John M. Nesbitt was directed

Owen Biddle,

Fred. Kuhl,

Timothy Matlack.

to pay Rob't Eastburn £27 6 0, for attending the delivery of Salt, measuring, &ca.; also for collecting rags some time since.

Mr. Nesbitt to pay to Jeremiah Baker, for Wood & Straw delivered at the Barracks, £180 14 0, to be charged to Congress.

An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Lewis Guyon, for One Hundred Pounds, to be charged to his Acco't.

Mr. Nesbitt to pay James Ennis £6 5 0, for Riding Express to Northampton & Bucks Counties, to request the Commanding officers of the Militia to hold themselves in readiness to march to this City at an Hour's warning.

An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Col. Francis Gurney, for 1000 Dollars, to be charged to Col. Richard Humpton.

Col. Matlack reports, That Captain Hare, an officer in Continental pay, did, in his presence yesterday, in the open Coffee House, in the most public manner, and with Circumstances attending his manner that appeared to be intended to draw the Attention of the People present, purchase Three silver Dollars at a very considerable advance above their Accustomed Value, which advanced value he paid in Continental Bills of Credit.

The Council taking the Same into consideration, & it appearing that the like practice is becoming frequent in this City, and that it may have a Dangerous tendency to lessen, if not destroy the credit of the Continental Currency,

Resolved, That Mr. Rittenhouse, Mr. Biddle, & Col. Matlack, be a Committee to lay this matter before the Board of Treasury, take their sentiments hereupon, & report to this Board.

Resolved, That the Salt purchased by this Council for the use of the Inhabitants of this State, shall be proportioned to the several Counties, as near as may be, according to the number of Inhabitants in each; And That the Quantity allotted to each county be delivered to such persons as shall apply for it, by order of the several Comittees, on their paying the prime cost of 15s Bushel, to be distributed by said Committees amongst the people at the same price, Expence of carriage only added.

The Board taking into consideration the State of the Salt Works in New Jersey,

Ordered, That Mr. Rittenhouse & Col. Matlack visit the Salt Works, carefully examine into the state of them, and report to this Board.

John M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, was directed to pay the following Acco'ts:

Messrs. Rittenhouse, Biddle, & Dehaven, £15 2 6, for 60 lbs. Salt Petre, made at the public Factory.

William Steward, for 11 Cord of Wood a 26s, £14 12 6, delivered at Fort Island.

Captain Blewer £19 12 0, for 28 Barrels of Tar, delivered to Capt. Hazlewood.

Matthias Keely, for 42 New Arms delivered to Mr. Towers, £189 0 0.

Christian Shaffer £40, on Acco't of Work done at the Barracks, to be charged to his Acco't.

Resolved, That Colonel Curtis Grub be authorized to impress a sufficient number of Teams in the County of Lancaster, to Transport the Cannon he has Cast for the Congress to Philadelphia.

Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Lieu't John Hennessy for the Balance of his acco't for Wages, £3 11 2.

To pay Mrs. Connelly £5 7 14, for 4 weeks & 2 days allowance, from 3 Oct'r to 3 Nov'r, 1776, to be charged to Congress.

Mr. Robert Eastburn was directed to deliver the Inhabitants of this City & County to the amount of 300 Bushels of Salt, to each housekeeper not more than half a Bushel, the other Counties to be supplied with the proportions allotted for them by Gentlemen appointed to distribute the same.

An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in fav'r of Maj'r Lewis Nicola, for Two Hundred pounds, to be charged to his acco't.

Commodore Seymour was empowered to Impress such Sloops or Vessels as may be necessary to weigh the Chevaux de Frize, lately sunk by accident near Fort Island.

Complaint having been made to this Board that a Certain Captain Thomas Cripen has entered into Contract with Samuel Read for the Sale of the Schooner Nancy, now Commanded by him, which he refuses to abide by or to give the Complainant satisfaction, Commodore Seymour was directed not to permit said Vessel to pass by Fort Island without Special Licence from this Council.

Resolved, That Messrs. Jacob Barge, John Purviance, William Heysham, & Wm. Moulder, be appointed a Committee to super

intend and direct the purchase, Sale, & distribution of the Salt imported into this State agreeable to the regulations established by this board.

An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, Treasurer, in fav'r of Col. John Patton, for £400, on acco't of Shot cast for this State, & Charge the same to his acco't.

An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of the Rev'd Mr. Rodgers, for £70, being in part of his acco't for Wages as Chaplain to late Miles' & Attlee's Battalions.

Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Capt. Tho's Dungan £1 13 0, for an allowance of 1s p piece on 33 Worms & Screws.

Jacob Rittenhouse £31 5 10, for Cannon Cartridge Paper, delivered to Mr. Towers.

Matthias Keely £238 15 6, being the Balance of his acc't for Arms, &ca.

James Young, Esq'r, informed the Council the Colonel Housagger has declared he will pay no obedience to the Magistrates of this State.

Resolved, That the Council will take the case up on Monday

next.

Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. Leisner £2 3 0, for 43 days nursing in Hospital at New York, for Col. Atlee's Batt'n. Mr. Nesbitt to pay Caleb Hewes £3 3 10, for Oak Scantlin, delivered Allison & Worrel, for Fort Island.

An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Joseph Mather, Esq'r, for £50, to be charged to his acco't.

Mr. Nesbitt to pay Herculus Courtney £71 12 0, for Blankets collected for the use of the Artillery.

Resolved, That Mr. Kuhls, Mr. Keppele & Mr. Sam'l S. Morris, be a Committee to examine & Settle Messrs. Dehaven & Car ter's acco't of the Lock Factory.

Resolved, That the Gunsmith be allowed 248 p piece for every good Gun Barrel delivered at the Lock Factory,

In Council of Safety.

PHILAD'A, November 11th, 1776.

PRESENT:

THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.

David Rittenhouse,

Owen Biddle,

John Bayard,
Francis Gurney,

Sam'l Morris, Sen'r, Chair'n,Sam'l C. Morris,

John Bull,

Jos. Blewer,

Fred. Kuhl,

Henry Keppele, jun'r.

Geo. Gray,

An order was drawn on Jno. M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, Treasurer, in fa vour of Messrs. Peter Dehaven & Co, for £500, on acco't of the Lock Factory, to be charged to their acco't.

Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Benj'n Harbeson £98 12 6, for Sundrys, for the use of the Fleet & Fort Island, &ca.

Mr. Nesbitt to pay an order drawn by John Read, Commissary & Barrack Master at Fort Island, for a month's Pay, for October, £5 0 0.

Mr. Nesbitt to pay Rob't Patton £88 10 4, for 2 Ton 4 c. 1 qr. 2 lb. Barr Iron, delivered to Capt. Wm. Richards.

[Here follow fifteen blank pages in Council Book]

In Consequence of Intelligence received that part of General How's Army was making a Move this way, the Council, to get things in forwardness to make a defence, came to the following Resolutions, vizt:

1. That 12 Expresses with Horses be provided, to be in readiDess to send.

2. That Col. Gurney & Mr. Kuhl be appointed to examine the state of Military Stores and Arms in the State House and Lock Factory, & report to the Board the State in which they shall find

them.

3. That Col. S. Matlack be appointed to write a Circular Letter containing the Intelligence received, to the Commanding officers of the Militia.

4. That Commodore Seymour, Col. Humpton, Capt. Blewer, & Capt. Hazlewood, do review the whole Naval Armament and the Artillery Companies belonging to this State to-morrow, and make report to this Board of the State in which they shall find them.

5. Resolved, That Col. Bayard be appointed to draw up a Letter to Col. Kirkbridge, to view the Fords of the River Delaware above the Falls.

6. That Mr. Biddle be appointed to write to the Delaware State & the Lower parts of New Jersey, and acquaint them with the Intelligence received.

7. That Mr. S. C. Morris be appointed to write to Mr. Parr, Mr. Tilghman, & Mr. Lukens, & order them to remove the Public Papers in their hands.

8th. That Mr. Robert Irwine be sent for and directed to engage a Number of Waggons, in order to remove the Military Stores from this City to the Country.

9. That Col. Mifflin be sent for & requested to Assist in directing the Mounting all the small Guns that can be procured on Carriages in and near the City, that is fit for that purpose.

10. Mr. Towers be Directed to provide a larger Quantity of Musket Cartridges than is now on hand, and employ as many people in making them as can be procured.

11. That the Boom be fixed to the Piers near fort Island, without delay.

Resolved, That a Quantity of Military Stores be Immediately removed to Col. Bull's at Norrington, and that Col. Bull be directed to procure proper Guards to be stationed there.

An order was drawn on Mr. Ferree, in favour of Tho's Lowry, Esq'r, for 500 Bushels of Salt, for the use of the Army.

Mr. Nesbitt to pay Stewart Duncan £3 19 4, for 2 Cords of Wood for ship Montgomery.

Ex th. W. b.

END OF VOL. X.