[Philadelphia] Wednesday, December 20, 1775
The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the petition of David Beveridge, which was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That the said petition is unreasonable:
Resolved, nevertheless, that for the more speedy arming these colonies, the said David Beveridge be permitted to export a cargo of the produce of America (live stock and lumber excepted) to any part of the world, except Great Britain, the British Island[s], Ireland, or the British West Indies, on his giving bond, with sufficient security, in double the amount of the said cargo, to the chairman of the committee of inspection of Philadelphia, or to such persons as said committee shall appoint, that he will import, into these colonies, by the first day of June next, the amount of the proceeds of the said cargo, in arms, ammunition, or salt petre, and shall dispose of the same to the Congress, for the use of the United Colonies, at such reasonable prices, as by the committee of inspection of the place in which the vessel shall arrive, shall be ascertained and determined.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resumed the consideration of the General's letters, and thereupon came to the following resolution:
Resolved, That the several vessels heretofore taken and carried into Massachusetts bay, by the armed vessels in the service of the United Colonies, be proceeded against by the rules of the law of Nations, and libelled in the courts of admiralty erected in said colony.