Dec'r 9.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

A Sub-Committee of the Committee of the City and Liberties, agreeable to a Resolve of this Board of the 7th inst., made an inquiry into the quantity of Sea Coal in this City from the North side of Market Street to the South side of Vine Street, and Report, that there is 2,687 bushels in the hands of a Number of Inhabitants.

Upon application to this Board, on behalf of Capt. Nicholas Biddle, that he may have Liberty to resign his Commission, in order to enter into Continental Service,

Resolved, That he have liberty to resign his Commission.

Messrs. John Pringle, & Thomas Yorke, having permission from this Board to load on Board their Brigantine a certain quantity of goods, the produce of these Colonies, which being insufficient to compleat her loading,

Resolved, That they, the said Pringle and York, have permission to load on Board said Brig't as much produce of these Colonies as will compleat her Loading for the account of this Province, being agreeable to a Resolve of Congress of 26th October last.

December 11th.-At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Upon application of Capt. Harmer, for the payment of a Firelock purchased by him for the use of his Company in the Continental Service,

By order of the Board, an order was drawn in favour of Richard Ennis, on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, Paymaster to the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion, for £2, 11, the amount of said Firelock.

Upon Motion of Mr. Thomas Wharton, one of the Committee for importing and procuring Powder, Arms, &ca., for the use of this Province,

Resolved, That they, the said Committee, direct Messrs. Willing, & Morris & Co., to load the Ship Neptune, Robert Collins, M'r, with

the produce of these Colonies, for the purpose of procuring said articles from Foreign parts; And that the following Certificate be Issued, viz't:

"This is to certifie, that Messrs. Willing & Morris & Co., have permission to load the Ship Neptune, Robert Collins, M'r, with the produce of these Colonies, the same being for account of this Province, and the export agreeable to a resolve of Congress of 26th Oct'r last.

Resolved, That Capt. Nathaniel Boyce take the Command of the Armed Boat Franklin, Capt. Biddle, the late Commander being promoted in the Continental Service.

Upon application to this Board, in behalf of Capt. James Josiah, that he may have leave to resign his commission to enter the Continental Service, liberty was granted him.

Robert Towers Reports his having receiv'd into Store,

1 barrels Powder, w't 151 lbs, from Oswald Eve, being part of the damag'd powder sent him to repair.

55 lbs Salt Peter, from Peter De Haven.

December 12th.-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

December 13th-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Resolved, That the Barrack Master furnish the Artillery Company in with the usual quantity of Wood & Candles, as supplied to the King's Troops.

Upon application of Capt. William Jenkins, By order of the Board, an Order was drawn in his favour on Mease & Caldwell, for $48, 19, 6, being for payment of 16 Firelocks purchas'd by him for the use of his Company, in the Penn'a Batalion.

Resolved, That Robert Towers, Commissary, examine the Powder on Board the Armed Boats in Town, & Report the State of it to this Board to-Morrow.

Resolved, That three of our Armed Boats, with their Officers and Crews, be constantly at Liberty Island, and that there be a relief of that Number of Boats every three days; and that this duty begin with the Eldest in command, & the rotation be continued according to Seniority, & by equal duty through the Fleet.

Resolved, That Joseph Fox, Barrack Master, do provide for the use of the Men employed in the Service of this Province, who are to be immediately order'd into the Barracks, Two hundred Blankets or Rugs, 100 Bed Cases, a Sufficient quantity of Straw, 100 Cords of Wood, and what other necessarys that may be wanting for the accommodation of four hundred Men.

That Mr. Fox draw Orders on this Board for the amount of what he may purchase for the use aforesaid.

Resolved, That Capt. Dougherty be ordered up immediately from Liberty Island with his Boat, and that Capt. Hamilton & Capt. Alexander, inform him of this Resolve.

