[Philadelphia] September 29th
A Memorial to the Assembly was this day drawn up, Read, and agreed to, with an Estimate of the Moneys expended and to be expended for the use of this Province, and are as follows:
They beg leave, also, to represent to the House, that there apears to be . an immediate necessity for constructing a magazine or Magazines to receive the Powder already in the Province, and such as may arrive hereafter; large quantitys are shortly expected, and there is no place where it can be stored with Safety, or any way guarded against accidents, which that article, from its nature, must be exposed to, and which is of Considerable moment to prevent.
Your Committee beg leave to represent, that it will be necessary to appoint a Commodore, or Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Boats, which has been delayed hitherto, out of respect to you Honourable House.
Signed, B. Franklin.
An Estimate of Moneys already expended and to be expended for the Defence of the Province of Pennsylvania, Submitted to the Honorable House of Assembly by the Committee of Safety, September 29th, 1775:
Remitted to different parts of Europe; by Sundry conveyances, for the purchase of Arms, Ammunition & Medecines, |
[£]20,300 0 0 |
13 Armed Boats or Gondolos, Built, armed and equipped; estimated at £550 each, |
7,150 0 0 |
17 Cheveaux-De-Frize, or defensive Machines, to be sunk in the River Delaware, to prevent Enemy ships coming against the City of Philadelphia, at £100 each, |
1,700 0 0 |
Cannon and Grape Shot bought, |
522 0 0 |
Small Arms Bought, |
119 0 0 |
26 Howtizers for the Boats, |
169 00 0 |
Swivel Guns, Small Arms, &ca. for do |
2,500 00 0 |
3 months Pay and victualing 53 Men in each Armed Boat, including officers, Estimated at £202 6 3 p month each Boat, is |
7,890 3 9 |
Besides the money actually remitted for the purchase of ammunition and arms, Credits are given to the agents employed in that service to draw on London and this place to the extent of Ten Thousand pounds, if they can obtain the articles wanted, and remittances must soon be made to answer these credits, Some Members of this Committee having pledged their private credits on behalf of the Public, |
10,000 0 0 |
Freights of Sundry ships employed to bring the arms and ammunition, with the Commissions of a Factor sent in each ship to make the purchase; this article cannot be exactly ascertained, but the quantity being considerable may be reasonably supposed at |
4,000 0 0 |
Expence of building a Magazine or Magazines, with other charges and Expences that may be expected to arise if this most unhappy contest continues.
N.B. ー It should be observed that the great expence appears by this Estimate to be for Arms and Ammunition, and these are worth the full sum they will cost, or might at this time be disposed of to profit.
Resolved, That the Boat Built by Wark. Coats be called the Burk.
That the Boat Built by Wm. Williams be call'd the Hancock.
That the Boat Built by [Simon] Sherlock be call'd the Camden.