Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania

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Tuesday, December 19, 1775.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania be requested to supply the Armed Vessels, which are 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 stands 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.

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 first 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 part of the Continent.

Resolved, That if the Powder supplied and lent to the Continent by the City of New-York shall not be replaced on or before the first, day of February next, the Congress engages that their whole influence and authority shall then be exerted immediately to replace the same, by providing Powder from some other part of the Continent.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the Congress resumed the consideration of the General' s Letters, and the Report of the Committee to whom the second article in the Report of the Committee on the General' Letters was referred, and thereupon came to the following Resolution,

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Resolved, That all Transport Vessels in the same service having on board any Troops, Arms, Ammunition, Clothing, Provisions, or Military or Naval Stores, of what kind soever, and all Vessels, to whomsoever belonging, that shall be employed in carrying Provisions or other necessaries to the British Army or Armies, or Navy, that now are or shall hereafter be within any of the United Colonies, or any Goods, Wares, or Merchandises, for the use of such Fleet and Army, shall be liable to seizure, and, with their cargoes, shall be confiscated.

The Committee on the qualifications of Officers applying, &c˙, made a Report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Committee on the state of Virginia brought in their Report, which being read,

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A Letter from General Washington, dated December 11, 1775, was laid before Congress and read.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o' clock, to-morrow.