WHEREAS, the Keeper of the Common Gaol of the City of Philad'a, hath made Complaints to this Board that certain prisoners in the s'd Gaol, Committed as Enemies to this country, have raised a dangerous Riot, assaulted the Gaoler and Turnkey, and now stand on their defence, and threaten to Break the Gaol and release all the prisoners, these are to require you forthwith to repair to the said Gaol with a sufficient party of your Men, and Assist the Sheriff and Gaoler to secure the said Rioters, for which this shall be your Warrant.

Directed to Capt. Tho's Procter.

Signed, JAMES BIDDLE, Chair'n.

By order of the Board, the following Letter was this day wrote, sign'd by the Chairman, and deliver'd to Colo. Jno. Shea.

The Committee request you would order a Guard of a nonCommission'd officer and six privates at the Gaol of this City, for the protection thereof, as there are many prisoners confined there by order of Congress, who have Assaulted the Gaoler and threaten to break the Gaol; they also request you would order a Guard on the Powder at the Powder-House and Cannon at the State House, and another on the Fire Rafts and Magazine at the Lower end of the Town.

Doct'r Bond having inform'd this Board that it is necessary for Powder being burnt in the Work House of this City for purifying the air, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver Thomas Apty two pounds powder.

Upon application of the Assembly, by Joseph Parker, Esq'r, for 10 lbs. Powder & 40 lbs Lead, as a Gift to some friendly Indians now in this City, By order of the Board, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver said powder and Lead to Mr. Parker, or his order.

Ed'd Chamberlain this day resigned his appointment of Masterat-Arms & Armourer of the armed Boats.

Robert Whyte,

George Clymer,

A

PHILAD'A, 13th March, 1776.

PRESENT:

Thomas Wharton, jun'r,
Samuel Howell,

Daniel Roberdeau.

Andrew Stohl, a person who has purchased a number of Arms in the Township of Cushioppen & Limerick, informs this Board that they are detain'd by the Committees of Inspection of said Townships; said Stohl having offered to sell the said arms to this Committee, it was recommended to said Committees of Inspection to send the said arms to Rob't Towers, Commissary.

Upon application of Jno. M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, for a sum of Money for paying the Men employed on Board the Armed Boats, &c., By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Mich'l Hillegas, Esq'r, in favour of Mr. Nesbitt, for fifteen hundred pounds.

Resolved, That the Officers in this City who are prisoners of war, be desired forthwith to repair to the several places allotted for their Residence by Congress, and that such Officers be furnish'd with a Copy of this Resolve.

hire

Resolved, That Arthur Donaldson be employed to launch the Chevaux-de-Frize built at Gloucester, and that he be fully authounder purpose, rized to procure anything for the him, on the best and cheapest terms, and that he draw on this Board for the Expence.

persons

Resolved, That John Cobourn be employed to take the Chevauxde-Frize, when launched at Gloucester, and sink them in their proper places near Fort Island, and that he be authorized to procure under him, on the best and anything for the purpose, cheapest terms, and that he draw on this Board for the Expence. Adjourned to 5 o'clock.

hire

persons

Agreeable to adjournment, the following Members attended:

JOHN NIXON, Chairman.

Owen Biddle,

Daniel Roberdeau,

George Clymer,

Thomas Wharton, Jun'r.

Resolved, That all good and able seamen, who shall inlist in the service of this Province to be employment in the Naval armament thereof, shall receive 7 dollars per month, & 2 dollars Bounty, which VOL. X.-33.

Bounty to be paid one Month after their enlistment, and the said Seamen to be continued in the service until discharged by this Board.

That those able-Bodied Seamen that are at present in the service, shall receive 7 dollars per Month, to commence the 15th inst.

Mr. Nixon having occasion to leave the Board, Mr. Samuel Howell was unanimously chose Chairman.

Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Forrest be appointed Captain of a Company of Marines, to be raised for the service of this Province, to be employed on Board the Floating Battery.

Resolved, That all able Landsmen who shall enter into the service of this Province, on Board the Naval armaments thereof, be paid 2 dollars as a Bounty.

Resolved, That Capt. Rice be applied to, to assist in taking down and sinking the Chevaux-de-Frize, and that he attend this Board to-morrow Morning.

Resolved, That 5 sinall Guard Boats be built, on the same construction with the one already built.

