& make such arrangement of officers to the different Boats most agreeable to each other, and to the service in general, and to make a report to this Board of said arrangement, as also of what repairs &ca, are wanting to the respective Boats.

Resolved, That Mr. Nixon, Mr. Owen Biddle & Mr. Roberdeau, employ Wm. Robinson & Benj'n Worrel, as Master Workmen, to erect Barracks on Liberty Island for five hundred Men, agreeable to a plot to be delivered them, who are to employ a sufficient number of Carpenters under them to effect the said work in as short a time as possible.

Mr. James Biddle Reports, that agreeable to a Resolve of the 9th inst., he has paid to Mr. John Mears, of Berks County, one hundred pounds, to enable him to Carry on the Manufacture of Salt Petre, and now request the payment of said sum agreeable, to which Request, by order of the Board, an order was drawn on Mr. John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, in favour of Mr. Biddle for the said sum of £100.

Resolved, That Jacob Myers be appointed Armourer to the armed Boats and Vessels, and to be employed at Fort Island. Adjourned to 6 O'Clock.

A Letter was this day wrote the president of the Honorable the Continental Congress, respecting the removal of the prisoners from Lancaster into different parts of the Country, which was read, approved of, and sign'd by the president.

In Consequence of an application from Colo. Magau, for the use of the Pest House on Province Island for the quartering a part of his Battalion,

Resolved, That Colo. Magau have liberty to make use of the Pest House, agreeable to his application.

The Committee taking into consideration what further Measures are necessary for the defence of this Province, came to the following Resolution:

That application be made to the Honorable the House of Representatives, praying that they will take order for the raising of Two Thousand Men to act in the defence of this Province, and this Board

will represent it as their opinion, that it will be most for the public Service, That one Battalion of Regular Troops be formed out of that Number, and the remainder be a Body of Rifle Men.

Upon application of John Reithmeyer, for the payment of 150 Cartridge Boxes, &ca., made by him, John Diesler & Peter Brecht, as their acc't, certified by Sam'l High & Michael Bright, Commissioners of Berks County,

By order of the Board an order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, Treasurer, in favor of said Reithmeyer, for ninety pounds, being the amount of said account.

Resolved, That the Members of this Board meet every day precisely at 10 O'Clock in the Morning, and 5 O'Clock in the afternoon, Saturday afternoons & Sundays excepted.

Upon application of Jno. Tyler for the payment of his account for repairing Firelocks belonging to Capt. Jones & Capt. Harmer's Comp'y, of the 1st Penn'a Battalion; an order was drawn on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, for £7 15 3, being the amount of said accounts.

Resolved, That Lewis Nichola apply to the Commissioners of this County for the Key of the Old Gaol.

Resolved, That Capt. Joseph Coperthwaite be joined with Clement Biddle, to carry the building of Powder Mills into execution, & they to purchase or rent suitable seats for that purpose, and do every other thing necessary for effecting it expeditiously.

The following Memorial was drawn up, approved of, and Colo. Roberdeau desired to deliver it to one of the Members of the House of Assembly:

To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met.

"The Memorial of the Committee of Safety:

"The Committee have, ever since their appointment, applied themselves with the greatest Zeal and Fidelity to the important trust confided to them, in providing Means for the defence of this Province; they were, however, such means only as were thought more immediately requisite for our security against the attempts made by a Naval armament, and were besides, necessarily confin'd within the Limits of the Funds alloted to them by your Honorable House, but they beg leave to represent, that as every day brings with it fresh proofs of the Violence of the British Ministry, and of their fixed purposes to subdue the free Spirit of America, that has yet given much Obstruction to all their Schemes of Tyranny and Despotism, a purpose assisted too by an obsequious Parliament, which may not speak the Genuine Sense of the Nation, that it was unhappily the direction of its Force, it truly becomes us to prepare seriously for the Storm gathering over the Colonies, and which in the uncertainty of its course, may in a few weeks fall upon this Province; this being the Idea of the Committee, they have come to the following Resolution claiming the most earnest attention of of your Honorable House thereto :

"Resolved, That application be made to the Honorable the House of. Representatives, praying that they will take order for raising two thousand Men to act in the defence of this Province, and this Board will represent it as their opinion, that it will be most for the Public Service, that one Battalion of Regular Troops be formed out of that number, and the remainder be a body of Rifle Men.

