecute the Business of Gun Lock making, agreeable to his contract with Capt's. Shea, Wilcocks and Cadwalader :

That those Gentlemen take proper Security from the said Wigfal, and draw an order on this Committee for said Sum of One hundred pounds.

Upon Motion Made,

Resolved, That the following Resolve of Congress be enter'd on the Minutes of this Committee:

VOL. X.-27.

"In Congress, Monday 27th November, 1775. "On Motion Made,

"Resolved, That the Troops in the Service of the Continent be supplied with Fuel & Bedding at the expense of the Continent. "Extract from the Minutes.

"Sign'd, CHA'S THOMSON, Sec'y."

The Committee of Safety are of opinion, that it is not improper for Mr. James Innes to purchase any second hand Arms which he may find in the hands of Individuals of this Province, and therefore have no objection to his buying them; But as they have employed, and are endeavouring to employ, all the Artificers that can be procured in making new arms for the public, they apprehend any application by Mr. Innes to such Artificers, will be attended with bad consequences to the general Cause by enhancing the Price of arms, and that as fast as arms come into the hands of this Board, they will readily Spare such proportion of them for the use of the Colony of Virginia as the necessities of this Province will admit.

A Letter was this day wrote to Colo. Thomas Mifflin, inclosing Lt. Symes' order on Major Small for £50, st'g, which Colo. Mifflin is desired to receive, and inform this Board when he is in Cash, and when this Board receives an account of said Bills being paid, they will pay the amount to Lieut. Symes.

Resolved, That Mr. Clement Biddle be notified that his Contract for supplying the Men belonging to the Armed Boats with provisions, will terminate on the 10th December next.

That the following advertisement be put in the Newspapers, requesting every person desirous of undertaking the Contract, to send in their proposals to this Committee by the 6th of December

next:

"All persons who are willing to supply the officers and men employed in the Armed Boats with the following Rations, vizt: "Seven pounds of Bread per week, or six pounds of Flour. "Ten pounds of Beef, Mutton or Pork.

"The value of sixpence per week in Roots and Vegetables. "Three and a half pints of Rum or Beer in proportion; are desired to send in their proposals to this Committee on or before the Sixth day of December next, when the same will be considered. The Contract to commence on the Eleventh of December, and to continue for the space of Three Months, if the men are not sooner discharged."

Upon application of Capt. Harmar, an order was drawn on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell for three pounds, being for the payment of a Firelock purchased for the use of his Company in the Penn'a. Battalion, in the service of the United Colonies.

Upon application of Mr. Mease, The order of Congress for three thousand Dollars receiv'd by this Board, as per Minutes of the

20th inst., was delivered him, and endorsed by John Nixon, Chair

man.

Resolved, That Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, be directed to provide sufficient Beds, Bedding and Firewood for the Battalion now in the Barracks, according to the provision that has been usually made for other Troops in the same Barracks.

December 1st.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

December 2nd.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Resolved, That Capt. Dougherty be instructed not to permit more than two Captains, and a proportionable number of Subaltern Officers, to be absent at any one time from their Stations at Liberty Island, without the express order of this Board, or upon some very pressing and urgent occasion.

Resolved, That a Letter be wrote and sent to the Committee of the Town of Reading, respecting the Gun Powder order'd to be purchas'd from the said Committee, & directing it immediately to be sent down to this city.