At a special meeting of the Committee,

Present: Alexander Wilcocks, Chairman, Owen Biddie, George Clymer, James Biddle, John Cadwallader, Daniel Roberdeau, James Mease, Thomas Wharton, Jun.

Upon application of James Christie, for the payment of two Fire-locks detained by Robert Towers, Commissary, as Provincial arms,

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for five Pounds, the value of the said arms. Which was accordingly done.

A Letter was this day written to the Committee of Chester County, recommending the Associators to be properly armed and furnished with Ammunition out of the publick stock.

Resolved, That the Commodore order down to-morrow to Fort-Island, three of the Armed Boats that are in most readiness, where they are to remain till they are relieved by others. While they are down the river, the men are to be quartered at the Pest-House, in the rooms not occupied by Captain Proctor’s Company, until sufficient Barracks on Fort-Island are built.

In Committee of Safety, March 8, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, George Clymer, John Cadwallader, Daniel Roberdeau, James Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Owen Biddle.

It being represented by the Commodore that Pilot-Boats can be employed to more advantage in sounding the channel at Reedy-Point than the Armed Boats, and that he can employ skilful persons to effect that service, without sending any of the Officers of the Boats,

It is Resolved, That the Commodore hire Pilot-Boats, and employ such skilful and trusty persons to do the business as he shall judge proper, and send them down immediately.

The Congress sent the following Resolves to this Committee, viz:

“In Congress, February 23, 1776.

“Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to return to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania the Arms borrowed of them for the use of the Continent.

“In Congress, March 6, 1776.

“Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to return to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania the Powder borrowed of them.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

Resolved, That Robert Towers, Commissary, apply to the Secret Committee of Congress for the Powder and Arms mentioned in the above Resolves.

The present scarcity of Blankets lays the Committee of Safety under the necessity of applying to the patriotick inhabitants for the supply of the Artillery Company raised for the defence of this Province.

Therefore, it is Resolved, That Captain Thomas Proctor shall apply to such House-keepers as will be likely to spare any supernumerary Blankets which they may have, for the use of the said Company, and this Board will allow them a reasonable price for the same.

And it is further Resolved, That Captain Proctor do return to this Board the names of the persons from whom he collects any Blankets, with the number which he shall collect, and their value, which in the whole is not to exceed one hundred.

Resolved, That the Paymaster stop out of the pay of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates in Captain Proctor’s Company, three Dollars per month for their Clothing, and pay the same to the tradesman who has furnished the said Clothing, he producing his account settled and approved by Captain Proctor.

Upon application of Mr. Robert Morris, for the payment of sundry Merchandise shipped by the Committee for importing Powder, Arms, &c., for the use of this Province, on board the Brig Dolphin, John Poole, Master, by order of the Board, an order was drawn on Mr. James Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for two thousand and thirty-eight Pounds three Shillings seven and a half Pence, in favour of Robert Morris, Esq., being the amount of the invoice of said goods.

Adjourned to six o’clock.

Agreeable to adjournment, the following Members met: John Nixon, Chairman, Daniel Roberdeau, James Biddle, Owen Biddle, John Cadwallader, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Nicholas Fairlamb, Samuel Howell, James Mease, Alexander Wilcocks, George Clymer.

Resolved, That this Board give each of the men of the Artillery a Hat of seven Shillings and six Pence value, including binding.

The Secret Committee of Congress having applied to this Board to lend the Arms intended by Congress to replace those lent some time past, did, after deliberation, resolve, that the Secret Committee be informed that the season of the year is now arrived when all our vessels for the defence of the River should take their stations, and they are greatly unprovided with Arms; that the Association is in a deplorable situation from the like cause, and the Province in general extremely stripped of Arms to supply the neighbouring Colonies; and that these are the principal reasons which influence the determination of this Board, and such as they hope will be allowed to have weight with the Secret Committee.

WILLIAM GOVETT, Secretary.

In Committee of Safety, March 9, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, George Clymer, James Mease, Alexander Wilcocks, Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwallader, James Biddle, Samuel Howell.

Upon application of John Shea, for a sum of Money for the use of his Battalion in the service of the United Colonies, by order of the Board an Order was drawn in his favour on Messrs. Mease and Caldwell for five hundred Pounds, for the use aforesaid.

Upon application of Captain John Wilcocks, for a sum of Money for the use of the Committee appointed to direct the Manufactory of Gun-Locks, &c, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Mr. John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for three hundred Pounds, in their favour.

Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Captain Robert White, or his order, sixteen pieces of light Sail-Cloth.

Resolved, That Captain Samuel Davidson be appointed to the command of the Floating Battery.

Resolved, That Mr. Towers cause to be made forty thousand Musket-Cartridges, for the use of this Province.

Upon application of Mordecai Davis, appointed by the Committee of Chester County to receive and pay for the Saltpetre manufactured in that County, Mr. Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver him one quarter-cask of Gunpowder towards the payment of what Saltpetre he may receive.

Resolved, That Mr. John Mitchell be appointed Commissary of Provisions to the Artillery and the Naval Armaments of this Province, and that he be allowed six Shillings per week per man, he supplying them with such Provisions as is set forth in an advertisement from this Board of the 1st instant, to commence the 11th instant, and continue to the 11th June.

Resolved, That Captain William Richards, Captain Nathaniel Falconer, and Captain Thomas Reed, be fully empowered to fix Signals for giving alarms, at Cape-Henlopen, and at such other places on either side of the Bay and River Delaware as they shall judge proper, and also to engage for Men and Horses to be in readiness to convey intelligence by land, and to do everything necessary to effect the said service, and draw orders on this Board for such sums as shall be requisite to carry the same into execution.

On motion, Ordered, That the following Resolves of Congress be entered on the Minutes of this Board:

“In Congress, February 23, 1776.

“Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to