William Bigland Submitted to the Committee

v2:1778

Monday, July 31, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety. Present:

Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Morris, Junior, Thomas Wharton, Junior, Robert Morris, Andrew Allen, Robert White, Owen Biddle.

Mr˙ William Bigland Awaited on the Board with a draught of a Rowing-Wheel, which he proposed to have fixed to the Provincial Row-Boats.

Colonel Roberdeau is desired to return him the thanks of this Board for his communication.

Messrs˙ Robert Morris, Robert White, and Thomas Wharton, Junior, are desired to borrow of the Wardens of the Port such a sum of Money as the Wardens can lend them, for the use of this Committee; and the Board will give them sufficient security for the repayment of it.

The form of a Commission for the Officers of the Military Association, was produced and approved, being as follows:

In Committee of Safety.

TO ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙

The honourable Continental Congress having recommended, in their Resolves of the 18th of July, 1775, that, in the recess of the Provincial Conventions or Assemblies, the Officers of the Military Associations for the defence of American liberty should receive their commissions from the respective Committees of Safety appointed by the said Assemblies or Conventions: In pursuance thereof, we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valour, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ of the ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ Battalion, in the County of ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙, associated for the defence of the liberties of America, and for repelling any hostile invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙, by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do earnestly recommend to all officers and soldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders as ˙ ˙ ˙ . And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions as you shall receive from the Assembly or Provincial Conventions during their sessions, or from this or a future Committee of Safety for this Province, or any other your superiour Officers, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by the Assembly or Provincial Convention, or by this or any succeeding Committee of Safety.

By order of the Committee.

Mr˙ Hulings sent a model of a Boat; which was approved of; and Captain White is desired to return the thanks of this Board to Mr˙ Hulings for the same.