"The Committee beg leave to solicit your attention to another Object, also of extensive importance, the Military association, the general sentiments concerning which, they have in the recess of Assembly had an opportunity of collecting, and tho' such numbers already have, and we hope will still engage in it, under its present form, as may prove a considerable addition to our Strength, yet as there are material objections made to it, and as they understand, are to be laid before your Honorable House by divers Bodies of respectable Men, they Submit to you whether it will not be highly expedient and consistent with good policy, immediately to remove every cause of discontent on this Head from the minds of the associators, who, under an apprehension of partial and unequal Burthens imposed on them, have nevertheless had the Virtue not to refuse their services to their Country. In confidence that your Honorable House will reconsider the several Provisions and Regulations complained of, and give them satisfaction therein,

"Sign'd, ALEX'R WILCOCKS, Chairman."

Resolved, That this Committee lend Doçt'r Robert Harris the sum of one hundred & ten pounds, which he is to give bond for to Juo. Nixon, James Mease, & Thomas Wharton, Jun'r, payable in

12 Months, which sum is to assist him in forwarding the building of a Powder Mill, and the manufacturing of Gun Powder.

In Consequence of the above Resolve, By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r., in favour of said Harris, for one hundred aad ten pounds.

Upon application of Capt. Whyte for 45 pieces of Sail cloth, to make sails for the ship now building, By Order of the Board, Robert Towers was directed to deliver the following numbers, or as many of them as he has in his possession, Vizt.:

Resolved, That the sum of £50 be lent to Henry Huber, and £150 be lent to Thomas Hein burgher, to enable them to erect powder Mills, they having given Bonds with security, for the same, to the Committee of accounts, and that orders be drawn for the said several sums in favour of the said Huber & Heinbergher, respectively.

Agreeable to the above Resolve, the orders therein mention'd were drawn, and deliver'd to Mr. Christopher Ludwick.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle & Capt. Robert Whyte, be a Committee to go to the Barracks, and Muster the Men belonging to the Armed Boats in the Service of this Province, and make Return of the same to this Board.

Upon application of Peter Dehaven for 100 lbs. Brass, for the use of Mr. Parker, for mounting Firelocks made by Lewis Prahl— By Order of the Board, Rob't Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver the said 100 lbs. Brass.

Resolved, That the following Notice be published in the different papers of this City, Viz't:

"A Muster Master is wanted to the Naval Armament belonging to this Province; any Associator disposed to serve the publick in

this Office, is desired to make proposals to this Board, on or before the 5th day of March next."

Resolved, That Capt. Procter make use of Seven Rooms in the Pest House on Province Island, for quartering part of the Artillery Company.

That there be Six 18 pound Gun Carriages made for the use of the Battery at Fort Island, and that Mr. Nevil be employed in making one of the said Carriages, and furnish this Board with an account of the same.

That Capt. Procter have the use of as many Firelocks as he may he occasion for, and a 6 pound Canon to exercise the Men under his Command, and that Robert Towers be directed to deliver the

same.

That Commodore Caldwell & Capt. Procter fix upon proper Signals for the Fleet, Merchantmen & Battery, and that the same be communicated to the Pilots employed in Navigating Vessels through the Chevaux de Frize.

That Capt. Proctor procure a Flagg Staff for the Fort, with a Flagg of the United Colonies.

That Robert Towers put up 50 Rounds of Cartridge, with different kinds of Shot, for each of the six 18 pound Canon on the Battery at Fort Island.

That Mr. Owen Biddle & Capt. Whyte, order a Smith's Shop and Forge to be erected on Fort Island, and to furnish the same with proper Smith's tools.

That the said Committee see that the necessaries wanting at Fort Island for the use of the Battery, and for Capt. Procter's Company, not mention'd in the above Resolves, be supplied.

Resolved, That Jeremiah Simmons, now a Lieut. on board one of the armed Boats, be appointed 1st Lieutenant in Capt. Procter's Company of Artillery.