Capt. Jos. Blewer was desired to Purchase a Quantity of Powder from Mr. Jos. Carson.

Ordered, That Mr. Robert Towers, Commissary, be desired to make a return to this Board of all the Military Stores under his care Immediately.

Resolved, That Mr. Biddle & Col. Matlack be a Committee to enquire of the Board of Warr whether Steps have been taken by that Hon'ble Board to erect a redoubt at Billingsport, & if they have not, to enquire whether Congress expect the direction of the erecting of that Fortification, to be in the present Council of Safety of this State.

Ordered, That Capt. Wm. Richards be desired to make a return to this Board of all the Stores under his care Immediately.

In Council of Safety, July 31st, 1776, A. M.

Order'd, That Geo. Fitterman & James McDaniel, be detained from Proceeding with the Associators to New Jersey, & that they be desired to use the utmost diligence in procuring Timber for making Gun Carriages.

By order of the Board, Mr. Jos. Ferre was desired to deliver Mr. John Mitchel, Commissary, for Victualing the Navy, 25 Bushels of Salt, out of the Stores at Germantown.

By order of the Board, an order was drawn on John M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, Treas'r, in favor of Jesse Roe, for £50, towards lead purchased for this State, to be charged to his acco't.

A letter from the Hon'ble president of the Congress was read, requesting this Board immediately to send to General Mercer, for

the Service of the Flying Camp, 10 Six pounders, & an equal number of 4 p'rs, out of the Stores of this State.

Ordered, That Capt. Joseph Blewer procure & forward the Guns to Gen. Mercer.

By order of the Board, Capt. Hazelwood was directed to deliver Mr. James Mease 50 Barrels of Combustables, to be charged to Congress.

Information being lodged (upon Oath) with this Board, by John Walker, Arthur Thomas & his two Sons, John & Arthur, That John Hale & Martha Ash were concerned In, or privy to, the escape of Col. Kirkland out of the Prison of this State, the following warrant was Issued:

"In Council of Safety, Philad'a, July 31st, 1776.

"To Capt. Richard Peters, or the Officer of the Guard:

"SIR: You are directed forthwith to seize the Persons of John Hale & Martha Ash, as Persons Charged upon Oath with a Conspiracy against the State, and Confine them, One in the Goal and the other in the Work House of this City, and take Proper care that they do not converse with each other.

"By order of the Council of Safety.

Sign'd, DAVID RITTENHOUSE, Chairman."

"In Council of Safety, Philad'a, July 31st, 1776.

"State of Pennsylvania, ss:

"You are authorized and required to Seize the Bodies of Arthur Thomas and his two Sons, Arthur Thomas & John Thomas, or either of them, and to secure their papers, they standing Suspected, by evidence taken on oath, of having Conspired against the State, and in so doing this shall be your Sufficient warrant.

"By order of the Council of Safety.

"Signed, DAVID RITTENHOUSE, Chairman.

"To Jos. McLANE, Present."

In Council of Safety, July 31st, 1776.-P. M.

By order of the Board, Mr. Rob't Towers, Commissary, was desired to deliver to Mr. Robert Martin & others, Delegates in Convention for Northumberland County, 750 wt. of Powder & 1500 wt. of lead, to be delivered to the Committee of Inspection for that County, & by them distributed to the Militia in such quantities as they may stand in need of, for the defence of said County.

On motion,

Resolved, That all such workmen as are necessary to be employed at the Iron works in casting of Cannon or Shott for the Public, be ordered not to leave their Respective works, nor to March with the Militia, unless by special direction of the Convention or this Board.

By order of Board, Mr. R. Towers was directed to deliver Capt. Jos. Blewer a sufficient Quantity of ammunition to Prove 10 six pound & 10 four pound Cannon.

By order of the Board, Mr. Towers was desired to deliver Capt. James Hindman, of the Maryland Independant Company, Twenty three Rounds of ammunition for each man in his Company, & Twenty Hatchets, to be charged to Congress.

On Motion,

Resolved, That all such workmen as are necessary to be employed at the Iron Works, in Casting of Canon or Shott for the public, be ordered not to leave their Respective Works, nor to march with the Militia of this State, unless by special direction of the Convention. or this Board.

The Deposition of John Walker.

