Resolved, That Colo. Hockley be desired to use all the Muskets made by Matthias Keely & Comp'y, by order of this Board, proved with a weight of powder equal to the weight of the Ball, and cause the Muskets so proved to be stamp'd with the Letters P. P.

By order of the Board Robert Towers, Commiss'y, was directed to deliver Matthias Keely as much powder as will prove one hundred Firelocks, making by him for the use of this Province. This day the Congress sent the following Resolve to this Committee:

"In Congress, 26th Feb'ry, 1776.

"Resolved, That the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania, agreeable to the offer made by them of their service, of which the Congress have a proper sense, be authorized to distribute the officers, prisoners in Lancaster, in such places within the province of Pennsylvania as to that Committee shall seem most proper, taking their parole, which if they refuse to give, the said Committee are empowered and directed to confine them, and that in executing this Resolve, the said Committee have a regard to the Resolutions heretofore made by the Congress with respect to prisoners & their Residence. Extract from the Minutes.

"Sign'd CHAS. THOMSON, Sec'y."

Upon application of the Commisssioners of Northampton County for a sum of Money for the payment of Firelocks, &ca., making in that County for the use of this Province; By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq'r, in favour of Peter Kacheline, Esq'r, for three hundred pounds, for the use aforesaid.

Upon application of Oswell Eve, for the payment of his acc't of Powder, deliver'd to Mr. Towers, Commissary; By order of the Board an order was drawn on Mr. Jno. Nixon & others, The Committee of accounts for £79 12 6, being the amount of the

same.

Upon application of Jacob Baldwin & Thomas Palmer for the payment of their accounts for repairing Firelocks belonging to Capt. Le Marr & Capt. Jenkins' Company in the 1st Batt'n of Penn'a Troops in the service of the United Colonies; By order of the Board, two orders were drawn on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, one in favour of Jacob Baldwin for £4 12, the other in favour of Thomas Palmer for £25 19 3.

Upon application of Colo. Slough for the payment of George Eberly's account for subsisting John Brooks in the Gaol of Lancaster County, confined there by order of this Board; an Order was drawn on Mr. John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, for £8, being the amount of said account, & in favour of said Slough, which sum is directed to be charged to the Continental Congress.

Lieu't Thompson & Webb appear'd before the Committee and gave information that a certain Henry Yelverton Price had frequented the places of Rendevous of the Crews belonging to the armed Boats, that by words he endeavour'd to discourage the service, That he had declared himself a Tory, & inimical to the American cause; That he Damned the Congress and wished that the waggons carrying Powder for the Continental Service were blown up; and the said Henry Yelverton Price appearing before the Committee and having the said Charge made known to him, did not deny the same.

Resolved, That it would be unsafe to permit the said Henry Yelverton Price to go at large; therefore,

Resolved, That he be Committed to the Gaol of the City and County of Philad'a; agreeable thereto, Thomas Dewees, Gaoler of this County, was commanded to receive him into his Custody, and to keep him safely confined 'til he is discharged by this Board." Upon Motion, the following order was drawn and signed by the Chairman:

"Gent'n :

"In Committee of Safety, 4th March, 1776.

"Please to deliver to Peter DeHaven any number of Gunlocks he may find necessary for the use of Lewis Prahl, Gunsmith, Mr. De Haven to be answerable for the same, and to deduct the price of the Locks out of the moneys that may become due to the said Lewis for his work.

"By Order of the Committee,

"Sign'd, GEO. ROSS, Chairman. "To Major Meredith, Capt. Wilcocks & Capt. Peters."

Upon application of Robert Towers for the payment of 8 Firelocks purchased by him for the use of this Province, & for the payment of his Bill for sundry Expenditures on acc't of this Board, By order of the Board, two orders were drawn in his favour on Mr.

John Nixon & others, the Committee of accounts, one for £24 1, the other for £13 9 8, being the amount of said two accounts.

