which such Prisoners have been enlarged; and, also, to take especial care that none of those confined by order of Congress be suffered to escape; and, also, that the allowance to each Prisoner be punctually paid by the President of the Convention, or of the Council, or Committee of Safety, of the Colony in which he resides; and where there are no Conventions, by the Speakers of Assembly; which said Presidents, or Speakers, are hereby authorized, from time to time, to draw for the sums advanced in pursuance of this Resolution, upon the President of the Congress.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

In Committee of Safety, April 15, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, George Clymer, Samuel Howell, Daniel Roberdeau, James Mease, Michael Hillegas, Owen Biddle, George Gray, Samuel Morris, Jun., James Biddle.

Captain Pitt has permission from this Board to hire any Seamen confined in Jail by order of this Committee.

Upon application of Joseph Collier, for the payment of fifty Cartridge Boxes, Bayonet Belts, and Scabbards, made for the use, and certified by the Commissioners of Berks County, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of said Collier, for thirty-six Pounds five Shillings.

Upon application of Colonel Roberdeau, for Pilots to carry down the Privateer Sloops Congress and Chance,

Resolved, That a Pilot be allowed the Sloop Congress, provided the Captain of her will promise and engage to go down the Cape-May channel, and land his Pilot there.

Resolved, That Mr. John Young and Mr. Adam Foulke be empowered to purchase all such good Fire-arms as shall be offered to them for the use of this Committee, on the best terms they can, not exceeding the value that shall be put on them by the Commissary; and that this Board will allow them five per cent. for their trouble.

Resolved, That Robert Towers, Commissary, apply to Mr. John Young and Mr. Adam Foulke, for one hundred and thirty Muskets, now in their possession, for the use of this Committee.

That this Board allow the said Young and Foulke five per cent. on the amount of the first cost of the said Muskets.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Captain Daniel Joy five hundred pounds of Gunpowder, for proving Cannon made by Mr. Old, at the Reading Furnace; and to deliver Mr. Lusk two pounds of Gunpowder.

In Committee of Safety, April 16, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, George Clymer, Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun., Samuel Howell, Joseph Parker, Thomas Wharton, Jun., James Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau.

Resolved, That Jacob Hans be, and he is hereby, appointed Captain to one tier of Fire-Rafts.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle and Mr. Parker be a Committee to prepare a plan for a Powder Magazine, and to lay out the ground upon which it is to be built.

Upon application of Mr. Owen Biddle, for the payment of three hundred and one pounds eight ounces of Saltpetre, manufactured at the Provincial Works in this City, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Mr. Biddle, for seventy-five Pounds seven Shillings and six Pence, being the amount of said Saltpetre.

COMMITTEES.

COMMITTEE FOR IMPORTING POWDER, ARMS, ETC.: Robert Morris, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert White.

COMMITTEE OF ACCOUNTS: John Nixon, Thomas Wharton, James Mease, Samuel Howell.

COMMITTEE FOR PROVIDING PIKES AND INTRENCHING TOOLS: Daniel Roberdeau, Owen Biddle.

CANNON COMMITTEE: George Clymer, Owen Biddle, Samuel Howell, David Rittenhouse, John Cadwallader.

FIRE-RAFT COMMITTEE: Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, James Biddle.

FLOATING BATTERY COMMITTEE: Samuel Howell, Robert White, George Clymer.

SHIP COMMITTEE: Robert White, John Nixon, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Mr. Howell, Mr. Clymer.

CHEVAUX-DE- FRISE COMMITTEE: Robert White, Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun.

FORT-ISLAND COMMITTEE: George Clymer, Owen Biddle, David Rittenhouse, Samuel Miles.

POWDER-HOUSE COMMITTEE: Owen Biddle, George Clymer, Samuel Miles, James Mease.

POWDER COMMITTEE OUT OF DOORS: Isaac Coats, William Moulder.

COMMITTEE FOR BUILDING TWO GALLEYS FOR THE BAY SERVICE: Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun.

COMMITTEE OUT OF DOORS FOR PROVIDING FIRE-LOCKS TO SUPERINTENDENT OF WORKMEN IN GUNLOCK MANUFACTORY: Samuel Meredith, Richard Peters, John Wilcocks, Peter De Haven.

BARRACK COMMITTEE, FORT-ISLAND: Owen Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau.

ARMED BOAT COMMITTEE: Robert White, John Nixon.

COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DEFENCES: George Clymer, David Rittenhouse, Owen Biddle, Samuel Miles, Mr. McNeall.

COMMITTEE FOR FITTING OUT TWO OF THE ARMED BOATS: James Mease, Samuel Howell.

COMMITTEE FOR FITTING OUT FOUR GUARD BOATS TO CRUISE AT CAPE-MAY: Mr. Nixon, Mr. White.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on the Committee of Safety, in favour of William Rush, for twelve Pounds five Shillings, being the amount of four Fire-locks, purchased by him, and delivered the Commissary, for the use of this Province.

In Committee of Safety, April 17, 1776.

Present: Robert Morris, Vice-President, Samuel Howell, Thomas Wharton, Jun., James Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau, Joseph Parker, George Clymer, Alexander Wilcocks, David Rittenhouse, George Gray, John Nixon.

Richard Bogar, Commander of an Armed Vessel taken by Captain Barry, and John Draper, another officer of the said Vessel, being brought to this City, as Prisoners, were agreed to be enlarged on their separately signing the following Parole, which they agreed to, and signed accordingly:

“I, Richard Bogar, the second, and John Draper, being prisoners in the United American Colonies, and enlarged upon our parole, do, upon the honour of gentlemen and officers, promise that we will not go farther than two miles from Germantown, where we are ordered to reside, without leave of the Committee of Safely of the Province of Pennsylvania, or of the Continental Congress; and that we will not bear arms against the said Colonies, nor carry on any political correspondence whatever on the subject of the dispute between Great Britain and these Colonies, nor give any intelligence to any person whatever relative to American affairs, so long as we remain prisoners.

“Signed (separately) by

The Vice-President having occasion to leave the Board, Mr. Alexander Wilcocks was appointed Chairman.

Resolved., That Dr. Rush and Dr. Duffield be appointed to receive all Medicines belonging to this Province, for which they are to give receipts, to be accountable for the same.

Edward Malay, a prisoner of war in the Jail of this City, having made oath that he will not bear Arms against the United American Colonies, is ordered to be set at liberty.

Upon application of Caleb Davis, for a sum of Money for the payment of Fire-locks, &c., made in Chester County for the use of this Province, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, for one thousand five hundred Pounds, in favour of the Commissioners and Assessors of said County.

Upon application of Caleb Davis, for a sum of Money for the payment of Saltpetre purchased by directions of this Board in Chester County, and for some Powder for the same purpose, by order of the Board an Order was drawn