Resolved, That Capt. Whyte & Capt. Hazlewood be requested to survey the Channel on the East side of the Barr opposite to Fort Island, and make report to this Board as soon as possible of such survey, and of the narrowest part of said Channel. Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle be requested to procure 5 or 6 Waggons and send them to Doct'r Coxes' Iron Works in the Jerseys, to bring with all possible expedition, the Shot he made for account of this Committee. By order of the Board, an order was drawn on the Committee of Accounts for £50, in favor of Thomas Nevill, Jesse Roe, Frazer Kensley & John Derry, towards the payment of Lead weights to be collected by them for the use of this Province. In Committee of Safety, 21st May, 1776. JOHN NIXON, Chair'n. George Clymer, James Mease, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, jun'r, PRESENT: Samuel Howell, John Cadwalader, Daniel Roberdeau. Upon application of Robert Towers for the payment of his account for sundry Arms, Lead, Sulphur, &ca, purchased and paid for by him on account of this Province; By order of the Board, an order was drawn in his favor on Jno. Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for £197 14 3, being the amount of said accounts. Upon application of Mr. Henry Wynkoop, for a sum of Money to purchase Firelocks, By order of the Board, an order was drawn in favor of Gerardus Wynkoop for £100, which is directed to be charged to the said Henry Wynkoop, for arms to be purchased for account of Congress. The following Memorial to Congress was this day drawn up, read and approved off, and deliver'd by Mr. James Mease to Mr. Rob't Morris: "In Committee of Safety, 21st May, 1776. "To the Honorable the Continental Congress. "The Memorial of the Committee of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania, Shewing: "That the General Assembly of this Province, having appropriated large sums for the Defence and protection of the same, and of the River Delaware, this Committee, who were intrusted with the application thereof, caused thirteen Arm'd Boats or Gondolas to be built, equip'd and Manned, and have since built, fitted and Manned a large Ship, Floating Battery, several Guard Boats, and a great num ber of Fire Rafts, erected Fortifications on deep Water Island, raised a large Artillery Company for their Defence, and sunk Chevaux-deFrize in the Channel of the River; That the Assembly have raised two Battalions of Rifle Men and one of Musketry, station'd on the Banks of the River Delaware. "That the Committee perceive, after all these exertions, greatly surpassing, as they believe, any that have been made on this Continent at an Expence merely Colonial, that their defence is still imperfect and far unequal in their Idea, to the probable Force that may soon be employed against this Colony. "To give, therefore, additional security to this Province and City, and the navigation of the River and Bay of Delaware, the preservation of which must be of the highest importance to the Common Cause of the Colonies, This Committee conceive it necessary that some more Armed Boats or Gondolas, larger than those already built, capable of Navigating in Delaware Bay, and another Floating Battery, should immediately be build. They are also of opinion that some military works should be erected on the Eastern Shore of the River Delaware, and particularly at a place called Billingsport. "That as the moneys granted by the Assembly for the purposes of Defence must soon be exhausted in supporting the large establishment of Seamen & Soldiers in the pay of this Province, and as the building, equipping, & manning the additional Floating Battery & armed Vessels, & erecting Fortifications on the Jersey Shore, will be too heavy a Burthen for this Province singly to bear, this Committee beg leave to call the attention of the Congress to these important objects, and pray their aid in directing those further Defences, and such other, as in their Wisdom, shall appear requisite, to be immediately undertaken and carried into Execution at the Continental Charge." Instructions to Mr. William Richards were this day drawn up, read, approved of, and delivered him, and are as follows: "To Mr. WILLIAM RICHARDS: "You are hereby appointed Ships' Husband to the Pennsylvania Fleet, and empowered to do all such matters and things as may be necessary for the due execution of the said Office. "You are to make known to all Commanders, and other officers employed in the said Fleet, that they are to apply through you for all stores and necessarys required for the service; you are to obtain from them an Inventary of all the articles they have on Board, and an Indent of such as they are in want of, both which you are carefully to preserve, as they may serve you in regulating any future supplies that may be called for; you are to procure the sundry articles of the best qualitys, each in its kind; and it is your particular duty to buy them on the best terms in your power; you are to take each Officer's receipt for the articles delivered to him, and you are to return the Bills or accounts for those you purchase for this Board, Certify'd by you that the quantities are what you receiv'd and the prices what you agreed for, not being dearer than the Current rates of each respective article at the time of purchase. "You are empowered to inspect and enquire on the Board the Fleet at least once in every month, and as much oftener as you may think necessary, whether