Resolved, That Mr. Clement Biddle be requested to see that the Barracks are in proper order for the reception of the People on Board the Armed Boats, and that the Necessaries requisite for their accommodation are procured, & make report of his proceedings to this Board.

December 14th-At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Resolved, That John Ross, Muster Master, be directed to make a return to this Board of the Number of Men & quantity of Bedding on Board the armed Boats.

David Owen, a Person Suspected of enlisting Negroes, was brought before this Committee, and not giving proper & Satisfactory answers to the questions put to him,

Resolved, That he be Committed to the Work House of this City 'till further orders.

December 15th.—At a Meeting of the Committee of Safety.

Robert Towers, Commissary, Reports his having receiv'd the following Articles in Store:

6 doz. & 9 Steel Ram Rods, from Robert Marn.

28 lbs. Buck Shot,

35 lbs. Musket Ball, from Robert Taggart.

2000 Flints,

That he has deliver'd Capt. Loxley, by order of Mr. O. Biddle, 7 lbs. Salt Petre.

Mr. Samuel Howell informing this Board that he has a considerable quantity of Sea Coal in the Island of Jamaica,

Resolved, That he be requested to write to Jamaica, and give orders for a Load of Coal to be Sent from thence to this place, on account of this Committee, if it can be delivered here at 3s. currency per Bushel, or under.

Upon application of Daniel Offley & William Clifton, that this Board would advance a Sum of Money towards Searching for a Coal Mine said to be in Bucks County,

Resolved, That this Board pay one half the Sum expended for that purpose, provided the whole expence doth not exceed one hundred pounds; And in case the said Mine is worked, that this Board have the refusal of any quantity they may want for the use of the Publick.

Garret Hulscamp having made application for liberty to have his Boat go down the Bay to take him out of Capt. Johnson's Ship, of which he is Pilot,

Resolved, That the liberty he prays for be granted, provi'd he goes no farther than the Brown, & that he avoid going or being taken on Board any British Ship, or other Vessel of War.

Upon application of Mr. Mease, an order was directed to Capt. Dougherty to discharge from Capt. Henderson's Boat, Daniel McMichael, as he is to be employ'd in another Service.

Resolved, That Colo. Roberdeau, Mr. Biddle, & Mr. Mease, be a Committee to draw up Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Officers and Men belonging to the Armed Boats, while they are quarter'd in the Barracks.

December 16th, 1775.-At a Meeting of the Committee of

By order of the Board, Jno. M. Nesbitt, Esq'r, was desired to deliver Serjeant Webster the Watch Coats made for the Artillery Company.

By order of the Board, an order was drawn on Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, in favour of Capt. Wm. Jenkins, for £10 10 6, being the amount of three Firelocks, purchased by him for the use of his Company in the Continental Batalion.

This Board being informed that part of the New Gaol is now in order for the Reception of Prisoners, and the Gaoler and Work House Keeper of this City, having inform'd that the badness of the Gaol and Work House is dangerous & inconvenient to the Prisoners; Therefore,

Resolved, That the Prisoners confined by this Board, agreeable to the directions of Congress, be removed to the New Gaol, and that the following order be delivered:

"In Committee of Safety.

"PHILAD'A, 16th Dec'r, 1775.

"You are hereby required to conduct the Soldiers & the three Sailors from Rhoad Island, now Prisoners in your Gaol, to the New Gaol in this City, and there deliver them into the Custody of Mr. Thomas Apty.

"Sign'd by order.

"JNO. NIXON, Chair'n. "To THOMAS DEWEES, Keeper of the Gaol of Philad'a County. "You are hereby required to deliver into the Custody of Thomas Apty, all the Soldiers now in the Work House, confined by order of this Board.

"Sign'd by order.

"JNO. NIXON, Chair'n. "To JAMES WHITEHEAD, Keeper of the Work House of Philad'a."

Resolved, That Thomas Apty be appointed to take care of the Prisoners in the New Gaol, until the proper Gaoler moves into it.