which is so exhausted of men, arms, and ammunition, for the publick survice, the consequences will likely be very sad. If they can be furnished with means of defence, they will likely be willing to stay. The College and neighbourhood will need not less than one hundred stand of arms. I expect a wagon down to-morrow to carry them directly up, with a supply of ammunition, if you can possibly provide the same.

I write in the utmost haste and in a feeble state, but design, Deo volente, to set out for Dartmouth as soon as you have answered my desire aforesaid, or it can be done by anybody you shall direct or give orders to do it.

I am your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

ELEAZER WHEELOCK.

To the Hon. Governour Trumbull, Connecticut.

A PROCLAMATION FOR DAY OF PUBLICK HUMILIATION, OF FASTING AND PRATER.

It being our incumbent duty to acknowledge God in all our ways, and to commit all our affairs, both publick and private, to his all-wise direction and guidance, and especially in a day of singular and general calamity to implore his merciful interposition; and it having been the laudable practice of this Government to recommend and appoint days of publick Fasting and Prayer upon special and solemn occasions; and this Court apprehending the present season to be big with the most important events, not only to this, but to all the United American Colonies, and sensible that these events are at the disposal of the Supreme Governour of the Universe:

We have thought fit, with the advice of Council, and at the desire of the House of Representatives, to appoint, and do hereby set apart Thursday, the first day of August next, to be observed throughout this Colony as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer, hereby calling upon Ministers and People publickly to humble themselves under the righteous hand of God; penitently to acknowledge their many heinous and aggravated sins, and the righteousness of his dispensation towards them; with devout and importunate supplications to implore Almighty God that the frowns of his Providence, manifested by the severe drought where-with some parts of the land have been visited, and all the humiliating events which have lately taken place in America, may, under the Divine influence, produce a sincere repentance and thorough reformation among all orders and degrees of persons; that he would mercifully remove the present tokens and effects of his righteous displeasure against us, and prevent those more severe judgments that our sins deserve, and which, in the present aspects of Divine Providence, we are warned to prepare for; that he would command his blessing upon all our publick Councils in this important crisis of our political affairs; protect and preserve the life of our General, his officers and soldiers; succeed and prosper their arms wherever employed; that our cruel and unnatural enemies may be defeated in their open attempts, secret plots, and diabolical machinations to subjugate or destroy us; and this people, placing their hope and confidence in that God in whom their patriotick and pious fathers trusted, and were delivered, may be disposed, with manly cheerfulness, to offer themselves for the defence of their bleeding country, and of those rights, civil and religious, in the enjoyment of which the peace and happiness of the present and future generations depend; that he will be pleased to hear the cry of the prisoners, and grant a speedy liberation to all our captivated brethren; that he would water the earth with timely refreshing showers, and cause this year to abound with health and plenty, and prevent the spreading of any epidemical sickness among us; that he would put a stop to the wanton effusion of human blood, guard and defend our sea-coasts from the invasions of those sons of war destined by Britain indiscriminately to burn and destroy; that he would protect our frontiers from the inroads of the Northern savages; that he would pour out of his Spirit upon this people, and his blessing upon their offspring; and that he would spread the peaceful Kingdom of the Divine Redeemer over the face of the whole habitable world.

And all servile labour and recreation are forbidden on the said day.

Given at the Council Chamber, at Watertown, this 4th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1776.

Signed by the major part of the Council.

By their Honours’ command:

JOHN AVERT, Jun., Dep. Secretary.
GOD save AMERICA.

PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia, June 1, 1776.

Present: Janes Mease, Chairman, Samuel Howell, John Nixon, James Biddle, Joseph Parker, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Morris, Jun.

Resolved, That Captain John Hazelwood construct and immediately employ persons for building an additional Guard Boat for the use of this Province.

Robert Towers, the Commissary, was directed to deliver Thomas Apty two pounds of Gunpowder for clearing the Work-House.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of William Montgomery, for £100, to be charged to his Account, and an Order on Robert Towers in his favour, for fifty pounds of Gunpowder for exchanging for Saltpetre.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Thomas Fitzsimmons and Joseph Moulder, for £514, to be charged to their Accounts.

Resolved, That Colonel William Montgomery purchase for the use of the Associators in Chester County a quantity of Lead, and that he draw on this Board for the amount.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of John Wilcocks and others, appointed to pay for Fire-locks, and for the use of the Gun-lock Manufactory, for £500.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle be requested to procure, properly sorted, so many Cannon-Shot as will increase the last order to three hundred tons.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esquire, and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of John Patton, Esquire, for £500, being towards the payment of Cannon-Ball he has engaged to furnish this Board.

Resolved, That Captain Charles Lawrence go as soon as possible down to Lewistown with two of the Guard Boats, and that he deliver one of them to Mr. Henry Fisher, to be employed for the defence of the commerce of the Bay of Delaware.

That Captain Lawrence, immediately upon his delivering said Boat to Mr. Fisher, with the utmost expedition return to this City with all his hands.

In Committee of Safety, June 3, 1776.

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

Resolved, That each Galley in the service of this Province be supplied with a small convenient Iron Hearth, and that this regulation supersede the former orders to procure a vessel for cooking in.

Upon application of Barnard Dougherty, Esq., for a sum of Money for the payment of Fire-locks engaged by him for the use of Bedford County, agreeable to a Resolve of this Board of the 1st April last, by order of the Board an Order was drawn in his favour on Michael Hillegas, Esq., for £150 for that purpose.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Daniel Lukens two wagon-loads of Brimstone, to be sent to Germantown, to be stored there.

Resolved, That this Board go into the consideration of the appointment of a Commodore to the Naval Armaments of this Province on Wednesday next, and that the Members be noticed to attend on that day, at nine o’clock in the morning.