the names of thirteen of them who may be the most deserving in the opinion of a majority of the said Captains.

Tuesday, February 20, 1776.

In Committee of Safety: Present—

John Nixon, George Clymer, James Biddle, Samuel Howell, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, Owen Biddle, Alexander Wilcocks.

By order of the Board an Order was directed to Doctor Boss to deliver to Doctor Rush what Medicines he may want, out of the quantity purchased of him by this Board.

Upon application of Joseph Moulder, for the payment of his Bill for Caflridge-Boxes, Gunnery, Cartouches, &c., for the use of his Artillery Company, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, for fifty Pounds five Shillings and nine Pence, being the amount of said Bill.

Resolved, That Mr. Samuel Morris, Jun., wait on Mr. William Richards, Captain Falconer, and Captain Reed, and inform them they are (with any other person they may fix on) appointed a Committee to fix proper Signals in the River and Bay of Delaware, to give the most speedy intelligence of any enemy's Ships that may arrive at or within the Capes of Delaware. That the said Committee appoint James Maul, with his boat, to such station as they may think will best answer the purpose of intelligence.

Resolved, That Commodore Caldwell immediately call together all the Officers of the Provincial Armed Boats, fully consult them, and make such arrangement of Officers to the different Boats most agreeable to each other and to the service in general, and make a report to this Board of said arrangement, as also of what Repairs, &c., are wanting to the respective Boats.

Resolved, That Mr. Nixon, Mr. Owen Biddle, and Mr. Roberdeau, employ William Robinson and Benjamin Worrel, as Master-Workmen, to erect Barracks on LibertyIsland, for five hundred men, agreeable to a plot to be delivered them, who are to employ a sufficient number of Carpenters under them, to effect the said work in as short a time as possible.

Mr. James Biddle reports, that agreeable to the Resolve of the 9th instant, he has paid to Mr. John Mcars, of Berks County, one hundred Pounds, to enable him to carry on the manufacture of Saltpetre, and now requests the payment of said sum. Agreeable to which request, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Mr. John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Mr. Biddle, for the said sum of one hundred Pounds.

Resolved, That John Myers be appointed Armourer to the Armed Boats and Vessels, and to be employed at Fort-Island.

Adjourned to six o'clock.

Agreeable to adjournment, the following members were present—

John Nixon, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Miles, Owen Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Hunter, George Gray, George Taylor, Benjamin Bartholomew, John Montgomery, Samuel Morris, Jun., Alexander Wilcocks, Samuel Howell, James Biddle, George Clymer.

A Letter was this day wrote to the President of the honourable Continental Congress respecting the removal of the Prisoners from Lancaster, into different parts of the country, which was read, approved of, and signed by the President.

In consequence of an application from Colonel Morgan for the use of the Pest-House, on Province-Island, for the quartering a part of his Battalion:

Resolved, That Colonel Morgan have liberty to make use of the Pest-House, agreeable to his application.

The Committee, taking into consideration what further measures are necessary for the defence of this Province, came to the following Resolution:

That application be made to the honourable the House of Representatives, praying that they will take order for the raising two thousand men to act in the defence of this Province; and this Board will represent it as their opinion that it will be most for the publick service that one Battalion of Regular troops be formed out of that number, and the remainder be a body of Riflemen.

Wednesday, February 21, 1776.

In Committee of Safety: Present—

George Clymer, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Howell, James Biddle.

Thursday, February 22, 1776.

In Committee of Safety: Present—

Alexander wilcocks, Chairman, James Biddle, Owen Biddle, George Clymer, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Howell, Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, John Nixon.

Upon application of John Reihmeyer, for the payment of one hundred and fifty Cartridge-Boxes, &c., made by him, John Diesler, and Peter Brecht, as per their account, certified by Samuel High and Michael Bright, Commissioners of Berks County, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, in favour of said Reithmeyer, for ninety Pounds, being the amount of said Account.

Resolved, That the Members of this Board meet every day, precisely at ten o'clock in the morning, and five o'clock in the afternoon, Saturday afternoons and Sundays excepted.

Upon application of John Tyler, for the payment of his Account, for repairing Fire-locks belonging to Capt. Jones's and Capt. Harmar's Companies of the Pennsylvania Battalion, an Order was drawn on Messrs. Mease and. Caldwell, for seven Pounds fifteen Shillings and three Pence, being the amount of said Account.

Resolved, That Lewis Nichola apply to the Commissioners of this County for the Key of the old Jail.

Resolved, That Captain Joseph Cowperthwait be joined with Clement Biddle, to carry the building of Powder-Mills into execution, and they to purchase or rent suitable seats for that purpose, and do every other thing necessary for effecting it expeditiously.

The following Memorial was drawn up, approved of, and Colonel Roberdeau desired to deliver it to one of the Members of the House of Assembly:

To the Honourable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly met. The Memorial of the Committee of Safety.

The Committee have, ever since their appointment, applied themselves with the greatest zeal and fidelity, to the important part confided in them, in providing means for the defence of this Province; they Were, however, such means only as were thought more immediately requisite for our security against the attempts made by a Naval Armament, and were, besides, necessarily confined with in the limits of the funds allotted to them by your honourable House; but they beg leave to represent, that as every day brings with it full proofs of the violence of the British Ministry, and of their fixed purpose to subdue the free spirit of America, that has yet given such obstruction to all their schemes of tyranny and despotism—a purpose assisted, too, by an obsequious Parliament, which may not speak the genuine sense of the Nation, that it has unhappily the direction of its force—it truly becomes us to prepare seriously for the storm gathering over the Colonies, and which, in the uncertainty of its course, may in a few weeks fall upon this Province. This being the idea of the committee, they have come to the following Resolution, claiming the most earnest attention of your honourable House thereto:

"Resolved, That application be made to the honourable the House of Representatives, praying that they will take order for raising two thousand men, to act in the defence of this Province; and this Board will represent it as their opinion that it will be most for the publick service that one battalion of Regular troops be formed out or that number, and the remainder be a body of Riflemen."

The Committee beg leave to solicit your attention to another object, also of extensive irnportance, the Military Association, the general sentiments concerning which they have, in the recess of the Assembly, had an opportunity of collecting; and though such numbers have already, and we hope will still engage in it, under its present form, as may