Resolved, That Robert Tatnall be appointed Captain to one of the Guard-Boats, &c., and his appointment to take place to-morrow.

Resolved, That the Committee meet to-morrow evening, at seven o’clock, to consider of a proper person to be appointed Commodore to the Fleet, and to take under consideration the Naval Armaments of this Province.

In Committee of Safety, May 28, 1776.

Present: James Biddle, Chairman, Samuel Miles, Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwallader, George Clymer, Samuel Howell, Thomas Wharton, Junior, Henry Wynkoop, Owen Biddle, Robert White.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esquire, and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Timothy Shealer, for two Pounds, being the amount of his Account against some of the Prisoners taken by Captain Barry, which is directed to be charged to account of Congress.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver, for the use of the Block-House at Fort-Island, ten Gun-Carriages and two hundred six-pound Shot.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Robert Towers, for sixty-nine Pounds eighteen Shillings and nine Pence, being the amount of his account for Lead, Saltpetre, Arms, &c.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esquire, Treasurer, in favour of Colonel Miles, for the use of Colonel Mathias Slough, for one thousand Pounds, being for the service of the Provincial Battalions.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esquire, Treasurer, in favour of John M. Nesbitt, for two thousand five hundred Pounds.

John Legate, one of the prisoners taken in North-Carolina, and left sick on the road, was brought this day to the City, and by order of the Board was ordered to be confined with the others in the Jail of this County.

A Letter being received from Mr. Mark Bird, signifying his willingness to purchase or have made in Berks County one hundred Muskets for this Committee, provided he is supplied with a sufficient sum of Money for that purpose, and an Order on the Commissaries and Assessors of said County to deliver him all the Muskets which have been made under their direction agreeable to a Resolve of Assembly, upon paying them the first cost of the same:

Therefore, Resolved, That the said offer be accepted, and that the sum of four hundred Pounds be furnished to the said Mark Bird for the purpose of purchasing and having made one hundred Muskets with Bayonets, agreeable to the pattern sent to the said Commissioners and Assessors; and that the said Commissioners be required to deliver him all the Arms which they have procured as aforesaid, on his paying for the same, which are to be replaced by them as soon as possible by new ones, which they are to have made agreeable to said pattern.

Agreeable to the above Resolve and for the uses therein mentioned, an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of Mark Bird, Esquire, for four hundred and twenty Pounds.

Resolved, That Martin West be appointed Master of the Ammunition Vessel, at five Pounds per month and two Rations.

That James Simpson be appointed Master of the Provision Vessel, at five Pounds per month and two Rations.

That Mr. Fitzsimmons and Captain Moulder be requested to cause the said Vessels to be immediately equipped for service, and man them with one Mate to each, at twelve Dollars per month and one Ration of Provision, who is to do the duty of Clerk and keep an exact account of all Stores received on board, and delivered out, and to whom; and five men to the Ammunition Vessel and three to the Provision Vessel, at seven Dollars per month and one Ration each, and to provide a four-oared Boat to each of the said Vessels.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on the Committee of Accounts in favour of Samuel Morris, Junior, for four Pounds ten Shillings, being for Wagon hire, in bringing the baggage of the Carolina Prisoners, which Mr Morris paid, and is directed to be charged to account of Congress.

Resolved, That Jeremiah Simmons, now Lieutenant, be and he is hereby appointed Captain-Lieutenant of the Artillery Company in the service of this Province; and that his Commission as such be dated at the time of his first entering into that service, being the 24th of February last.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle and Colonel Roberdeau be authorized to procure to be made 2000 Hand-Grenades, 150 Pitching-Axes, 50 Wheel-Barrows, 100 Spades, 150 Pick-Axes, 150 Hand-Barrows, 500 Shovels, 25 Grubbing-Hoes, and 200 Hatchets.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on the Committee of Accounts, in favour of John Lewis, for three Pounds seven Shillings and nine Pence, for repairing Muskets purchased for account of Congress; which sum is directed to be charged to account of Congress.

By order of the Board Robert Towers was directed to deliver Colonel Atlee the fifty-six Fire-Locks received from Northampton County, and all the Arms with Accoutrements belonging to the Province that he now has in his possession, for the use of the Provincial Musket Battalion.

Agreeable to a Resolve of yesterday, the following Members met this evening:

James Biddle, Chairman, John Cadwallader, John Nixon, George Clymer, Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Junior.

The following Resolve of Assembly was handed this Board by Samuel Howell, Esquire:

“In Assembly, May 28, 1776.

“On motion, Resolved, That the Committee of Safety be directed to lay before this House, as soon as possible, an account of the preparations of every kind already made or now making by them for the defence of this Colony.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“PETER EVANS, Cleric of Assembly.”

Resolved, That Mr. Wharton and Mr. Mease be a Committee to draw up an account of the Military preparations in this Province, in order to its being laid before the Assembly, agreeably to their Resolve of this day.

Resolved, That the Fire-Sloop be manned with one. Captain, and that he be allowed twenty-six and two-thirds Dollars per month and three Rations; one Lieutenant, and that he be allowed eighteen Dollars per month and two Rations; two Men, to be allowed seven Dollars per month and four Dollars bounty each.

That in time of service the said Sloop be manned by volunteers from the Fleet.

That the Officers and Men belonging to the Fire-Sloop and Guard-Boats and Fire-Rafts, draw their Rations from the Commissary.

That each Guard-Boat be manned with one Captain, and that he be allowed twenty-six and two-thirds Dollars per month, and three Rations; one Gunner, and that he be allowed ten Dollars per month; eleven Privates, and that they be allowed seven Dollars per month, and four Dollars bounty each.

Resolved, That Messrs. Moulder and Fitzsimmons be authorized to purchase and fit up two Shallops, for the accommodation of the Officers and Men of the Guard-Boats; each Vessel to accommodate about forty persons.

Resolved, That James Montgomery be directed to attend this Board to-morrow, to answer his changing his Boat without leave of this Board.

In Committee of Safety, May 29, 1776.

Present: James Mease, Chairman, John Nixon, Daniel Roberdeau, Owen Biddle, Robert White, John Cadwallader, Samuel Morris, Jun.

Captain Montgomery appeared this day, agreeable to orders, and acquaints this Board that the reason of his removing from his Boat was in consequence of leave obtained from the Commodore, and now applies to have such change confirmed.

Therefore, Resolved, That he, the said Captain James Montgomery, take the command of the Chatham, in the room of the Ranger, Armed Boats.