USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. X > Part 65
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An order was drawn on Mr. Joseph Ferree, of Germantown, one Ton of Salt Petre, in fav'r of Tho's Humberger.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
In Council of Safety, September 18th, 1776.
PRESENT :
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
David Rittenhouse,
James Cannon,
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
John Moore,
Timothy Matlack,
John Bayard,
Francis Gurney,
Fred. Kuhl,
Sam'l Cad. Morris,
Joseph Blewer,
John Hubley,
Henry Keppele, jun'r,
Owen Biddle,
John Bull.
Geo. Gray,
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Col. Timothy Matlack, for Three Hundred pounds, to be charged to his acco't.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay John Dennis ££37 1 0, for Bayonet scabbards & Belts, to be charged to Col. Henry Hill.
Joseph Ferree, Esq'r, was directed to deliver Doct'r Harris One Ton of Salt Petre, out of the stores at Germantown under his care.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. Robert Towers £59 15 0, for Salt Peter bo't, making Cartridges, &ca.
Resolved, That Col. Bayard & Col. Matlack be appointed to em- ploy Proper persons to make a number of Gun Carriages for the Service of this State.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Jacob Reed £25 1 0, for Blan- kets & Coverlids, to be charged to Col. Tho's Potts.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Arthur Don- aldson, for £300, on acco't of the floating Battery building by him, to be charged to his acco't.
An order was drawn on Mr. Rob't Towers, was directed to de- liver Mr. Gustavus Resberg 150,000 musket Cartridges, to be for- warded to Camp in New Jersey, to be charged to Congress.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Wm. Roberts £81 10 0}, for Building Guard Houses, &ca, to be charged to Congress.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Wm. Perkins £3 18 1, for Black- smith Work, done on board the Gallies.
An order was drawn on Jno. M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, Treas'r, in fa- vour of Mr. Owen Biddle, for £1000, on acco't of Goods to be Im- ported for the use of the Troops of this State, to be charged to his acco't.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay John Burke for nursing sick soldiers, &ca, £7 2 0.
An order was drawn on Jno. M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, in fav'r of Mr. Wm. Rush, for £250, On acco't of Blacksmith work done by him, to be charged to his acco't.
VOL. X .- 46.
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An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of John Stacey, for £12 10 0, for 10 Cords of Wood delivered at fort Island, for the service of the Garrison there.
Resolved, That Mr. Isaac Cox be appointed Regimental Pay- master for the Troops belonging to this state now in the Continen- tal service, & that application be made to the Board of War for a Commission for Mr. Cox.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Michael Raup £3 12 0, for a Riffle, bo't by Lieut. Col. Broadhead.
Resolved, That Major Thomas Proctor be empowered to enlist any associator of this state, provided He is not already engaged in the Flying Camp, or a servant or apprentice.
In Council of Safety, September 19th, 1776.
PRESENT :
DAVID RITTENHOUSE, Vice President.
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
Fred. Kuhl,
John Moore,
John Bull,
Joseph Blewer,
Timothy Matlack,
James Cannon,
John Hubley,
Sam'l Cad. Morris,
Henry Keppele, jun'r,
Owen Biddle,
George Gray.
John Bayard,
The Vice President being under a necessity to attend the Con- vention, Col. Bayard was requested to take the Chair.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt for £400, in fav'r of Ross & Ega, on acco't of Cannon Shott cast by them for this State, to be charged to their Account.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay John Stiller, & co., £10 0 0, on acco't of work done, to be charged to Tho's Nevill Acco't.
Resolved, That Capt. Daniel Joy be desired to examine & Prove a number of Cannon at Mr. Philips' Rope walk, & report to this board whether they are fit for service.
Mr. Owen Biddle reports that he has sent the following Articles to Col. Broadhead for the use of the Pennsylvania Troops, vizt :
189 pair Breeches.
:288 pair yarn Stockings.
i158 pair Driling spatterdashes. 59 Jackets.
187 pair Shoes. 93 Blankets.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay John Knox £19 4 1}, for Rum supplied Workmen on board the Galleys Congress & Franklin.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Messrs. Moulder & Coats £161 19 5, being the Balance of their Account for building a Magazine, to be charged to Congress.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay John Clawges & Wm. Ritter £13 18 5, for repairing Arms at Camp, to be charged to Congress.
