Tuesday, December 5, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

John Nixon, Chairman, Owen Biddle, Robert White, Daniel Roberdeau, James Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun., James Mease, George Clymer.

Resolved, That this Committee engage with Samuel Wigfal and Marmaduke Blackwood, of this City, Smiths, for two hundred Gunlocks, to be made according to pattern, and to be delivered to, and approved of, by Captains Shee, Wilcocks, and Cadwallader, for the use of this Committee, at the rate of twenty-two shillings and six pence, each Lock, the whole to be delivered within the space of three months.

Resolved, That the sum of one hundred Pounds be advanced, to the said Wigfal & Blackwood, to enable them to proceed in the said manufacture, with greater vigour; and that an Order be drawn for paying said sum into the hands of Messrs. Nixon and Wharton, who are to advance the same to the said Wigfal & Blackwood; and at the same time, take a contract from the said Wigfal & Blackwood, and Robert Craig, whom this Committee approve of as their security for fulfilling the same.

Resolved, That Mr. James Biddle and Colonel Roberdeau be a Committee to propose to the Committee of Inspection and Observation of this city, the taking up the Sea-Coal which that Committee had ordered to be thrown into the river from Mr. Steward's ship; that the same may be used at the Air-Furnace intended to be built for the casting of Cannon.

Upon application of Mr. Thomas Wharton, and of the Committee for importing and procuring Powder, Arms, fee, for the use of this Province,

Resolved, That they, the said Committee, direct Mr. John Wilcocks, to load the Schooner Polly, Thomas Wood-house, Master, with the produce of these Colonies, for the purpose of procuring said articles from foreign parts, and that they be furnished with the following Certificate:

In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia,

December 5, 1775.

This is to certify, that Mr. John Wilcocks has permission to load the Schooner Polly, Thomas Woodhouse, Master, with the produce of these Colonies, the same being for the account of this Province; which permission is granted, agreeable to a Resolve of the honourable Congress of the 26th October last.

By order of the Committee:

JOHN NIXON, Chairman.

Robert Towers, Commissary, reports his having delivered five hundred pounds Gunpowder, to Mr. Francis Lewis, which Robert Morris, Esq., had directions to give an order for, agreeable to a Resolve of the 7th at November last; that he had delivered one hundred pounds to Captain Reed, for the use of Congress, agreeable to a Resolve of the 28th November.

That he had delivered two and a half pounds of Powder to Christian Ludwick, and received from him in return for said Powder, four pounds Saltpetre.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle, Mr. Mease, Mr. White, and Colonel Roberdeau, be a Committee for procuring Sea-Coal for account of this Board.

It being represented to the Committee that Mr. Fox, one of the Commissioners of this County, was desirous that this Board would appoint a proper person to receive and examine the Arms now making by order of the said Commissioners,

Resolved, That Mr. Robert Towers, Commissary, receive and examine all such Arms, and give receipts for the same to those who deliver them, specifying such as are made agreeable to pattern.

Resolved, That Robert Towers fix Racks in a proper place in the State-House, for keeping the Arms of this Province in good order.. That he provide a proper Shed for Ammunition Wagons.

Wednesday, December G, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—John Nixon, Chairman, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Francis Johnston, Robert White, James Biddle, Geo. Clymer, Samuel Howell, Daniel Roberdeau, James Mease, Joseph Reed, John Wilcocks.

Upon application of Mr. Coleslon, for a quantity of Sail-Cloth for the use of the Province of Virginia,

Resolved, That this Board spare what Sail-Cloth Mr. Moulder may have, belonging to this Committee, that he may have occasion for, and that Mr. Moulder deliver the same.

John Willis and Benjamin Town, Gunsmiths, having agreed to make two hundred Firelocks for this Province, at the rate of four pounds five shillings each,

Resolved, That this Committee take the said Arms at the said price, provided they are agreeable to pattern. That this Board will advance them fifty Pounds towards the payment of the Firelocks, on their giving good security for the same.

By order of the Board, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Willis & Town a pattern Musket.

Application being made to this Board, by John Chilton, for a Passport to the Camp of Cambridge,

Resolved, That he be referred to the Committee of Inspection and Observation, as falling properly within their jurisdiction.

Major Bayard, Mr. Sharp Delaney, and Mr. Benjamin Marshall, a sub-Committee from the Committee of Inspection and Observation for the City and Liberties, report:

That their Committee having discharged their duty to the publick, in ordering the Sea-Coal from Mr. Steward's ship, into the river Delaware, disclaim any right to said Coal, or any further measure in the line of their duty. That as the Committee of Safety have occasion for them, for the publick service, Mr. Thomas Hopkins, and others, members of their Committee, offer their services in pointing out the several places, in the river, in which the Coal lay. That as to the property of said Coal, they apprehend no person has any claim. That the owners had offer-ed them to the Committee, gratis, which had been refused.

Upon information to this Committee, that Captain Proctor and Lieutenant Proctor had behaved in a manner unbecoming officers, to Captain Williams and Lieutenant Watson, of Colonel Bull's Battalion; and this Committee have heard the parties and their evidences, and, upon full consideration, unanimously agreed, that the charge was fully proved, and recommended to the said Captain Proctor and Lieutenant Proctor to make a suitable acknowledgment to the parties injured; which they have peremptorily refused to comply with:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That the said Captain Proctor and Lieutenant Proctor be dismissed from the service.

Resolved, That Nathan Boyce be appointed Captain of one of the Armed Boats.

Thursday, December 7, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—John Nixon, Chairman, Daniel Roberdeau, Jas. Mease, George Clymer, Robert White, Owen Biddle, Samuel Howell, James Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun.

Resolved, That an inquiry be made throughout this City of the quantity of Sea-Coal now in the hands of the several inhabitants.

Resolved, That Colonel Roberdeau wait on the sub-Committee of the Committee of Inspection and Observation of this City and Liberties, and request that some Members of that body will take the trouble to procure an account of all the Sea-Coal now in possession of the inhabitants of this City above Market street, including the north side of that street.

Resolved, That a Committee of this Board make the same inquiry, from Market street downwards.

A number of Applications were this day read, for sup-plying the Officers and Men employed on board the Armed Boats with Provisions and other necessaries, as set forth in an Advertisement from this Board, the 30th November last.

And Mr. Francis Wade having offered to supply them at the rate of four shillings and eleven pence per man per week, which being the lowest terms,

Resolved, That the said Francis Wade,be and he is hereby appointed Victualler to the said Officers and Men employed on board the Armed Boats, and the Officers and Men of the Artillery Company in the service of this Province, at the rate of four shillings and eleven pence per