Upon application of Samuel Smith. for the payment of five Fire-Locks purchased by him in Bucks County, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, for thirteen Pounds fifteen Shillings; which is directed to be charged to account of Arms purchased for Congress.

By order, of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Colonel Samuel Miles what Provincial Rifles he may have, taking receipts for the same.

Resolved, That Colonel Nixon and Captain White be a Committee to direct the fitting out, to cruise in the Cape-May Channel for the protection of the trade of this Province, four of the Guard-Boats now built, and under the command of Captains Lawrence, Gamble, Greenway, and Hans.

Resolved, That this Committee in future meet every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, precisely at nine, and sit till two o’clock, each day; and if any Letters or business of consequence should be delivered, or come to the knowledge of the Secretary, on any other day, that he immediately acquaint a Member of the Board therewith, that the other Members may be called together if thought necessary.

In Committee of Safety, May 3, 1776.

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

Resolved, That the Pilot, to be employed on board the Provincial Ship, be allowed sixteen Dollars per month, and two rations of Provisions per day.

Robert Towers reports his having delivered, the 26th of February last, to Captain Loxley, the following articles for the use of his Company of Artillery Associators:

2 Brass twelve-pound Cannon, with travelling Carriages, Rammers, Sponges, Wadhooks, Ladles, Tillers, and Budge-Barrels; 12 pounds of Ship Match; 2 twelve-pound Linstocks; 2 twelve-pound Port-Fire Stocks and Hooks; 2 twelve-pound Tompions, Straps, Drag-Rope, and Pins; 90 twelve-pound Round Shot, fixed with wood-bottoms and Flannel Cartridges, filled; 150 twelve-pound Tin Canisters of Grape-Shot and Flannel Cartridges—these are made up ready to be delivered; 2 twelve-pound Tin Tube-Boxes; 250 twelve-pound Tin Tubes, part filled; 1 Gunner’s Quadrant; 1 Ammunition Cart; 8 Powder-Horns; 2 dozen Port-Fires; 2 Lanterns.

Reports his having received from Congress, the 28th of March, sundry casks of Powder, weighing 12,056½ pounds, and 250 stand of Dutch Arms.

Reports his having received into store, per his Return of 3d April, from John Lowrey, 36 lbs. of Lead; John Pinchbeck, 8 Fire-locks; Provincial Works, 93 lbs. of Saltpetre; James Clyhe, 8 lbs. of Saltpetre; Robert Evans, 7 lbs. of Saltpetre; James Edge, 1½ lbs. of Saltpetre; John Cutting, 6 ounces of Saltpetre; John Zone, 2. 0. 0. Brimstone; Captain Morgan’s Infantry Company, 477 Cartridges.

That he has delivered to Captain White 5 pieces of Sail-Cloth; to James Clyhe, 2 lbs. of Powder, to pay for Saltpetre; to Daniel Toppam, 2 lbs of Powder, to pay for Saltpetre; to Captain Morgan’s Light Infantry, 1,634 Cartridges and 500 Flints; to Robert Evans, 1 ¾ lbs. of Powder, to pay for Saltpetre; to Matthew Strong, for his Look-out Boat, 5 Fire-locks, 48 Cartridges, 15 Flints, and 8 Swivel-Balls.

Reports his having purchased and received from different persons, as per his Return of the 21st of April, the following Fire-locks, with a Return of the number of Arms in store: 55 Fire-locks, purchased by Robert Towers, and repaired; 7 Fire-locks from Edward Pole; 4 Fire-locks from William Rush; 9 Fire-locks from Captain Enion Williams; 15 Fire-locks from Captain John Williams; 44 Firelocks from Colonel St. Clair; 19 Fire-locks from Wilcox De Haven; 10 Fire-locks from Henry Wynkoop; 4 Firelocks from Caleb Davis; 70 Barrels from Colonel St. Clair; 136 new, 142 Dutch, 12 new, from Wills & Towne; 17 new, from Lewis Prahl—462 Fire-locks in the whole, and 70 Barrels in store on the 21st of April.

In Committee of Safety, Monday, May 6, 1776.

Present: Robert Morris, Vice-President, Owen Biddle, Robert White, Alexander Wilcocks, Thomas Wharton, Jun., James Biddle, George Clymer, John Nixon, Daniel Roberdeau.

Upon application of Captain Rice for a sum of Money for the payment of the Men employed for sinking the Che-vaux-de-Frise, by order of the Board an Order was drawn in his favour, on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for one hundred and fifty Pounds, for said purpose.

Orders were this day sent to the Commanding Officer of the Fleet and Artillery Company at Fort-Island, to call every boat and soldier to their stations, and each to prepare for immediate action, and to suffer no officer or man to leave their station without the license of this Board or the Commanding Officer.

Resolved, That Colonel Nixon and Captain White be desired immediately to go to Fort-Island, and give every necessary advice to assist the Officers in carrying the above orders into execution.

The officers and men of the Armed Boats now in town, except Captain Bois’s, were this day directed to go immediately to their stations at Fort-Island.

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

By order of the Board Captain Hazlewood was directed to send down the Fire-Vessel, and two chains of the Fire-Rafts, and to dispose of them in the most convenient situations near Fort-Island.

Upon the application of the Commissioners of Lancaster County, for a sum of Money for the payment of Fire-locks, &c., making in that County for the use of this Province, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of William Webb, for the use of the Commissioners and Assessors of said County, for one thousand Pounds, for the use aforesaid.

In Committee of Safety, May 7, 1776.

Present: Robert Morris, Vice-President, Joseph Reed, James Mease, George Clymer, James Biddle, Samuel Miles, Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Owen Biddle, John Cadwallader, David Rittenhouse.

An express having arrived last night from Port-Penn, informing that two ships-of-war, a topsail schooner, and three smaller vessels, supposed to be tenders, were in sight of Port-Penn, at half past eleven o’clock, on Monday last; the Board, in consequence thereof, gave orders to Captain Reed to order down the thirteen armed boats, under the command of the senior officer, with directions to proceed down the river; when they must concert the best method to attack, take, sink, destroy, or drive off said vessels, if possible, but to be careful in exposing any of the boats to capture or destruction; and to send down the fire-sloop commanded by Captain Gamble, with one other officer, and four or six men, with some bedding and other necessaries; also, a six or four-oared boat; and to acquaint the officers and men in the fire-sloop that, for their encouragement in performing any effectual service, this Board will reward them handsomely. At the same time the Commissary was directed to send down a sufficient quantity of provisions for the supply of the people in this expedition. And, upon application of the Board to the Secret Committee of Congress, an order was procured directing Captain Wickes to supply the boats with as many volunteers as may offer; which order was sent to Captain Reed.

The Vice-President leaving the Board, Mr. Clymer was appointed Chairman.

By order of the Board Robert Towers was directed to deliver to Colonel Samuel Miles, for the use of the Provincial Troops under his command, one thousand pounds of Gunpowder, and two thousand pounds of Lead, or as great a part thereof as is in store, and to put up twenty rounds of Powder and Ball for two Guard-Boats.

Resolved, That the Committee heretofore appointed to procure Pikes, do order to be made immediately an additional number of one thousand Pikes and two hundred Pitching-Axes, for the use of this Province.

Resolved, That all Recruiting Officers who may happen to inlist Apprentices, or Indented Servants, not knowing them to be such, shall be entitled to receive the reasonable expenses attending their inlistments.