Resolved, That Mr. John Coburn be directed to appear before the Board to-morrow morning at 10 O'Clock, to render an Account of all the necessarys he has had in his care for Sinking the Chevaux De Frize & the piers at Fort Island, and also to settle his Account.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Capt. Marshall's Acco't, £5 10, for a Musket.
James Welsh a month Wages, he being sick and in town, £2 10 0.
Peter Kline for a Gun, &ca., £4 0 0, delivered to Mr. W. Scull, A. D. Q. M. G., at the Flying Camp.
Mr. Michael Conner exhibited a Complaint against Jacob Peter- man, John Slice, & Roreman, of New Providence Township, who, with several others, had assaulted and threatned him so as to put him in fear of his Life & Property; whereupon the secretary was ordered to Issue summonses to be served on the said Peterman, Slice & Roreman, to be and appear before the board on tuesday Morning next at Ten o'Clock, to answer the Complaint of said Michael Conner, and to give directions to the Constable to serve them.
Resolved, That Colonel Bayard, Capt. Gurney, Mr. Sam'l Cad'r Morris, & Mr. Owen Biddle, be a Committee to inspect into the State of the Artillery Stores, Arms, Accoutrements, and Amunition belonging to this State, and Report to this Board the situation of the same, and what further supplies of each are necessary to be made ; and Mr. Robert Towers is required to give them assistance in performing this Business.
Resolved, That James Maul be appointed a Pilot to carry Vessels thro' the Chevaux De Frise, in the room of Daniel Gordon, De- ceased.
The Council then adjourned to 7 o'Clock, P. M., when the fol- lowing Members met :
John Bayard, James Cannon,
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r, John Bull,
Timothy Matlack,
Francis Gurney,
Fred. Kuhl,
Sam'l Cad. Morris.
John Moore,
/ A Commission was fill'd up for Mr. Isaac Cox.
Resolved, That Indented servants & apprentices ought not to be inlisted for the Flying Camp of this State, without Consent of their Masters & Mistresses in writing, and that all such who have been
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inlisted heretofore, shall be discharged on the application of their Masters & Mistresses for that Purpose.
In Council of Safety, Sept'r 20th, 1776.
PRESENT :
DAVID RITTENHOUSE, Vice President.
JOHN BAYARD, Chairman.
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
Joseph Blewer,
John Bull,
Francis Gurney,
John Moore,
Sam'l Cad. Morris,
Timothy Matlack,
Geo. Gray,
Fred. Kuhl,
John Hubley.
Resolved, That the Lock Makers in this state shall be allowed 25s. for every Good Gun Lock they deliver at our Lock Factory.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt in fav'r of Doct'r Robert Harris for £100, towards manufacturing Powder, to be charged to his account.
Resolved, That Major Nicola be directed to aply to Mr. Nicholas Hicks to Provide Brecks, & lay Gutters & Gravel between the Wall & the Gutters In the Barracks near this City.
Resolved, That John Moore, Edward Cook, James Barr, James Smith, John McClelen, John Carmichael, James Perry, & Cristopher Lavingair, Members of Convention for Westmoreland County, be empowered to purchase four Hundred Stand of Arms for the de- fence of said County, and that half a Ton of Riffle Powder & one Ton of Lead, be Immediately sent to said County for the use of the Militia, and that they draw on this board for the Cost of the Arms & Carriage of the Amunition.
Samuel Mifflin, Esq'r, declined serving as Commodore & Com'r- in-Chief of the Fleet of this State.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Conrod Ciets, &ca. for 4 arms delivered to Mr. Rob't Towers.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt in fav'r of Thomas Hum- berger £60 0 0, towards Powder Manufactured by him, to be charged to his account.
An order was drawn on Joseph Ferree, Esq'r, at Germantown, in fav'r of Thos. Humberger, for One Ton of Salt Petre out of the Store at Germantown.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in fav'r of Mr. Jno. Philips, for One Hundred & forty pounds, for 4 Cannon, 12 pound'r.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Capt. Jos. Blewer 50s. for scraping the Galley Convention, & 20s. for Flints delivered to Mr. Towers.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Thomas Corgee £3 0 0, for Handspikes for Artillery.
