[Philadelphia] Tuesday Jan. 9. the Votes read & some Letters, one of them from Matthew Tilghman Esqr President of the Convention in Maryland desiring our Two small armed Vessels the Hornet and Viper ² at Baltimore may convoy to the Capes of Virginia some Vessels going with Provisions on Accot of the Congress, to get Necessaries for our Fleet and Army, this was agreed to & Directions are to be given to Admiral [Esek] Hopkins to meet them ー Several Members said that if a Foreign Force shall be sent here, they are willing to declare the Colonies in a State of Independent Sovereignity ー M. Pliant [Pliarne] one of the Two Frenchmen in Treaty with our Secret Comee offers to supply the Continent from France with all Sorts of Goods & Military Stores at the price common in France & hints that our Ships may trade to that Kingdom by Connivance & that they are willing to send their Bottoms here, he treats apparently in Behalf of a Company at Paris & he stays here till his Partner returns from thence ー the President desired to write to Gen. Schuyler inter alia requiring Him to try Lieut. [Jeremiah] Halsey at a Court Martial ー