Robert Towers, Commissary, makes the following Report; That he deliver'd to Sam'l Parker order of this Board, 100lbs Brass. That he deliver'd to Capt. Procter

169 Canon Cartridges,

73 firelocks,

1 four pound Canon,
1 Carriage & Limber,
1 Traile Ropes,

1 Rammer & Sponge,

1 Wad Hook & Ladel.

That he deliver'd in Exchange of 14 lbs Salt Peter, 6 oz. Gunpowder, & 5 7 in Cash.

That he deliver'd to Tho's Aflick, 100 lbs Brass, order of the Board,

to Mathias Keely, 6 lbs Gunpowder.

That he receiv'd from Jacob Scoggin 1 lbs Salt petre.

That he receiv'd from Oswell Eve 8 Casks Battle Powder, wt 187 lbs, 9 do Common do, wt 225 lbs.

Resolved, That Mr. John Mitchell be appointed Muster Master to the Naval Armaments and to the Artillery of this Province, he having offer'd to do the business Gratis.

Thomas Apty produced his acc't for subsisting Soldiers in Gaol, confined by order of Congress, which was Certified to be just, by the Chairman.

William Brown, Captain of Marines, receiv'd his Commission this day, and dated the 16th Feb'y last.

By order of the Board, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Capt. Whyte, 12 pieces of Sail Cloth.

Resolved, That Capt. Brown, be ordered to Raise fifty able bodied Men for the Marine service of this Province.

That he be careful to inlist none but healthy Men, not under Sixteen years of age.

That he be allowed ten shillings per Man in Lieu of his recruiting Expences, and ten shillings per Week, for the subsistance of each Recruit, until they are provided for by the Commissary.

That he pay the greatest attention to the behaviour of the men while in quarters, and see their quarters discharged, at least once every week.

That no bought indented servants or apprentices be inlisted without the consent of their Masters, in writing.

That the Company consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, two Serjeants, two Corporals, one fife, one Drum, and fifty Privates. That a sum, not exceeding twenty Shillings, be advanced to each Recruit.

That £200 be advanced him for the Recruiting service.

By order of the Board, an order was drawn of John M. Nesbitt, in favour of Capt. William Brown, for the sum of £200, which is directed to be charged to his company of Marines for the Recruiting service.

Resolved, That Colo. Roberdeau be desired to apply to Congress for the powder supplied them by this Board.

Resolved, That Joseph Willson be appointed First Lieutenant to the Armed Boat Congress, in the Room of Mitchell, appointed the 16th Feb'y last, he never having appeared to receive his Commission.

That the following Gentlemen be appointed Second Lieutenants to the different Armed Boats, opposite their Names, vizt.:

James Fletcher,

to the armed Boat Washington.

Agreeable to adjournment, the following Members Met:

JAMES MEASE, (Chairman.)

John Cadwalader,

James Biddle,

Owen Biddle,

Samuel Howell,

Daniel Roberdeau,

Alexander Wilcocks,

George Clymer.

Resolved, That Capt. Thomas Reed be appointed Second in Command in the Naval Armaments of this Province, and Captain of the armed Ship now building by direction of this Board.

Resolved, That Robert Towers, Commissary, purchase or make two tons of Buck Shot.

Resolved, That a survey be made of the Channel between Reedy Point and the Pea patch.

Resolved, That Major Meredith, Capt. Wilcocks, Capt. Peters, & Mr. Peter De Haven, be appointed to superintend and conduct the provincial Manufactory of Gun Locks in this city, and they are impower'd to contract for a convenient situation, and to erect all works necessary for carrying on the said Manufactory in the most beneficial Manner to the Public, and further to contract for the making fire arms, & see that the artificers who have already contracted in this city for that purpose, perform their Engagements faithfully, and this Board will supply them with such sums of Money as the business shall require.

Resolved, That the Commodore be desired to employ an experienced Pilot, and send him with all possible dispatch, with two discreet and capable Officers, in two of the Armed Boats down the River to Reedy Point, to sound the narrowest part of the Channel there, and take an accurate survey of the depth & breadth of the said Channel, with the various soundings across the same, for the information of this Board.