without hinderance or molestation. And for your so doing this shall be your Warrant.”

A Warrant and Directions for John Maxwell Nesbitt, Gentleman, was this day drawn up and approved of, and is as follows:

“In Committee of Safety.

“To JOHN MAXWELL NESBITT, Gentleman:

“You are hereby appointed Paymaster of the Pennsylvania Fleet, and empowered to do all such matters and things as may be necessary in the execution of the said office. You are regularly to pay all drafts and orders made on you by the Captains of the Armed Boats, in favour of the Officers and Privates employed in the service of the said boats, which are properly certified by the Muster-Master, having strict regard to the rates fixed and published by this Committee, for the pay of the said Officers and Privates, respectively. And keeping exact accounts and receipts of all sums of money by you paid away, and the names of the persons to whom, and the purposes for which they were disbursed. And for your so doing this shall be your Warrant.”

Mr. Wharton, Mr. Biddle, and Mr. Dougherty, report that they applied yesterday to the Commissioner of this County for information respecting the progress in making the fifteen hundred stand of Arms voted by Assembly for the use of this County, and find that none are yet prepared. Therefore, it is

Ordered, That said Gentlemen be a Committee to wait on the Commissioners and Assessors, and inform them an Order is made out, and left with the Clerk of this Board, to be delivered them, on the Treasurer, for one thousand five hundred Pounds, to be paid them as wanted, in order to forward this necessary service; and that, if the same be neglected, this Board will think themselves in duty bound to make a representation thereof to Assembly and the publick.

Upon application of Mr. Dunwicke, a Gunsmith now employed in making the Provincial Muskets for Chester County, an Order was given on the Commissary for two pounds of Powder, to prove some of them now ready.

Ordered, That the Commissary attend Mr. Dunwicke in proving the Muskets for Chester County, and furnish the Powder necessary for that purpose.

Upon motion, Resolved, That application be made by this Board to the Committee of Lancaster County, to collect in the Provincial Arms now in that County, and send them down to this Committee as soon as possible; and that Mr. Owen Biddle draw up a Letter to said Committee, setting forth the necessity and propriety of this measure.

Upon motion, it is agreed by the Board, that an Officer be appointed to receive the Indents from the Captains and Officers of the Boats, and to procure the necessary articles for fitting the Armed Boats, as Ships’ Husband for the Fleet.

Saturday, October 7, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—
Robert Morris, President pro tem., Owen Biddle, Bernard Dougherty, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Andrew Allen, Anthony Wayne, John Cadwallader, Daniel Roberdeau, George Gray, George Ross.

John Morton, Esq., a Member of the Continental Congress, delivered to this Board the following Resolve of the Congress:

“In Congress, October 6, 1775.

“On motion made, Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Provincial Assemblies or Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety, to arrest and secure every person in their respective Colonies, whose going at large may in their opinion endanger the safety of the Colony or the liberties of America.

“A true copy from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

Agreeable to a Resolve of yesterday, a Letter was this day wrote to the Committee of Lancaster County, requesting they would collect and send to this Board what Provincial Arms there may be in that County.

Resolved, That James Roberts, Pilot, be permitted to pilot down the River and Bay of Delaware the Brig Charlotte, Capt. Parker; and he is warned by this Committee to avoid going or being taken on board any Man-of-War or other British Armed Vessel.

Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Wharton, and Mr. Biddle, report that they delivered to Mr. Joseph Fox the copy of the Minute of this Board of yesterday, relative to the making of the Arms ordered by Assembly, who assured them that he would communicate it to the Board of Commrssioners and Assessors, and that he would use his best endeavours to promote that necessary business.

Resolved, That Colonel Cadwallader be desired to deliver to the Master-at-Arms what Muskets, with the Bayonets, he can spare out of a number he has ordered to be made; and that this Board pay him four Pounds five Shillings for each, being the price he agreed for.

On motion made by Colonel Wayne, that Daniel Sharpless should be employed in making a number of Fire-Arms,

Resolved, That Colonel Wayne request the said Sharpless to attend this Board as soon as possible.

Resolved, That the Master-of-Arms go to the different Smiths in and about this City, who are capable of making Fire-Arms and Gun Locks, and desire them that are out of employ to attend this Board.

Colonel Wayne, Colonel Cadwallader, and Mr. Allen, are appointed a Committee to lay before the Committee of Inspection and Observation for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia the Resolve of the honourable Continental Congress of the 6th October, 1775, delivered to this Board by Mr. Morton, and to represent to them that they had received information that certain persons had been apprehended by their Committee, for practices inimical to the liberties of America, and dangerous to the safety of this Province; and that this Committee apprehend it to be their duty, under the above Resolve, to take the examination of such persons, and to proceed to such measures as their offences require.

The above Committee reported, that they had accordingly waited on the Committee of Inspection and Observation for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, who informed them that they would take the matter into immediate consideration, and acquaint this Board with the result.

Messrs. Morgan, Lawrence, Wilcocks, Mease, and R. Strettle Jones, a Committee from the Committee of the City and Liberties, waited on this Board, and delivered the following Resolve, with the papers therein mentioned, viz:

“In Committee, October 7, 1775.

“A Committee of the General Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia delivered the Papers and Letters, as follow, viz:
“1. A Deposition of Christopher Carter, taken before Henry Hale Graham, Esq., Chester:
“2. A Paper relative to Doctor Kearsley’s affair of the 6th of September, under the signature of Frater & Soror:
“3. A Letter to the Right Honourable Charles Jenkinson, Esq., signed, ‘A Friend to your Friend Coriolanus,’ under cover to Thomas Corbyn, Holborn, London:
“4. A Letter from J. Brooks to Mr. Isaac Lermitte:
“5. A Letter signed John Kearsley, to Lieutenant Robert Douglas, Royal Artillery, Boston:
“6. A Note of residence of Drs. David and Paul Kearsley.
“Small papers, viz:
“7. No. 1, relative to Messrs. Bradfords:
“8. No. 2, being directions for executing six Prints:
“9. No. 3, a Plan for subduing America:
“10. No. 4, a scheme for a private correspondence:
“11. An anonymous Letter, directed to the Rev. Thomas B. Chandler, London:
“12. A Letter signed John O’Dell, to Mrs. Bullock, Bunton Causeway, Surry, near Westminster.

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