By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Thomas Heinberger five hundred weight of Brimstone, to be manufactured into Gunpowder.

Resolved, That Mr. John Britton and Mr. Thomas Cuthbert be desired to prepare the Flats purchased for Hulks, by fitting them immediately with coarse ordinary Hay and light Timber, agreeable to particular directions accompanying this Resolve, and to purchase the necessary Anchors and Cables to moor them at their respective stations.

Resolved, That the men employed in the service of this Province on board the Naval Armaments thereof be allowed the following Wages, to commence the 1st of this month: Seamen, £3 per month; Landsmen, 50s. per month.

Resolved, That two additional Armed Boats or Gondolas be immediately built.

That Major Samuel Mifflin, Captain Nathaniel Falconer, and Captain James Craig, Jun., be requested to superintend the building of the Boats.

That the said gentlemen be requested to superintend the building the two Gondolas ordered for the Bay service.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, for £150, to be charged to his Account.

Resolved, That Mr. John Mitchell continue victualling the Officers and Men employed on board the Naval Armaments and Artillery Company in the service of this Province, from the 11th instant to the 11th September next, at the same price of his former contract with this Board.

In Committee of Safety, June 4, 1776.

Present: James Mease, Chairman, Sam’l Howell, George Clymer, John Nixon, George Gray, Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun., David Rittenhouse, John Cadwallader, Joseph Parker, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert White.

Upon application of Mr. Thomas Mendenhall for a sum of Money to be lent him to assist his carrying on the making of Saltpetre, by order of the Board an Order was drawn, on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of said Mendenhall, for £50, payable in Saltpetre twelve months from the date hereof.

In Committee of Safety, June 7, 1776.

Present: James Biddle, Chairman, Samuel Miles, Thomas Wharton, Jun., James Mease, Robert White, George Clymer, Samuel Morris, Jun., Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, John Montgomery.

Captain Thomas Read’s Letter of June 5th was this day read, wherein he desired to resign his command of the Ship Montgomery, having been recommended to the command of a Continental Frigate.

Resolved, That this Board agree to his resignation.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of Colonel Samuel Miles, or his Order, for £3,000, for the use of the Provincial Battalions; which is directed to be charged to the account of this Board.

Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver to Bedwell & Walter one ton of crude Sulphur for refining.

Upon application of Mr. Allan Cameron to be put in the same Room with General McDonald, the Jailer was directed to confine him in that Room if agreeable to the General.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle employ Mr. Jacob S. Howell to purchase some Tow or Hemp Linen for Bed Cases for the use of the Pest-House, and that he have the same made up, with a Bolster Case to each.

Sachervill Wood exhibited his Account against Congress for supplying the Continental Prisoners confined in the Jail of this County up to this day, amounting to £70 4s. 8d.; which amount was approved of, and signed by the Chairman.

The two following Resolves of Congress are ordered to be entered on the Minutes of this Board:

“IN CONGRESS, May 29, 1776.—Resolved, That Midshipman Draper be offered in exchange for Captain William Buddin.

“June 4, 1776.—Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be empowered to negotiate with Captain Bellew on the best terms they can for an exchange of the Prisoners on board the Liverpool: Provided always, that this shall not be construed so as to enable them to deliver up Lieutenant Bogard and Lieutenant Ball in the exchange.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

In consequence of the above Resolve of Congress of 29th May, a Letter was written to Dr. Binsell, of Germantown, desiring that Mr. Draper may be suffered to come to this City with Captain Buddin, in order to his being exchanged.

Captain William Brown being appointed by this Board to go on board the Liverpool man-of-war, the following Instructions were signed by the Chairman, and delivered him:

“You are to proceed with Mr. William Buddin and John Draper on board the Liverpool ship of war, and deliver Mr. Draper in exchange for Mr. Buddin and his son, and treat with Captain Bellew for a further exchange of prisoners; observing that this Committee are not empowered to offer either Lieutenant Ball or Lieutenant Bogard to be exchanged. It cannot be expected that the seamen taken prisoners belonging to the King’s ships can be rendered back in exchange upon equal terms for mariners who are taken in merchant ships or coasting vessels, much less for passengers or other inhabitants that may be made captive, who ought to be set on shore, as is the custom of war. You are, therefore, carefully to attend to these distinctions, and procure such proposals from Captain Bellew as this Committee can accept of, and which may serve as a basis for future exchanges.”

The Commanding Officer of the Fleet had this day orders to suffer the Marine Company on board the Provincial ship to be entirely under the command of their own Officers.

Pursuant to a Resolve of Congress of the 4th day of June instant, empowering this Committee to negotiate with Captain Bellew for an exchange of Prisoners on board the Liverpool, Captain William Brown is authorized and appointed to take Mr. John Draper, Midshipman of the Liverpool, on board the said ship in exchange for Mr. William Buddin and his son, and to treat with Captain Bellew for the exchange of such other prisoners as are on board the said ship.

In Committee of Safety, June 8, 1776.

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

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Fitzsimmons & Moulder, for £375, which is directed to be charged to their Account.

Resolved, That Mr. James Biddle and Owen Biddle be authorized to agree for a sufficient number of Store-Houses in Germantown, to contain the Salt, Saltpetre, and other articles belonging to the Province, that may be thought necessary to send there for their better security.

That they be authorized to apply to Robert Towers, the Commissary, who is directed to deliver any articles that be may have in Store belonging to the Province for the purpose aforesaid.

That they employ a proper person at Germantown to receive and store the different articles that may be sent there, and to deliver them out agreeable to the orders of this Board.

That they employ Wagons to take the said articles to Germantown.

John Montgomery, Esq., exhibited an Account from the Committee of Correspondence and the Commissioners of Cumberland County, amounting to £343 16s. 1d., being the amount of 46 quarter-casks and 359 lbs. Powder, 41 cwt. 2 qrs. of Lead, and 336¼ lbs. Lead, and 1421 Flints, with the charges thereon, purchased for account of this Province; (310 lbs. of the above Powder was sent to Westmoreland County, and 90 lbs. delivered to the Indian Commissioners;)