The board adjourned to 2 o'Clock ; when the following mem- bers met, vizt :
DAVID RITTENHOUSE, Vice President.
John Bull,
Fred. Kuhl,
Joseph Blewer,
Saml. C. Morris,
Francis Gurney,
John Weitzel,
Timothy Matlack,
Geo. Gray.
John Bayard,
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. Edward Bartholemew £1646 9 8, being the Balance due him for Cartouch Boxes, Hav- ersacks, Knapsacks, &ca., bought by him for the use of the Militia of Philad'a County.
Mr. Towers was directed to deliver Col. Wm. Clark of Cumber- land County six stand of Arms for the use of his Batt'n, taking his receipt.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. John Hay £26 18 2 for 58 days Wages a 8s $ deim, & 10d $ mile for 59 miles, being for service in Convention.
In Council of Safety, Septem'r 21st, 1776.
PRESENT :
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
Samuel Morris, Sen'r, John Bull,
Henry Keppele, jun'r,
Timothy Matlack,
James Cannon, John Weitzel,
Francis Gurney, Joseph Blewer,
Fred. Kuhl, George Gray,
John Hubley.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt in favour of Capt. Wm. Richards, for £500, to be charged to his acco't.
Order'd, That Capt. John Rice be directed to raise men for the Armed Boat call'd the Convention, with all expedition.
Resolved, That Capt. Wm. Brown be appointed Commander of the Floating Battery now Building by Mr. Arthur Donaldson.
Ordered, That Capt. Wm. Brown do raise men for the Float- ing Battery now building by Mr. Arthur Donaldson.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Sam'l Raine £1 10 0, for 2 weeks board of B. Broxon.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mordecai Mckinney & Wm. Macklay £24 3 0, for expences attending the Carriage of Powder & Lead, &ca , to Northumberland County.
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Mr. Nesbitt to pay John Elmslie £9 0 0, for 4 Cartriges Boxes, for 6 & 4 Pounder Cannon delivered James Craig, & co., Comm'rs, in lieu of the like number Borrowed out of Continental Store, sent to Camp, to be charged to Congress.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Sam'l Smith £32 10, for 5201b Match Rope delivered Mr. Towers.
In Council of Safety, Sept. 23rd, 1776.
PRESENT :
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
Francis Guerney,
John Hubley,
Sam'l Cad. Morris,
John Moore, Joseph Blewer,
Fred. Kuhl,
John Bayard,
Henry Keppele, jun'r,
James Cannon,
Owen Biddle,
John Bull.
Geo. Gray,
Resolved, That Capt. Blewer, Capt. Gurney, Mr. Sam'l Cad. Morris, be appointed to form a regular Muster Role for the Navy of this State, & produce the same to this Board.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay to Michael Boyer £18 2 6, for riding 290, to give notice to the Officers of the Associators to meet at Lancaster to Choose General Officers.
To pay Ebenezer Lunday £137 10 0, for 200 Cartouch Boxes & 200 Bayonet Belts delivered to Mr. Towers.
An order was drawn on Mr. Robert 'Towers in favor of Messrs John Moore, John McClelen, John Carmichael, James Perry, Chris- topher Lavingair, Edward Cook, James Barr, & James Smith, Mem- bers of Convention for Westmoreland County, for half a Ton of Riffle Powder, & One Ton of Lead, for the defence of said County, agreeable to a Resolve of the 20th Instant.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Capt. Jno. Hazlewood fifty Pounds on acco't of the Fire Rafts, to be charged to his acco't.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Mr. Thos. Davis, £250, on acco't of Peers Built by him, to be sunk in the River Delaware, near Fort Island, to be charged to his acco't.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Messrs. Peter Dehaven & Co., for £500, on acco't of the Gun Lock Factory.
Owen Biddle, Esq'r, reports that he received from Col. Matthias Slough, for the Use of the Troops belonging to the State, Vizt :
250 Men's Shirts.
153 Black Velvet Stocks, with Brass Buckles.
118 Brass Stock Buckles.
237 pair men's Shoes.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
55 Rigamental Coats & Waistcoats, & 6 Linen Waistcoats.
40 pair Buckskin Breeches, 76 pair do.
