Mr. Donald McLane, of the city of New-York, druggist, attended with a letter from Capt. [George] Vandeput, of the ship Asia, requesting him to receive the body of the late purser of the said ship, and have him buried in Trinity church yard.

Thereupon a permit was given to him, in the words following, to wit:

Mr. Donald McLene, of this city, druggist, is hereby permitted to go on board of the Asia ship of war, and also to have the body of Mr. George Claypen, ² late purser of the said ship, brought on shore and buried.

By order of the Committee.

The said sub-committee mentioned that a great inconvenience arises from vessels loading in this port, by order of the Continental and Provincial Congress, and of this Committee of Safety, by their not having certificates for that purpose. That many of the inhabitants, not knowing why any such vessels are lading, apply to the laders and to the city committee with complaints; that it is also in the power of the laders of such vessels to lade other produce or greater quantities than they are permitted, and that therefore that it is the request of the city committee that some proper person be appointed to inspect and superintend the loading of all such vessels, and to report thereon to the Privincial Congress or Committee of Safety.

The sub-committee withdrew, and the Committee of Safety requested the Chairman to speak to Capt. William Mercier, to know whether he will undertake to manage and inspect the lading of vessels laded at this port;...

Die Mercurii 3 ho. P.M. Jany. 24, 1776.

The Committee took into consideration the subject of the second matter mentioned to them this morning by the sub-committee of this city, and after consideration thereof, this Committee to hereby appoint Capt. William Mercier to superintend and inspect the lading of all such vessels as shall lade in this port.

And

Ordered, That Capt. Mercier be empowered, and he is hereby empowered to inspect all permits to vessels to lade in this port, and see that all such vessels lade only agreeable to the resolves of the Continental Congress, and with such matters or produce only as may be agreeable to the said resolves and their permits from the Provincial Congress and Committee of Safety of this Colony, and from time to time to report to this Committee or the Provincial Congress of this colony what vessels are lading or shall have laded, and with what particular commodities and by what authority. And

Ordered and agreed, That Capt. Mercier be allowed 20 dollars per month as pay, while continued in this, and the service of inspecting the lading of vessels in this port.