Billingsport, requesting he would send an Engineer to view the ground, and furnish plans for carrying the same into execution.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Dr. Robert Harris, for £100; which is directed to be charged to his Account for manufacturing of Gunpowder.

By order of the Board Dr. Rush was directed to procure six sets of Surgeon’s Instruments, to be made for the use of this Province.

In Committee of Safety, June 17, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Alexander Wilcocks, George Clymer, Joseph Parker, James Mease, Samuel Morris, Jun., Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Howell, David Rittenhouse,

A Letter was this day written to Mr. Worrel and Mr. Robertson, desiring they would, on application of Mr. Robert Smith for their workmen, desist carrying on the Buildings at Fort-Island.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Mr. Jacob Leverswell, for the use of the Troops under the command of Colonel Miles, five hundred pounds Rifle Powder and half a ton of Lead, a receipt to be taken for the same.

Colonel Atlee was this day directed to order his whole Battalion up from Chester, to be quartered in the Barracks of this City.

The Signers of the publick Money not keeping the Treasury supplied equal to the demands of this Board, a Letter was written to Robert Morris, Esq., requesting he would apply to Congress for a loan of thirty or forty thousand Dollars.

By order of the Board a Commission was granted, the 15th instant, to Wingate Newman, of the Privateer Brigantine Hancock, of twelve carriage-guns, owned by John Bayard, John Dean, & Company, agreeable to a Resolve of Congress.

Upon application of Colonel John Shee to exchange fifteen new Rifles for as many good Muskets,

Resolved, That this Board agree to said exchange, and that Mr. Robert Towers is hereby directed to examine said Rifles, and, if good, to deliver Colonel Shee, or his order, in lieu thereof, fifteen good Muskets.

Agreeable to a Resolve of Congress, and by order of the Board, a Commission was this day granted to John Craig, Commander of the Sloop Congress, Privateer, burden seventy tons, of six cannon, and thirty men, owned by John Bayard, Joseph Dean, & Company.

In Committee of Safety, June 18, 1776.

Present: James Mease, Chairman, Alexander Wilcox, David Rittenhouse, Daniel Roberdeau, Joseph Parker, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Samuel Howell, Robert White, John Nixon, George Ross.

Upon application of the Commissioners of Lancaster County for a sum of Money for the payment of Fire-locks, Cartridges, &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 Matthias Slough, for £1,000, for the uses aforesaid.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., in favour of Colonel Matthias Slough, for £3,000, for the payment of necessaries to be purchased for the use of the Provincial Troops.

An Account was this day produced of twenty-three Firelocks purchased in Dock-Ward, amounting to £45 16s. 9d., which was passed in the Committee, and directed to be charged to Account of Congress.

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

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Robert Smith, for £200, which is directed to be charged to his Account for building Chevaux-de-frize to be sunk opposite Billingsport.

Mr. Nesbitt, Paymaster, was directed to pay Lieutenant Webb his wages now due.

Resolved, That the Secretary be allowed 10s. per day, or £182 10s. per year, from the time of his appointment, being the 4th July last.

Captain William Brown, who went the 7th instant to the Liverpool ship of war with Captain Budden and Midshipman Draper, in order to their being exchanged one for the other, agreeable to Resolve of Congress, returned a few days past, and reported that he has effected that business, and that Captain Bellew is willing to exchange the Prisoners he has on board his ship for such others as may be Prisoners in this Province belonging to the ships of war.

H. Dougherty, John Rice, and John Hamilton, in the names of themselves and the other Captains of the Armed Boats, having sent to this Committee a Memorial setting forth their unwillingness and determination not to obey the commands of Commodore Davidson, lately appointed, and other matters therein mentioned, it was thought necessary that some other Members should be desired to attend the Board; when the following gentlemen appeared, in order to take the same into consideration, and Robert Morris, Esq., Vice-President, took the Chair, Andrew Allen, John Dickinson, Owen Biddle, Michael Hillegas.

Adjourned to five o’clock this afternoon.

When the following Members met: Robert Morris, Vice-President, Daniel Roberdeau, George Clymer, John Cadwallader, Andrew Allen, Joseph Parker, David Rittenhouse, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Alexander Wilcox, Samuel Howell, John Nixon, James Mease, Owen Biddle, Robert White.

By order of the Board, Robert Morris, Esq., Vice-President, signed a Commission appointing Samuel Davidson, Esquire, Commodore of the Naval Armaments of this Province.

In Committee of Safety, June 19, 1776.

Present: Alexander Wilcocks, Chairman, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Howell, John Cadwallader, Joseph Parker, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Robert White, John Nixon, George Clymer.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, for £45 8s. 6d., being the amount of fifteen Fire-locks purchased by him in Bucks County; which is directed to be charged to the account of Fire-locks purchased for account of Congress.

Upon application of John Vandegrift for some Powder for proving the Fire-locks making in Bucks County, by order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver six pounds of Powder for the uses aforesaid.

Mr. Abraham Kinsey, Tenant at Hog-Island, was informed by the Committee of the necessity of laying that Island under water at the near approach of the enemy; and, at the same time, was assured that whatever injury he should sustain in consequence would be hereafter made good to him by the publick.

Resolved, That Mr. Nixon be requested to lend this Board £2,000 of the money in his hands belonging to Congress.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, for £61 4s. 3d., being the amount of Lead, Saltpetre, &c., paid for by him.

Resolved, That Mr. Morris be requested to apply to Congress for the loan of 100,000 Dollars.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Bidwell & Walter all the Crude Sulphur now in store, as he may want it, for refining, taking receipts for the quantity he may deliver.

Resolved, That the Delegates in this Province in Congress be requested to inform Congress that their recommendation relative to forming the Flying-Camp was not carried into execution by the Assembly, and desire to be informed whether it is their intention that this Board should take upon them the execution of the same.

A few days since, this Board wrote to Congress in respect to the exchange of Prisoners with the Commander of the

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