138 Knapsacks.
5 Bound Hatts.
45 Powder Horn Straps, & 3 Shott Pouches.
10₺ doz. men's mill'd Stockings; & forwarded to Col. Broadhead, at Head Quarters.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Williams & Clinton, one Hundred Pounds on acco't of the Armed Boat Dela- ware, building by them, to be charged to their acco't.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Robins, Dun & Hails, £60, on acco't of the Armed Boat Convention, Built by them, to be charged to their acco't.
Mr. Nesbitt pay Philip Verntz £1 4 9, for Cleaning 2 p's of Cannon sent to Amboy some time since, to be charged to Congress.
Resolved, That the Officers recruiting for the Naval Armament of this State, be allowed 20s # Man in lieu of all Expences for Enlisting, & that each man be allowed One Month's pay advance at their enlistment, to be continued in service untill discharged by this or a future Council of Safety.
Mr. Towers to deliver to Gustavus Resberg A. D. Q. M. G. for the use of the Flying Camp, One Hundred Pitching Axes, to be charged to Congress.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in fav'r of Collinson Read, Esq'r, for One Hundred Pounds, to be by him put into the Hands of the Persons appointed by the Committee of Berks County, in order to supply the Families of Poor Associators who are now in actual service.
. Resolved, That Hamilton Hazleton be discharged from the Ship Montgomery, provided he enters into an engagement with Messrs. Dehaven & Co,, to work at the Gun Lock Factory of this State, under their direction, untill discharged By this Board or some future Council of Safety.
The Board adjourned to 3 o'Clock, P. M., when the following Members met :
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
John Bayard,
Francis Gurney,
Henry Keppele, jun'r, Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
John Bull,
Joseph Blewer,
Fred. Kuhl,
James Cannon,
Timothy Matlack,
Sam'l Cad'r Morris,
John Moore,
George Gray.
Mr. Robert Towers was directed to deliver to Col. John Lawrence Sixty Stand of Arms, taking his receipt, to be returned in good or- der when demanded by this Board.
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In Council of Safety, September 24th, 1776.
PRESENT.
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
John Hubley,
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
John Bayard,
John Moore,
Francis Gurney,
Sam'l Cad. Morris,
Joseph Blewer,
Fred. Kuhl,
John Bull,
Timothy Matlack,
David Rittenhouse.
An order was drawn on Mr. Robert Towers, in favour of Messrs. Jacob Strowd, Neigal Gray, Abraham Miller, Simon Dreisbach, John Ralston, Jacob Arndt, & Peter Brinkhalter, Members of Convention for Northampton County, 300 1b Powder, & 600 1b Lead, for the Use of said County, taking their receipt to be accountable for the same.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Wm. Clark & Co. £96 11} for Tow Linen bo't by Mr. Lewis Nicola, for making Bed cases for the Bar- racks.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. Henry Rhoads, a Member of Convention for Bedford County, £33 4 0, for 58 days attendance a 8s. Traveling Expences, 240 Miles a 10 d.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Jos. Simons £53 17 6, which, with 72 lb Powder order'd to be delivered him by Mr. Towers, is in full for 2872 lb of Salt Petre, delivered to Mr. Towers.
Joseph Ferree, at Germantown, was directed to deliver Mr. Ja- cob Lush 1 Ton salt Petre.
An order in fav'r of Mr. Jacob Lush, for £100.
The Council adjourned to three o'Clock afternoon, when the fol- lowing Members met.
THO'S WHARTON, jun'r, President.
John Bayard,
Fredorick Kuhl,
Sam'l Cad'r Morris,
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
John Bull, David Rittenhouse,
Francis Gurney, James Cannon,
Joseph Blewer, Timothy Matlack.
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Mr. Thomas Neville, for $50, on Acco't of Gun Carriages, to be charged to his Acco't.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Capt. Jos. Stiles, for sundry necessaries for the Artillery Company under his Command, £18 19 10.
