Mr. Nixon laid before the Board a Letter sent, by express, from Henry Fisher, dated Lewestown, Monday evening, seven o’clock, acquainting this Committee that a Sloop-of-War was then coming in to Lewes Road with a small Tender, and that there was reason to believe they would proceed up the Bay.

The Committee sent for the Commodore, and ordered him to send four of the Armed Boats, well fitted and manned, immediately down the river, as far, if necessary, as Reedy-Island, and to direct the Commanding Officer, and other Officers of the said Boats, to act in concert with, and by the advice of, Captain Harry, of the Brigantine Lexington, (in the Continental service,) and exert their utmost endeavours to take, or destroy, all such Vessels of the enemy as they shall find in the River Delaware.

The Committee also sent an express to Captain Roctor, or the Commanding Officer of the Artillery Company at Liberty-Island, with the above intelligence, and ordered him to keep a good look-out, to prevent surpise, and be fully prepared to oppose the enemy if they should attempt to come up the river.

In Committee of Safety, March 27, 1776.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety, present: John Nixon, Chairman, James Biddle, Alexander Wilcocks, James Mease, Daniel Roberdeau, Andrew Allen, Samuel Howell, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Morris, Jun.

By order of the Board Robert Towers was directed to furnish Captain Dougherty’s Boat with thirteen 32-pound Cannon Cartridges, with Ball.

Resolved, That Henry Fisher be allowed, for his services from the 16th of September last, and as long as this Board may have occasion to employ him, the sum of ten Pounds per month.

Upon application of William Montgomery, (who acquaints this Board that he is appointed by the Committee of Chester County to receive and pay for the Saltpetre made in that County,) by order of the Board Mordecai Davis was directed to deliver Mr. Montgomery twelve pounds of Powder, out of a quarter-cask delivered him some time past for the purpose aforesaid.

In Committee of Safety, March 28, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Daniel Roberdeau, George Clymer, John Cadwallader, Samuel Miles, James Biddle, Owen Biddle, James Mease, Nicholas Fairlamb.

Upon application of Mr. Peter De Haven (one of the Assessors of this County) for a sum of Money for the payment of Fire-locks making for the use of this Province, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of said De Haven, for three hundred and fifty Pounds for the purposes aforesaid.

Upon application of Captain Thomas Proctor for a sum of Money for the payment of the subsistence of the Artillery, by order of the Board an Order was drawn in his favour, on John M. Nesbitt, Paymaster, for four hundred Pounds for said purposes.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Captain Robert White nine pieces of Sail-Cloth for the use of the Provincial Ship.

Mr. Nixon having occasion to leave the Board, Mr. James Biddle was chosen President.

Mr. Mease reports that he could not find any Arms in the possession of Mr. Smith, the Custom-House Officer.

Robert Towers reports his having received and delivered the following articles:

Delivered, by order of this Board, to Joseph Parker 10 lbs. of Powder, 42 lbs. of Lead; to Thomas Apty 2 lbs. of Powder; to Mordecai Davis, of Chester County, 37 stand of Arms, 1 quarter-barrel of Powder; to Captain Barry, of Brig Lexington, (on account of Congress,) 5 lbs. of Saltpetre, 13 Dutch Fire-locks, 2 Wall-Pieces, 5 Bayonets, 8 Scabbards, 48 Musket-Cartridges, 2 Budge-Barrels.

Received from Mr. Poultney 192 Shovels, 14 Spades; Samuel Mease 33 lbs. of Saltpetre; Mr. Ross 10.1.11 roll Brimstone; Mr. Craig, (purchased by Committee of Inspection,) 41.2.21 of ditto; Samuel Garrigues, Sen.,8.3.19 of ditto; Mr. Stenwitz 15.1.15 of ditto; Charles Ludwick 2.3.17 of ditto; Biddle & De Haven 31½ lbs. of Saltpetre; Samuel Corry 5.11½ oz. of ditto: George Warner 10 lbs. of ditto; Titus Matlack 29 lbs. of ditto; William A. Ryerson 2½ lbs. of ditto; Enion Williams 96 lbs. of Lead, 19½ lbs. of Powder; Mr. Horner 1 Pistol; Thomas Palmer 2 Pistols; Colonel St. Clair 18 Muskets; 13 ditto, lock-part gone; 13 ditto, no locks; 72 Gun-Barrels, 102 Bayonets.

Delivered to Nicholas Hicks 12 Wheelbarrows, 8 Hand-barrows, 24 Shovels, 18 Spades. Delivered towards payment of Saltpetre, to Samuel Corry, 1½ lbs. of Gunpowder; to George Warner 2½ lbs. of ditto; to Matlack 7 lbs. of ditto; to W. A. Ryerson 10 oz. of ditto. Delivered, to make Cartridges for Signal Guns, 112 lbs. of ditto.

In Committee of Safety, March 29, 1776.

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

Resolved, That Thomas Barr be appointed Lieutenant Fire-Worker to Captain Romans’s Company of Artillery, in the service of the United Colonies.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Mr. Robert Towers, for fifty Pounds; which was directed to be charged to his account.

The Order (agreeable to a Resolve of Congress of the 21st instant) was handed this Board, this day, for twelve thousand Dollars, in favour of this Committee, and drawn on Messrs. George Clymer and Michael Hillegas, Esquire, Paymasters; which was, by order of the Board, endorsed to, and delivered to Messrs. John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, being for the purpose of paying for Arms to be purchased by the different Committees of this Province for the use of Congress.

Upon application of Colonel Wayne for a sum of Money for the use of the Committee of Chester County, for purchasing Arms on account of Congress, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for five hundred Dollars, in favour of said Committee.

Upon application of Captain Thomas Houston for a sum of Money for the Recruiting service, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Mr. J. M. Nesbitt for fifteen Pounds, in his favour, for the purposes aforesaid.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Messrs. Mease and Caldwett, in favour of Walter Ming, for seven Shillings and six Pence, for three Scabbards for Captain Davis’s Company, of Colonel De, Haas’s Battalion.

In Committee of Safety, March 30, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Alexander Wilcocks, Samuel Miles, George Ross, Daniel Roberdeau, James Mease, James Biddle, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samud Morris, Jun., Robert White, George Clymer.

Upon application of John Wilcocks for a sum of Money for the use of the Committee appointed to direct the manufacturing of Gun-locks, by order of the Board an Order was drawn in favour of Captain Wilcocks, on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, for five hundred Pounds.

Resolved, That Colonel Samuel Miles be empowered to purchase Rifles for the use of this Province.

Messrs. Samuel Potts and Thomas Rutter having engaged with this Board to cast a number of Cannon for the use of this Province, and requiring a sum of Money, as an advance, for putting their works in proper order, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in their favour, for the sum of one thousand Pounds.

The following Advertisement was ordered to be published in the different Papers of this City, viz:

“Resolved, That this Committee will give forty-five Shillings for every hundred gross weight of good merchantable Brimstone, of the produce and manufacture of this Commonwealth, that shall be delivered to Mr. Robert Towers, Commissary, in this City, within six months from this time.”

Resolved, That Mr. Howell, Mr. Nixon, and Captain White, be a Committee to look out for two Vessels most proper for sinking in the passage between the Chevaux-de-Frise, and make report of their proceedings to this Board.