desire of the honourable Assembly, the appointment of a Commodore to command the Fleet, Capt. Thomas Read was named; and after full consideration of the merits, and inquiry into his character and qualifications, it was

Resolved, That the said Capt. Thomas Read be recommended as a proper person to be appointed by the honourable House of Assembly to that important station.

Resolved, That Mr. Wharton, Mr. Mease, and Mr. Nixon, or any two of them, be a Committee for inspecting and paying all Accounts that may appear against this Board, and that they find just.

Resolved, That the Commodore to the Armed Boats be allowed a Clerk, and that the said Clerk be allowed nine Dollars per month for his services.

In pursuance of the Resolve of this Board, Mr. Wilcocks, Mr. Nixon, and Mr. Wharton, waited upon Mr. Fox, the only Commissioner of Philadelphia County resident in the City, and presented to him the Resolve of this Board; and to the points of inquiry directed to be made, Mr. Fox informed the Committee that the Commissioners of Philadelphia County had contracted with a certain Lewis Phrahl, Gunsmith, for the making of one hundred and fifty Firelocks; that none were yet ready for use, but that he expected twenty-four of them would be delivered on Saturday next; and the Gunsmith had promised to deliver, for the future, twelve Firelocks every week, until the whole number of one hundred and fifty were completed. That the Commissioners were not under contract with any other workman, for the making of any more arms than the above one hundred and fifty. That he (Mr. Fox) was ready and desirous to employ persons to make the number of Fire required by the vote of the Assembly, but could not get workmen to undertake to make them. That the Commissioners had provided Cartouch-Boxes for the whole number of arms required. That he would readily employ the workmen the Board had informed him of; and that he would order an advertisement to be put in the newspapers, to invite workmen who were willing to contract for the making the Firelocks to apply to the Commissioners to be employed by them.

Tuesday, October 24, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, George Ross, Andrew Allen, Samuel Miles, George Clymer, Owen Biddle, Benjamin Bartholomew, Bernard Dougherty, John Nixon, George Taylor, John Cadwallader, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Howell, George Gray, James Mease, Michael Swoope, John Montgomery, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Alexander Wilcocks.

Dr. Kearsley went off this morning, guarded by an escort of Light-Horse, under the command of Captain Markoe, for Lancaster, and from thence to be conveyed by a guard to Yorktown, there to be put into the custody of the Committee of York County, who are to see the sentence of this Board effected. J. Brooks went at the same time, under the said guard, for Lancaster, there to be delivered to the Committee of that County, who are to see the sentence of this Board carried into execution against him.

Letters were wrote, read, and approved of, and sent by Captain Markoe to the Committees of Lancaster and York Counties, enclosing the Resolve and sentence against Dr. Kearsley and J. Brooks.

Dr. Kearsley, in order to reimburse the expenses that have or may accrue to this Board, on his account, this day drew the following Order for the payment of the same; which Order was delivered to Mr. Thomas Wharton, Jun.

“Philadelphia, October 23, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Please to pay to Robert Morris, Esq., Vice-President of the Board of Safety, or to his order, all the expenses that have accrued to the Board of Safety on my account, and that may accrue in escorting me to York-town. I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant,

“JOHN KEARSLEY.

To Abel James, Esq., Mr. William Pollard, Capt. John Wilcox, and Mr. Thomas Lawrence.”

Resolved, That a Second Lieutenant be appointed to each of the Armed Boats, whose pay shall be twelve Dollars per month.

Wednesday, October 25, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, Bernard Dougherty, John Cadwallader, Owen Biddle, James Mease, George Gray, Andrew Allen, Daniel Roberdeau, George Clymer, Alexander Wilcocks, Samuel Miles, James Biddle.

Joseph Fox, Esq., a Commissioner of this County, made application to this Board for five hundred Pounds, in order to advance to the Gunsmiths, to forward making the Firelocks for this County.

The Board, taking said application into consideration,

Resolved, That this Board will advance the Commissioners and Assessors the said five hundred Pounds, in order to forward the making the fifteen hundred Firelocks for this County.

An Order was drawn on Robert Morris, in favour of George Havener, for twelve Pounds, for making twelve quarter barrels of Gunpowder which the Board directed to be paid.

Upon application of George Taylor, Esq., an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer of this Board, for two hundred and fifty Pounds, being in part payment for the Cannon Ball made by him under the order of this Board.

Thursday, October 26, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, Michael Swoope, John Nixon, James Mease, Andrew Allen, John Montgomery, Francis Johnson, Thomas Wharton, Jun., John Cadwallader, Bernard Dougherty, Samuel Miles, Anthony Wayne, Owen Biddle, James Biddle, George Clymer, Alexander Wilcocks, George Gray.

By direction of this Board, an Order was this day drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer to this Board, for one thousand Pounds, in favour of Thomas Wharton, Jun., John Nixon, and James Mease, Committee of Accounts.

Robert Towers, Commissary, reports his having received the following articles into store, viz:

Five barrels of Powder, weight five hundred pounds, received from George Lush, being the damaged Powder sent him to be made good; 1 quarter-barrel of Powder, weight twenty-five pounds, received from George Havener; 6 reams of Paper for Cannon Cartridges, received from Thomas Philips; 6 thirty-two pound Cannon Ball; 130 twenty-four pound Cannon Ball, 1,207 eighteen-pound Cannon Ball, 16 thirty-two pound Cannon Ball, weight eleven ton, two hundred weight, two quarters, and eighteen pounds, received from George Taylor, Esq.; 119 eighteen-pound Cannon Ball, 20 nine-pound Cannon Ball, 11 six-pound Cannon Ball, weight one ton, five hundred weight, received from W. Allen, Esq.

Friday, October 27, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, Samuel Howell, John Nixon, Thomas Wharton, Jun., John Cadwallader, James Mease, Nicholas Fairlamb, James Biddle, Samuel Miles, Alexander Wilcocks, Bernard Dougherty, Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnson, Samuel Morris, Jun., John Montgomery, Owen Biddle.

Upon application of Mr. Thomas Proctor to be appointed Captain of the Company of Artillery to be raised and employed at Fort-Island, for the defence of this Province, this Board considering Mr. Proctor’s application,

Resolved, That the said Thomas Proctor be appointed Captain of the said Company.

Resolved, That Mr. David Rittenhouse be appointed Engineer to this Board.

Resolved, That Mr. Towers be directed to prove all the Muskets made in this City for the Provincial service, and to stamp such of them as are proof with the letters C. P.; and that a copy of this Minute be handed to the County Commissioners, who are to notify the Smiths they contract with for said Muskets of this Resolve, and that none of their Guns will be received or paid for by this Board, but such as have been so proved and stamped as aforesaid.

Resolved, That Mr. Towers, Commissary, deliver and send down to Fort-Island, a Gin, Handspikes, Pulleys,