[Philadelphia] November 7th.
Resolved, That Colo. [Daniel] Roberdeau, Colo. [John] Cadwalader, & Colo. [John] Nixon, be a Committee to inquire what Services the Master at arms has done; To know if such an officer is necessary to the armed Boats, and if the present one is sufficient to the appointment; That they draw up Instructions for his Government.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Board that Mr. [Thomas] Wharton, Mr. [Robert] Whyte, Mr. [John] Nixon, Mr. [Samuel] Howell, Mr. Rob't Morris, & Mr. [George] Clymer, be a Committee to Contract with such Persons as they may think most Capable, for the immediate building and equipping a Ship of war for the River Service, to mount twenty Eighteen pounders, and to provide the Guns, necessary ammunition, Provisions, and other articles fitting for such Ship.
Resolved, That as it appears to this Board that the providing a number of Fire Rafts will contribute greatly to defend this City against hostile attacks from Men-of-War; Mr. [Samuel] Howell, Capt. [Robert] Whyte, Mr. James Biddle, & Mr. Owen Biddle, be a Committee to inquire into the construction of such Fire Rafts, and to give immediate directions for building so many of them as may be necessary, and Report thereon to this Committee.
The Committee for Regulating the Pilots, Reported to the Board the following Rules and Regulations for the Conduct of the Pilots appointed to convey all vessels up and down the River between Chester and Philadelphia, with a copy of the Certificates, which they have agreed upon and have deliver'd to the said Pilots; and the Board having taken the same into consideration, do approve of them, and order them to be enter'd on their Minutes.
The Committee of Safety having order'd and directed that ten Pilots only, be employed in conducting all vessels between Philadelphia and Chester, whether inward or outward Bound; the following are the Rules & Regulations concerning them, vizt:
1st. That five of the said number of Pilots to be in readiness at Philadelphia to carry vessels down to Chester, and having performed that Service, are immediately to return, by Land or in their skiffs, to Philadelphia.
2nd. That the other five be at Chester to bring vessels up from thence to Philadelphia, and are to return in like manner to Chester.
3rd. That no Pilots be allowed to return to his Station otherwise than as above, unless where it happens that any vessel shall be in want of a Pilot, and there is none other on the Spot, in which case he may take charge of her.
4th. That each Sett of Pilots change their Stations every ten days, unless it be otherwise agreed amongst themselves.
5th. That such of the five Pilots at Philadelphia, as are not absent upon Duty, shall attend from 10 to 1 o'Clock every day, at the House of Clement Humphreys, on Pine Street Wharf, and those at Chester, at the House of Mrs. Withy, to receive applications from Owners or Masters of Vessels.
6th. That the several Pilots be obliged to perform the services required in Rotation, according to the Number of the Ticket or certificate of their appointment that each one receives from the Committee of Safety, unless where otherwise agreed among themselves. And that applications made by Owners or Masters of vessels at the aforesaid Houses, be deemed due and sufficient Notice.
That none of the Pilots so employed, demand or receive any Pilotage from Owners or Masters of Vessels for such service, they being in the pay of the Committee of Safety for this Special purpose.
Resolved, That Mr. Francis Johnston be appointed to pay the Pilots that may bring up any vessels to Chester, that may choose to receive it of him, And that he be furnished by the Committee of Accounts, with fifty Pounds for that purpose; he is also to receive from the Pilots he pays the orders on the Owners of the Ships, endorsed payable to this Board.
The following is the form of the Certificate deliver'd the ten Pilots, vizt:
John Snyder, Pilot, is appointed by the Committee of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania, to conduct vessels between the Port of Philadelphia & Chester.
By order of the Committee,
Sign'd, Robert Morris, Vice Presd't.
Dated, Philadelphia & Chester.
Resolved, That John Christie be appointed 2nd Lieutenant to the armed Boat Dickinson.
Capt. [George] Hastings was this Day discharged of his Parole, and leave given him to depart this Province.
The Sub Committee appointed to take into Consideration the Expence of building and equipping a Ship of war for the River Service, capable of mounting Twenty Eighteen pounders, Exclusive of Guns and the necessary Ammunition, Seamens' Wages, and Provisions, Report, as their Opinion, that it will require the Sum of Nine thousand Pounds.