"On the 31st day of July, 1776, Before the Council of Safety of the State of Pennsylvania, came John Walker, of the City of Philadelphia, and being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose and say: That about six or Eight days after the time of Colonel Kirkland's escape from the Goal, Mr. John Hale ordered this deponent to fill a Pair of new Saddle Bags with Oats, and Mr. John Hale himself put into the Saddle Bags a Bottle, which this deponent apprehended to be a Bottle of Brandy, or other spirits, and put a Cloth over it: That the Saddle Bags thus filled was put on a Horse belonging to John Hale & the Horse delivered

escape,

to a son of Arthur Thomas, and the Horse was (in the evening, about 4 or 5 o'clock) taken away by Mr. Thomas's oldest apprentice; That some time afterwards, this deponent heard Arthur Thomas, Jun'r say that he had assisted Col. Kirkland in his and also that this deponent did hear the said Arthur Thomas, jun'r say to Mr. John Hale, that Col. Kirkland rode the first night after his escape Forty miles, to the House of a man in New Jersey, who (Mr. Thomas said) had been taken up the day before, for having entertained a soldier at his House: that Mr. Kirkland made his escape thro' some surprise, out of a window; That Mr. Kirkland was lost for several days, and when he was found he did not know the person who found him, and drew his Knife, charging him to keep off, but that on his giving the watchword, Kirkland went with him: That Col. Kirkland had attempted to go on board the man-of-warr, by means of a Boat, but the man-of-warr was gone too far off, and the Boat was obliged to return: That he also heard the said Arthur Thomas tell Mr. Hale that Capt. Bouger refused to break his word of Honor which he had Pledged for the Liberty he enjoyed: That the said Thomas Damned him for talking of Honor to or among Thieves & Rogues, and that the said Arthur Thomas said to Mr. Hale, that it was not the thing for him, (meaning Capt. Bouger) not to go off after the Trouble they had taken to send him a Horse: That Mrs Ash told this deponent that she had heard one of the Thomas's say to Mr. Hale that he (Mr. Thomas,) had furnished Col. Kirkland with a Rope, for the Purpose of making his escape from Goal: That this deponent understood the Horse abovementioned was intended for the use of Col. Kirkland, to facilitate his escape; and further this deponent saith not.

his

"Signed, JOHN WALKER,”

mark.

Martha Ash was brought before the Board by order, & being examined, made & Subscribed the following deposition :

"Pennsyl'a, ss.

"In Council of Safety for the State of Pen'a.

"On the 31 day of July, 1776, appeared Personally before the Council of Safety for the said State, Martha Ashe, who being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose, and say, that sometime after the escape of Col. Kirkland, she heard one of Arthur Thomas's Sons inform John Hale, that he had assisted Col. Kirkland with a Ladder of Rope, for to make his escape from the Jail, (but which of the said Thomas's Sons it was she cannot recollect,) and she doth further depose and say, that sometime after the said escape, a boy returned a Horse to the said Hale's, which had been obtained from him, with a pair of Saddle Bags, that

contained some oats & Biscuit, and, that this deponent believed that the said Kirkland made his escape with the same Horse; that this deponent mentioned such, her Suspicion, to the said Hales, who replied that he believed he had.

Sign'd MARTHA ASH.

By order of the Board, Mr. Robert Towers, Commissary, was desired to deliver to Mr. Henry Wynkoop of Bucks County, a Quarter Cask of Powder, to be by him delivered to the Associators, as he shall see convenient.

Moved, That Jacob Barge be requested to attend this Board tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock, otherwise, Mary Hutton may remove her Goods to such place as she may think proper within the City, & Subject to the Claims of Rent, as if the same were not removed.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Council of Safety, that the Rules & Regulations of the late House of Assembly respecting the Association, ought to be complied with; and that no Company or Companies ought to be permitted to leave a Battalion, so as to leave less than six Companies in a Battalion, nor be permitted to leave their respective Battalions untill at least six Companies of supernumeraries can agree to form a new Battalion.

By order of the Board, John Maxwell Nesbitt, Esq'r, Treas'r, was desired to Pay an order drawn on this Board by James Pollock & Sam'l Laird, Commissioners of Cumberland County, in favor of John Pollock for £600 towards purchasing Muskets, to be charged to their Acco't.

By order of the Board, Mr. R. Towers, Commissary, was desired to deliver to Dan'l King, one of the old Cannon in the State House Yard, to Bore.

By order of the Board, Commodore Davison was desired to deliver to Col. Matlack, 12 Riffles from on board the ship Montgomery.

By order of the Board, Mr. Robert Towers was directed to deliver Col. Clement Biddle, D. Q. M. G. or his assistants here, one Ton of Grape Shot, & one Ton of Buck Shott to be forwarded to the Camp in Jersey, to be charged to Congress.