In Consequence of an Order drawn by Francis Wade on this Board, for the payment of the Rations of Captains Montgomery, Davison, Alexander, Eyres, Henderson & Boyce, amounting to £66 94, an order was drawn on the Committee of accounts for said sum, & directed to be charged to said Wade's account.

Upon application of John Fox for the payment of his Bill for repairing Firelocks, belonging to Capts. Allen, Willett, Williams & Jones Companys, belonging to Colo. DeHaas' Battalion, in the service of the United Colonies, By order of the Board, an order was on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, for £94 1 11, being the amount of said accounts.

Upon Motion, the following advertisement was directed to be published in the different News papers of this City.

"All persons that can give information to this Committee of Sulphur ore, in this or any neighboring Colony, are desired to give speedy intelligence, and this Board will receive proposals from any

person or persons that are willing to engage in procuring Sulphur for the public use."

Resolved, That the Commodore send such Officers as he shall think proper, to recruit Seamen and able-bodied Landsmen for the Naval Service of this Province, to such place as he shall judge most likely to get recruits.

That the Recruiting officer be allowed twenty Shillings week each, for their expences, and ten shillings per Man for every Recruit, in lieu of all recruiting charges, and ten Shillings per Week for each Man's Subsistance, until they are brought to this City & supplied by the Commissary, and that each Officer be furnish'd with a Copy of the Resolves of this Committee Relative to the pay & bounty of the Men.

Resolved, That agreeable to authority Deligated to this Board by Congress, one-half of the Officers, prisoners of War, who are or have been, by any former order, station'd in the Burrough of Lancaster, be removed to the Town of Carlisle, and the other half removed to the Town of York, and that the Committee of Lancaster take order in this matter, and have full authority to make the arrangement, according to their best judgment.

Resolved, That Colo. Roberdeau draw up a Letter to the Committee of Lancaster, Cumberland & York Countys on this subject, and furnish them with the resolution of Congress and this Board, respecting the disposition of the Officers ordered to be removed, agreeable to the Resolution of this day; also with a form of the parole said officers are to take.

Mr. Thomas Holland having resign'd his appointment in the 4th Battalion of Penn'a Troops, in the service of the United Colonies,

Resolved, That Michael Ryan be appointed Adjutant to the 4th Battalion in the place of the said Holland.

Resolved, That the Commissary be directed to deliver to Captains Richards, Falconer, & Reed, the Committee appointed by this Board

for fixing Signals, such Guns, Ammunition, and Implements, as they shall require for that service.

By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Jno. Nixon, & others, the Committee of accounts, in favour of John Cobourn, for £150, he being employed in sinking the Chevaux de Frize.

By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Jno. Nixon, Esq'r, and others, the Committee of accounts, in favour of Capt. John Rice, for £ 150, he being employed in sinking the Chevaux de Frize.

Resolved, That Capt. Rice be employed to take the Chevaux de Frize, when launched at Gloucester, and sink them in their proper places near Fort Island; and that he be authorized to procure any thing for the purpose, hire persons under him, on the best and Cheapest terms, and that he draw on this Board for the Expence. Resolved, That Capt. Thomas Proctor of the Artillery, be allow'd 26 dollars per Month.

By order of the Board, John M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, was directed to settle with Capt. Procter, & pay him 26 & Dollars per month for his own pay, from the date of his Commission to the first inst.; and also 2 Months' pay of 2 Serjeants at 10 Dollars, 2 Corporals at 9 Dollars, & 23 privates at Six Dollars per month, from the first of Jan'y to the 29th Feb'ry inclusive.

Upon application of Colo. Shea for some Firelocks, for the use of the Troops under his Command, for mounting the necessary Guard to this City, By order of the Board, Robert Towers was directed to deliver Colo. Shea 24 firelocks for the said purpose, taking his receipt for the same, to be return'd in good order on demand.

Upon application of James Chapman & Jno. Vandegrift, of Bucks County, for the payment of Arms, &ca., to be furnish'd by that County for the use of the Province, By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Mich'l Hillegas, Esq'r, Treasurer, in favour of said Vandegrift, one of the assessors, for £500.

Resolved, That the Commodore require every Captain of the armed Boats immediately to furnish this Board with the Indents which they lately produced to Mr. Nixon & Captain Whyte, and for that purpose send down to the Captains at Liberty Island.

Colo. Shea this day reported to the Board that Capt. Melchor declined accepting of the Commission of Captain, lately granted to him in the third Penn'a Battalion.

Adjourned to 6 o'clock.