Resolved, That George Bryan, Esq'r, Naval Officer of this Port, be directed to give Notice to this Board of all Military Stores im- ported and entered in his office, as soon as Possible after their ar- rival.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
Resolved, That Mr. Sam'l Cad. Morris be appointed to assist Col. Bayard in procuring Gun Carriages instead of Col. Matlack, who is going to Camp.
Resolved, That Paul Fooks, Esq'r, Notary Public, & Sworn In- terpreter for the French and Spanish Languages, be continued in those Offices, with all the Powers granted him by his former Com- mission, untill the Form of Government of this State is Established, or untill it shall be altered by Proper Authority.
In Council of Safety, September 25th, 1776.
PRESENT :
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
Sam'l Morris, sen'r,
John Bayard,
David Rittenhouse, Jos. Blewer,
Francis Gurney,
Fred. Kuhl,
Henry Keppele, jun'r,
Sam'l Cad'r Morris,
John Bull, Timothy Matlack.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay to Col. Andrew Kichline, £7 0 0, for 2 Guns, to be charged to the Col.
To pay the Managers of House of Employment, £4 6 9, for Oakum.
Mr. Towers was directed to deliver Mr. Wm. Will half a Pig or about two Hundred Wt of Block Tin, he paying for the same.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Wm. Chambers &2 0 0, for a Gun deliver'd Col. Joseph Armstrong of Cumberland County, to be charged to the Col.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. Nicholas Hicks £117 14 2}, for work done at Billingsport, to be charged to Congress.
George Ross, Esq'r, as Council for William Ross, a Prisoner in the Goal of this City, committed on a charge of his having killed a certain Thomas Ralph, appeared before this board, and for Rea- sons contained in a written paper presented by him "Moves the Council of Safety to admit the prisoner to Bail." The Board thereupon having taken the opinion of John Dickenson, Esquire, on the Case, and having deliberated upon the arguments offered for and against the motion,
Resolved, unanimously, That bail ought not to be taken in this case.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay to Baltzer Spangler & others, £9 0 0, for going express to the several Colonels of York County, to order them to collect the Militia in order to march to Camp in New Jersey.
Mr. Nesbitt, to pay Elijah Etting for dieting ten soldiers, Priso- ners of war, 7 days, after their arrival at York town, before they were put in Quarters £3 15 0, to be charged to Congress.
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Mr. Nesbitt to pay Robert Stevenson for Ten Guns delivered Capt. Samuel Nelson, £23 19 0, to be charged to Col. Mathew Dill of York County, 5th Battalion.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay an order drawn on this board by James Chapman, Commissioner, & Jno. Vandegrift, Assesor of Bucks County, for three Hundred Pounds, towards arms & accou- . trements procuring by them in said County, to be charged to the Commissioners & Assesors.
In Council of Safety, Septem'r 26th, 1776.
DAVID RITTENHOUSE, V. P.
John Bayard, Timothy Matlack,
John Hubley, Francis Gurney,
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John Bull, Sam'l Cad. Morris,
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
Jos. Blewer.
James Cannon,
Resolved, That Col. James Potter be allowed to Contract, on the lowest terms in his Power, for the making of Fifty Rifle Guns for the use of his Battalion, the said Contract to be made good by this Board.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Col. Kirkbride £51 1 0, for arms purchased from non-associators, to be charged to the Col.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Wm. Ross for dieting part of Capt. Weit- zel's Company, of Col. Miles' Battalion, £6 6 0.
Mr. Nesbitt to pay Ezekiel Webb £9 10 3, for diet of part of three Companies Col. Miles's Battalion.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Capt. Thomas Forrest £17 18 0, for Balance of his aco't for recruiting expences.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Benja. Condy £2 5 0, for a spy Glass delivered to Lieut. Christee.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Martin Pendergrass £5 1 6, for work done to the Guard Boats.
The Following Persons were appointed Officers to carry on the Fortifications Intended to be erected at Billingsport, vizt :
Engineer, Capt. Blaitwaite Jones.
Assistant do., Mr. Thomas Hanson.
Superintendant General of Workmen, Col. John Bull.
Assistant ditto, James Dundass.
Clerk to Superintendants, Robert Cather.