all stores and necessarys are taken proper care of, and not neglected, wasted or embezelled, and make Report according as you find, to this Board. "This Board, being ever desirous of serving the Public faithfully, do recommend the most prudent economy in the Outfits and Supplies of the Fleet. They must have everything necessary, but avoid all expensive superfluitys, and in the purchase of what is wanted give a preference to such persons as are known to be Zealous Supporters of the American cause, dividing the business amongst as many of such as can be done with conveniency and consistently with the Public good. On Motion, "Resolved, That Colo. Miles be directed to detach from the Provincial Troops under his Command, a Working party of one hundred Men to Fort Island, to assist in carrying on the Fortifications there, the said party to be relieved by others as often as he may think proper, and they shall be allowed over and above their pay, a quart of 189. Beer each working day. "Resolved, That Mr. Samuel Howell be requested to keep for the use of this Province, the whole quantity of Salt that he has now for Sale, and that he be allowed 7s 6 bushel for the same. "Resolved, That the above mention'd Salt be removed to Germantown as soon as possible, and there to be stored, under the care of the Committee of that Town. "Resolved, That the report brought in by Colo. Roberdeau and Colo. Cadwalader, from the Officers appointed to try the Cartridges with which the associators are furnished, be printed in the different News papers, of this City, which is as follows: "We, the subscribers, appointed by the Board of Officers of the Associators of the City & Liberties of Philad'a, for the purpose of examining the Cartridges deliver'd by the Commissary to the said Associators, have carefully examined the same, & find the weight of the Powder therein contained is two-fifth parts of the weight of the Ball. It appears clearly from experiment that the Powder is very good, that the above proportion is fully sufficient, and that more would be useless, if not dangerous. "Sign'd, "T. MATLACK, Colo. R. B. "FRAN'S WADE, Capt. 2nd Bat'n. "dated PHILAD'A, 20th May, 1776." VOL. X.-37. A letter was this day sent, by order of the Board, to Colo. Sam'l Miles, directing him to send L't Ball with an Officer, by Land, to this Committee, in order to his Paroles being taken, When he is to be sent to Germantown to reside. By order of the Board, a Letter was this day wrote to Robert Morris, Esq'r, desiring he would apply to Congress for a quantity of Powder, for the use of this Province. Resolved, That Mr. John Nixon be desired to write to Mr. Henry Wynkoop of Bucks County, to purchase 500 Barrels of Pork & as much Salt Beef as he can procure, for the use of this Province, in case of any sudden collection of the Associators or other Troops. A Memorial to the Honorable House of assembly was this day read, approved of, and sent to the House, and is as follows: "To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania in General Assembly Met: "The Memorial of the Committee of Safety of the said Province, Shewing: "That there being only Nine Members of the said Committee residing in this City who are not Members of Assembly, and several of the said Committee being Frequently out of Town on Public Business, it often happens that a Board cannot be got together, by which very important Matters are some time delayed, to the injury of the Public. "The said Committee, therefore, beg leave to represent to your Honorable House the necessity of increasing the Number of this Committee immediately, by adding more Persons residing in this City." Resolved, That Colo. Roberdeau & Colo. Nixon be a Committee to fix on a mode for speedily supplying the Associators in the different Counties with Cartridges, properly fitted to the Bore of each Firelock. Resolved, That Mr. Wharton & Mr. Sam'l Morris be a Committee to direct the properly fitting the Four Flats, to be purchased as Hulks for a cover to the Armed Boats in time of action, at or near Fort Island. Robert Morris, Esq'r, produced to the Committee a Copy of his Instructions to Mr. Caronio, dated 12th Feb'y & 1st March, respecting the sale of a Cargo of Provisions shipped by order of this Committee per the Brig't Dolphin, Capt. Prole, for St. Thomas's, consign'd to said Stephen Caronio, with orders to invest the Neat proceeds of said Cargo, the balance arising from her freight, and the Neat proceeds of a Cargo shipped to Porto Rico the Nancy, Capt. Montgomery, in Powder, Arms, &ca., all which he was directed to Return by the Brig't Nancy, Capt. Montgomery, for account of this Committee. Mr. Morris also produced a letter from Mr. Caronio, dated at St. Thomas's, 30th April last, whereby it appears he had sold both Cargoes, and was receiving pay part in cash and part in produce of the West Indies; Therefore, Resolved, That the whole Value of cash and goods shipped on Board said Brig't. Nancy, by Mr. Stephen Caronio, for account and Risque of this Committee, shall be accepted for the public account, and are at their Risque; and that said Mr. Caronio's bills for amount of what he so ships more than the Neat proceeds of the Brigantine Dolphin's Cargo, shall be accepted and paid. Resolved, That the Memorial to Congress of the 21st inst., be reconsidered to-morrow Morning. Resolved, That Mr. Jacob Howell be employed to go to the dif ferent Powder Mills employed by this Board, in order to this Com |