debate arising in consequence of these Letters, it was, after deliberation,

Resolved, That the Board of Commissioners and Assessors for the County of Bucks be summoned to appear before this Board on Wednesday, the ninth instant, at ten o’clock, A. M., at the Lodge in the City of Philadelphia, and that each Commissioner and Assessor be served as soon as possible with a copy of this minute.

Resolved, That the Committee for providing Powder, Arms, &c., be desired to procure from the French or Spanish West-Indies, two thousand stand of good Fire-Arms.

Friday, August 4, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benj. Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, Benj. Bartholomew, Richard Reiley, Robert White, Robert Morris, John Cadwallader, Thos. Wharton, Jun., Ant. Wayne, Geo. Gray:

Upon reconsidering the Resolves of yesterday, respecting the Commissioners and Assessors of Bucks County, it is agreed that this Board will stop their proceedings thereon for a few days.

Resolved, That Morgan Busteed cast and deliver to this Committee two Howitzers, agreeable to the draught offered by him to this Board.

Resolved, That Colonel Dickinson, Colonel Roberdeau, and Colonel Cadwallader, inquire of the Associators, who have the Provincial Muskets in their hands, if they are willing to enter into the service of this Province on board the boats to be employed for the defence thereof; if they refuse, then that they be desired to deliver the said Arms to their respective Colonels, for the use of those men that may enter into the said service.

Resolved, That Mr. Samuel Wheeler make one hundred Pikes, to be made use of on board the different boats, agreeable to the pattern produced to this Board.

Saturday, August 5, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benj. Franklin, Robert White, Richard Reiley, Owen Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau, George Gray, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Andrew Allen:

Mr. Owen Biddle presented to this Board, from Mr. Robert Smith, a model of a Machine for lowering and raising Ballast into and out of the Chevaux-de-Frise, to be sunk in this river; for which Mr. Biddle is desired to return to Mr. Smith the thanks of this Board.

Tuesday, August 8, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Roberdeau, George Ross, Anthony Wayne, John Cadwallader, Robert White, George Gray, Andrew Allen, Robert Morris:

Mr. Robert Towers attended the Board, with a Return of the Powder under his care, by which it appears there is twenty-two hundred and forty-four and a half pounds of Powder in store.

Col. Cadwallader delivered to this Board, John Nixon, Chairman pro tempore to the City Committee, his order to the Powder Committee, to deliver to this Board what Powder they may have in their care.

Doctor Franklin delivered a Letter to this Board, from three of the Assessors and one Commissioner, which was read and answered this day.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle and Colonel Cadwallader apply to the City Committee for what Lead and Flints they may have in their possession, and request their account of the cost of the same.

Resolved, That the Powder Committee endeavour to inform themselves what quantity of Lead may be procured in this City, and that they purchase fifty tons of that article.

Wednesday, August 9, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benjamin Franklin, Owen Biddle, Robert White, Andrew Allen, Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwallader, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert Morris, Anthony Wayne, Samuel Morris, Jun., George Gray:

Upon the application of Doctor Franklin to this Board for a quantity of Gunpowder, for the use of the Troops under the command of Colonel Schuyler,

Resolved, That the twenty-two hundred and forty-four and a half pounds of Gunpowder, now in the Magazine, under the care of Mr. Robert Towers, be immediately sent; and that a proper team be provided to take said Powder, and to be attended on the road by Thomas Aply, until he receive orders from Colonel Schuyler.

Sundry Letters were read, from York County, concerning the Military Associations, requesting Commissions to be sent for the Officers of that County.

A Letter read from Carlisle, of the 27th July, directed to Michael Hillegas, Esq., and signed by John Montgomery, requesting the pattern Gun and Resolves of the Assembly to be sent to the Commissioners and Assessors of Cumberland County.

One other Letter was produced, directed to Mr. Hillegas, from Mr. Edmonds, of Northampton County, requesting the pattern Muskets, Knapsacks, and Cartridge-Boxes, might be sent for that County.

On motion, it is agreed that this Committee meet in future at nine o’clock in the morning.

Thursday, August 10, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benjamin Franklin, Thos. Wharton, Jun., Robert White, Andrew Allen, John Cadwallader, Robert Morris, Daniel Roberdeau, George Gray:

The Committee appointed to inquire what quantity of Lead could be procured in this City, report that they cannot find more than five hundred weight of that article.

Upon application of the Powder Committee for a sum of Money to reimburse them the large sums they are in advance, and for payment of other their engagements,

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer to this Board, in favour of Messrs. Robert Morris and Thos. Wharton, Jun., for the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Pounds; which was accordingly done, and signed by the President.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to procure Gunpowder, &c., do, as soon as possible, import fifty tons of Lead.

Doctor Franklin undertook to write to Col. Schuyler, to know if any of the Lead that was at Ticonderoga could be had for the use of this Province, and to request a supply if it can be spared.

Friday, August 11, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benjamin Franklin, George Gray, Owen Biddle, Robert Morris, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert White, John Cadwallader, Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, and George Ross.

A Report from Robert Towers was laid before the Board, expressing that he delivered to Mr. Thomas Aply the quantity and kinds of Powder following, viz: Musket Powder, three hundred and eighty-two pounds; Cannon Powder, seventeen hundred and fifty-four pounds—twenty-one hundred and thirty-six pounds of Powder.

Doctor Franklin and Mr. Owen Biddle report, that they yesterday sent the above Powder to Col. Schuyler, attended by the abovementioned Thomas Aply.

Resolved, That Mr. Robert Towers be appointed Commissary of the Magazine and Military Stores of this Province, and that he have a salary of fifty Pounds per year; and that Mr. Andrew Allen and Mr. Robert Morris be appointed to draw up Instructions and a Commission for him.

That the Order from the Committee of the City and Liberties, to the Powder Committee of that Board, be delivered to the Commissary; and that he take the Powder that they deliver into his care, and report the quantity to this Board.

That Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, and George Gray, be a Committee to prove the Powder made by Mr. Lush and Mr. Oswell Eve; and that Robert Towers, Commissary, attend them.