Commisary of Utensils, John Moyer, Ditto of Provisions.
Bricklayers, Charles Souder & Edw'd McCaggen.
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
Met at 3 o'Clock.
PRESENT :
John Bayard,
Francis Gurney,
Timothy Matlack,
John Moore,
John Bull,
John Hubley,
Sam'l Cad'r Morris,
Joseph Blewer,
Sam'l Morris,
David Rittenhouse.
Resolved, That Thomas Seymour, Esq'r, be appointed Commo- dore & Commander-in-Chief of all the Naval Armaments in the service of this State.
Resolved, That David Mccutcheon be discharged from His Con- finement.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay to Matthias Young £3 15 0, for Painting the Guard Boat Vulture.
Resolved, That the members of this Board, or as many as Con- veniently can, go down to Fort Island to-morrow morning to accom- pany Commodore Seymour to the Fleet; That Instructions be drawn up to deliver the Commodore with his Commission.
The following are the Instructions deliver'd to the Commodore, vizt :
"In Council of Safety, Septem'r 26th, 1776.
" The Council having thought proper to appoint you Commodore & Commander-in-Chief of all the Naval Armaments of this State in the River Delaware, which you are to notify to the Officers of the Fleet by publishing to them your Commission, It becomes neces- sary to give you some Instructions to regulate your Conduct in some points of this Important Trust.
"And First: You are, by all Possible means, to establish such a proper sense of Subordination in the Fleet, that all the orders you think necessary to Issue be punctually and implicitly obeyed, a loose and relaxed discipline utterly enfeebling every Military Es- tablishment, however respectable it may otherwise be in the Cir- cumstance of number & force.
"Secondly. As it is the duty and Inclination of this Council to Maintain the Fleet in a Constant preperation to receive the enemy, you must Immediately take an exact survey of its present Condi- tion, and whatever may be wanting in its equipments to make re- port to Capt. Wm. Richards, who is appointed and directed to sup- ply all its deficiencies.
" Thirdly. An attack from the Enemy being highly Probable, tho' the time uncertain, it is necessary that every part of the Fleet should have its proper Station assigned, in such way as to afford Mutual Support, and that the whole may act to the best effect.
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" Fourthly. You must particularly attend not only to the situa- tion of the Fleet, but take great care that the Officers and Men are not absent from their respective Vessels any length of time and at any great distance, but as it is probable that some of the Officers of the Boats may be desirous of coming up to this City, you may give leave of absence to them in such number and for so long a time as the service may admit, so that not more than one-third be absent at any one time or longer than Forty eight Hours, from their respective Vessels.
"Lastly. Should any accident or Circumstance happen in the Fleet that has the least tendency to effect the service, you are to give the earliest Information of it to the Council of Safety, that they, if they have the Means of Remedy, may apply such as the nature of the Case may require."
These being the Principal Matters that have occured to the Coun- cil, they earnestly recommend to you however, that you endeavour to promote the Utmost Harmony between you and the Officers of the Fleet, and between one another, on which depends so much the success of every undertaking where men are to act in concert, and Mutual assistance required.
Resolved, That the Officers of the Fleet belonging to this State be allowed the same pay that the Officers in the Continental Service have, from the first of October next.
In Council of Safety, Septem'r 27th, 1776. 1
PRESENT :
THOMAS WHARTON, jun'r, President.
David Rittenhouse, John Moore,
Sam'l Morris, Sen'r,
Timothy Matlack,
John Bayard,
Sam'l Cad'r Morris,
Fred. Kuhl, Joseph Blewer,
Henry Keppele, jun'r,
Francis Gurney.
John Bull,
An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbitt, in favour of Major Nicola, for £25 0 0, for sundry necessaries for Barracks, to be charged to his acco't.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Mr. Robert Towers, £77 2 8}, for 62 days service at 10s to 19th Instant, and for sundry Expences at Magazine, &ca.
Mr. Nesbitt was directed to pay Sam'l Rain 15s for a week's Board of one of Col. Miles' Soldiers.
An order was drawn on Joseph Ferree, Esq'r, to deliver Henry Huber One Ton of Salt Petre, & 600 Ib Sulpher out of the Stores under his Care at Germantown.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
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