those marked by Messrs. Williams and Wales, lately there. And do appoint Messrs. Jonathan Fitch, Wm. Greenough and David Austin a Committee to procure and cause the same to be done with all convenient speed, and that they be instructed to improve Mr. James Rice in any thing he is willing to undertake about them.

Mr. John Skinner, express from Hartford, brought the Governour a Letter from General Washington, requesting all the Tow-Cloth which can be had to make Shirts or Short Coats, for an uniform dress for the Army, &c., and sent a sample made up, with a Cape, Ruffles, &c.

Letters were wrote and despatched to all the Commissaries in the Colony, to purchase all the Tow-Cloth they can procure.

Letter to Col. Webb, directing him to order one of his Captains and Company to New-Haven.

Also Letters to the Colonels of the five Regiments out of which the fourth part for Minute-Men is to be drawn, &c., informing and directing them about it.

Also Letter to Messrs. Fitch, Greenough, and Austin, informing them what is ordered about Minute-Men, and the Company ordered there; and appointing them a Committee to prepare the Carriages for the Field-Pieces, and other carriages as aforesaid.

Also a Letter to Colonel Hamlin, requesting him to inform what progress he has made in collecting and sending Saltpetre and Sulphur to New-York, to be wrought into Gunpowder.

Also wrote a Letter to Colonel Williams, &c., Committee of Wethersfield, in answer to one received, waiting orders to march to New-London, &c.

Most of the above despatched by said Skinner. And being night, the Council is dismissed.

Monday, August 14, 1775.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety, this day: Present:

His Honour the Governour, Eliphalet Dyer, Jabez Huntington, Wm. Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esqrs.

Many Letters from sundry persons exhibited, &c.

Application was made by Captain Francis Shaw, of Goldsborough, by order of his Town, for leave to purchase in this Colony (the embargo notwithstanding) about fifteen hundred bushels of Corn and Rye and about fifty barrels Pork, for the necessary use of the people; and is, on consideration, granted, and the Governour desired to give a permit. Which he did accordingly.

Application also made by Mr. Rensselaer, by order of Walter Livingston, a Commissary for the York Department, for liberty to purchase in the Western parts of this Colony four hundred and fifty barrels Pork, for the use of the Troops at Ticonderoga, as it cannot be had at New-York, &c. On consideration thereof, and of the great importance of those Troops being well and seasonably supplied, the motion is agreed to, and the Governour desired to give permission to purchase the same in the Counties of Fairfield and Litchfield, so as not to violate the doings of the first said County, in withdrawing connections from some, &c.

A permit accordingly was given.

On a Letter from Colonel Saltonstall, informing that the Committees of Inspection in New-London County, &c., are to meet this 14th instant, to consider what is proper to be done respecting Stock on the Islands not taken off, &c., and praying advice, &c., a Letter in answer, by order, was wrote, declining any particular directions, and especially with regard to any out of the Colony limits, &c., and referring it as most properly belonging to the Committee of Inspection; and signifying our private opinion that great care should be taken to prevent Provisions falling into the hands of our enemies, and also of the danger of other effects near the water, &c.

Mr. Huntington, of the Committee appointed for that purpose, respecting a small Armed Vessel, &c., reported: That having taken pains, they are not able to find any suitable for the purpose, except one belonging to one Hancox, &c., of Stonington, but not to be chartered, but may be bought at two hundred Pounds, as the lowest sum, &c. Her sails and rigging not fit for service. And the question, whether she shall be purchased, was largely considered. And as the General Assembly have ordered Vessels to be fitted out, &c., the Council supposed themselves obliged to obey the order, &c.; and there seems no other way. And they judged the Vessel so cheap that, when needless, she may probably be sold without loss, and the hire saved, &c. Are of opinion that said Vessel or Schooner, called the Britannia, be purchased for the Colony; and Benjamin Huntington, Esq., Captain John Deshon, and Captain Robert Niles, are appointed a Committee to make said purchase, at not exceeding two hundred Pounds, &c., and also to take care of and cause her to be rigged and fitted out with every necessary for said purpose, as soon as may be.

And this Council do appoint Robert Niles, of Norwich, to be Captain and Commander of her. And said Committee are desired to look out and recommend proper persons for the other officers on board her, and report make to the next meeting.

Voted, That Captain Deshon be directed forthwith to put the Cannon, Small-Arms, Pistols, and every warlike implement now at New-London, suitable and proper for armed vessels, into proper order and condition for immediate use; and on receiving advice from Captain Hall, of the larger armed vessel fitting at Middletown, shall be at or near Saybrook, ready to receive them, to send them to him there, and deliver them on board his brig. But if it shall appear there is not a sufficient quantity for both vessels, that they be properly proportioned between them.

Then the Council was dismissed, and adjourned till Thursday next, nine o’clock, A. M.

Thursday, August 17, 1775.

At a meeting of the Governour, &c., this day, present the same Members as at the last.

Many Letters, &c., laid in and considered; and directed and prepared a Letter to Captain Jeremiah Wadsworth, Commissary, &c., in answer to one from him for advice, &c., directing him to risk the Pork he buys at the westward by water, if necessary, and it cannot be done by the sellers; and that the Colony will indemnify him in prudent conduct about it; and that he may release about two hundred barrels he had bought of——McLane, of Danbury, in favor of Mr. Rensselaer, who had a permit at the last meeting to buy four hundred and fifty barrels in this Colony, for the use of General Schuyler’s Army at the northward.

A Permit having been granted to P. Rensselaer at the last meeting to purchase Pork, &c., and he having proposed to convey it by water to New-York, &c., and it being thought and considered as in great danger of falling into the hands of our enemies, if water-borne, &c., it was proposed and voted, that the Governour be desired to give and send positive orders to said Rensselaer not to ship any Pork purchased in this Colony to New-York, but transport the same by land to the North River, to be thence shipped to Albany, &c. That is an explanatory permission to purchase said Pork on that condition; and the same done, and both instantly despatched, &c., by Mr. Skinner.

General Washington having wrote the Governour, by Letter received yesterday, that he has ordered General Schuyler to send down a quantity of Lead Ball found at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, &c., and directed it to be under the conduct of said Governour Trumbull, &c., it is, on consideration, advised, that the Governour write General Schuyler to send the same to the care of Commissary Phelps, at Albany; and that said Phelps be advised of it, and directed to forward the same by the best and most expeditious way to General Washington.

Voted and Resolved, That orders be sent to Major Lattimer, commander of the Troops now at New-London, to see that regular Watchers and Guards are kept about his Camp; that his Soldiers are properly exercised, instructed and disciplined; and kept clean, out of idleness and bad practices. And orders drawn and sent accordingly.

Voted and Resolved, That orders be sent to Captain Lyon, who, with his Company, are now at Norwich, to remain there till further orders, near the Landing, and to