delay or trouble; but if any should be in distress, they are to lend them all reasonable assistance.

12. A copy of the Articles subscribed by the Officers and Men shall be hung up in some publick part of the Boat, for the perusal of the Crew, to whom they are to be read once every week, in an orderly manner; all the Officers who can conveniently attend to be present.

13. The Boats are not to leave any particular station assigned them out of port, or, when appointed to any duty, without orders from the Commodore, Committee of Safety, or Assembly.

14. The Captain of each Boat shall cause his Clerk to make out a Muster-Roll of the Crew of the Boat which he commands, with their names, stations on board, time of entering the service, whether they are sickly or maimed, and what is their ailment; and if any of the Crew should die or be discharged, specify the time thereof; all which is to be returned to the Muster-Master of the Boats once every month at least, or oftener if required by him.

15. No Captain or other Officer shall discharge any of the Boat’s Crew without leave from the Commodore, Committee of Safety, or Assembly, unless he ships an equal number to those discharged immediately.

16. The Commander of each Boat is, by ticket, to certify to the Contractor, from time to time, the number of Rations that are required for his Boat’s Crew; the Steward of the Boat is to receive the same from the Commissary, upon producing the said ticket, and is to give his receipt and be accountable.

17. The Commander of each Boat is to examine into the quality of the Provisions, from time to time, and see that they be good and wholesome, and that the proper quantity be delivered out by the Steward, and in convenient messes.

18. If the quality of the Provisions should be objected to, the Captain of the Boat is to report the same to the Contractor, with a desire that they may be exchanged for such as are good and wholesome; but if the Contractor is dissatisfied with the report of the Captain, they are to have a survey made, by two judicious and impartial freeholders, mutually chosen, who may determine the same, if they agree; but if otherwise, they are to call in an umpire, who shall decide upon the quality of said Provisions. If they are condemned, the Contractor shall supply others to equal amount in kind; but if the judgment of the referees should be otherwise, the men must receive them for their allowance.

19. No Warrant Officer or Private, discharged from the service of the Boat he first ships in, shall be admitted into the service of any other Boat, unless by mutual consent of the commanders.

20. The Commanding Officer of each Boat is constantly to enforce a due observance of all the articles signed and agreed to by the Officers and Men, for their regulation in this service.

21. In case of making Prisoners, it is recommended by the Committee of Safety, to all the Officers and Men employed in the Pennsylvania Fleet, to treat them with humanity and such kindness as the publick good will admit of.

22. It is recommended by the Committee of Safety, to all the Officers and Men employed in the Pennsylvania Fleet, to attend the publick worship of Almighty God as frequently as in their power.

23. If any of the King’s Ships, Sloops, Cutters, or other Armed Vessels, shall proceed up the River Delaware in a hostile manner, or with hostile intentions; if they attempt to pass the machines now sunk, or hereafter to be sunk, in the River Delaware, or if they attempt to weigh those that are sunk, or obstruct the sinking of others that are or may be ordered by the Committee of Safety or Assembly; or if they seize or attempt to seize any property of the inhabitants of the United Colonies of America, or to molest or destroy their property or persons, in any shape or manner whatever, the Officers and Men employed in this Fleet are hereby ordered to oppose all such proceedings and attempts, by whomsoever made, and to repel force by force, even to the taking, sinking, or destroying all such Ships, Sloops, Cutters, Armed Vessels, or other force employed in such designs and attempts against the peace and security of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That William Bradford print one hundred copies of the Instructions to the Captains of the Armed Boats.

Tuesday, October 17, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, President pro tem., George Gray, Michael Swoope, Daniel Roberdeau, Bernard Dougherty, Andrew Allen, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun.

Mr. Gray and Mr. Dougherty, agreeable to a Resolve of yesterday, waited on the Provincial Commissioners, who gave their hearty consent to this Board’s erecting any works on the Province Islands that they may think proper and necessary for the defence of this Province.

Mr. John Palmer, agreeable to their desire, attended this Board, and undertook the mason work agreed to be carried on at Fort-Island.

Wednesday, October 18, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, President pro tem., Daniel Roberdeau, John Montgomery, Bernard Dougherty, George Gray, Michael Swoope, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Owen Biddle, John Cadwallader.

Upon application of Captain John Old, of a Rifle Company in Berks County, an Order was delivered him on Robert Towers, Commissary, for five pounds of Battle Powder, for proving new Rifles for the use of his Company.

Resolved, That Colonel Roberdeau be empowered to admit such persons to an interview with Dr. Kearsley, J. Brooks, Leonard Snowden, and Christopher Carter, during the time they are confined in the Jail of this County, as he may find necessary or think proper, he being present at all such interviews.

By order of the Board, an Order was drawn on Mr. Owen Biddle, in favour of Daniel Evans, for ten Pounds, towards the payment of smith’s work.

William Namick, a Deserter from the Ministerial Army, applied to this Board for a small sum of money for the support of himself and wife, until he can get into employ. In consequence of his application, this Board thought proper to give the said Namick three Pounds. An Order was therefore drawn on Mr. Owen Biddle, to pay the said sum of three Pounds.

At the request of Mr. Robert Shewell, this Board gave him a copy of his Letter directed to Dr. Kearsley, with the following Certificate:

“In Committee of Safety.

“These may certify, that the above is a true copy of an original letter delivered to the Committee of Safety, signed Robert Shewell, and directed to Dr. Kearsley; and that the Committee of Safety has not at any time summoned the said Robert Shewell to appear before them.”

The Pilots, agreeable to a Resolve of yesterday, attended this Board, and propose to enter into the pay of this Province as Pilots, at the rate of ten Pounds per month, for the purpose of piloting Vessels through the machines sunk near Fort-Island; and they will attend to-morrow with their proposals of pilotage, at so much per foot.

The Board, taking into consideration the charge against Christopher Carter, of being concerned with Dr. John Kearsley and J. Brooks, in their endeavour to procure British Troops to invade this and the other Colonies in a hostile manner, with other inimical correspondence and practices, and, having duly attended to his defence, are unanimously of opinion that the said Christopher Carter is guilty of the charge. But it having been represented to this Board, by the Committee of Inspection and Observation, that a deputation from their body had promised the said Carter protection from punishment, on condition of his delivering up the papers, and giving information of the designs to be executed by him and the others concerned, which he has complied with, It is therefore

Resolved, That Christopher Carter’s person be enlarged and set at liberty, on his giving security in the sum of five hundred Pounds for his good behaviour, and that he will not leave the Province without license from the Assembly or Committee of Safety, nor be concerned in practices or