Application from Congress for Powder, Arms, and Men, for the Armed Vessels, nearly ready for sailing

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Wednesday, December 20, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present — Benjamin Franklin, President, Robert Morris, Samuel Miles, Daniel Roberdeau, Joseph Reed, George Clymer, Thomas Wharton, Jun˙, Samuel Morris, Jun˙, Alexander

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Ordered, That Robert Towers, Commissary, examine some Muskets that Captain Oswald has for sale, and if found good, that he purchase them.

Governour Hopkins, this day, delivered the following Resolve of Congress to the Board:

"In Congress, December 19, 1775.

"Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to supply the Armed Vessels, nearly ready for sailing, with four tons of Gunpowder, at the Continental expense.

"That the said Committee be requested to procure and lend said Vessels, as many stand of Small Arms as they can spare, not exceeding four hundred, to be repaid by the Congress, either in kind or value, as the Committee may desire.

"Resolved, That if the Powder and Arms that may be supplied and lent to the Continent, for the use of the said Armed Vessels, shall not be replaced on or before the 1st day of February next, the Congress engages that their whole influence and authority shall then be exerted immediately to replace the same by procuring Powder and Arms from some other parts of the Continent.

"Extract from the Minutes:
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."

The Board having taken the above Resolves into consideration, and after some time spent therein, do

Resolve, That they spare to Congress all the Powder now in store, except the Battle Powder, and that which is made into Cartridges;

That this Board will immediately collect all the Arms belonging to this Province, and win spare to the Committee of Naval Affairs all that they can, consistent with the safety of this Province;

That this Committee do agree that the Naval Committee may inlist from on board the Armed Boats, any number of Seamen, not exceeding one hundred.

By order of this Board, Robert Towers, Commissary, was directed to deliver a gentleman, who produced a small quantity of Saltpetre of his manufacturing, one-fourth the quantity in Powder, and the other three-fourths cash, at the rate of five shillings per pound.

Resolved, That Captain Dougherty order all the Armed Boats up to this City, that the Officers and Men may go into barracks, except the three eldest Captains and Crews, who are to continue at the Island till relieved by three other Boats, agreeable to a Resolve of the 13th.