Resolved, That the following notice be sent to the Merchants of Wilmington, by Mr. [Samuel] Swan, and Mr. [William] Robeson, to wit:

To the Merchants of the town of Wilmington, Masters of vessels and traders: The committees of the county of New-Hanover and of the town of Wilmington, united and met for the important purpose of carrying into execution the resolves of the Continental Congress, earnestly request of you, as well wishers to the common cause of America, in which we are all embarked, to signify to them, by the bearers of this, if you have any gunpowder on hand, and what quantity, that this committee, may in consequence of that information, take the most prudent steps, to guard against the melancholy effects, which may result from this part of the Province, being left in a state totally deficient for the want of ammunition. It is likewise requested that you would cease to make further sales thereof, until informed by the committee

Signed  Cornelius Hartnett, Chairman

Mr. Swann and Mr. Robeson, returned an account of the gunpowder in Wilmington, 143 lbs. in the hands of the several merchants applied to.

The committee sent the papers of the following tenor, to the persons within named by Mr. Swann and Mr. Robeson.

Mr. John Burgwin,² John Robeson, McTier Ancrum, Foster and Brice, Thomas Orr, George and Thomas Hooper, Hogg and Campbell, George Doherty, and Charles Jecokes

The King's proclamation, prohibiting the further exportation of gunpowder from Great Britain, renders it highly necessary, that some expedient should be adopted to prevent the melancholy consequence which to a province in respect to its inhabitants, circumstanced as this is, may in future arise from a total want of that article, we, therefore gentlemen, assure ourselves, that you, animated with the same liberal sentiments that we feel, will contribute what at present falls to your particular department for the promotion of the public good.

The quantity of Gunpowder which is at present in the town is very inconsiderable, and it is absolutely necessary, that what there is should be reserved for any future emergencies, that we may be prepared for every the worst contingencies.

We therefore, gentlemen, entreat you by the ties of honor and virtue, and love for your country, as you prize the regard of your fellow-citizens, as you wish to avoid the censure of this committee, and those whom they represent, that you would not within thirty days from this time, remove out of this town, or make sale of any of the gunpowder which you have reported to this committee, as the stock you have upon hand before the expiration of which time, this committee will endeavor to collect by subscription, and they doubt not of success, a sum sufficient to purchase and pay you for the whole of it at the reasonable price of three shillings per pound, which some of your well disposed brethern have consented to take. And as it is intended to be made use of as much for your security as of the rest of the inhabitants of this part of the province, we address you with a certainty of succeeding in this application, which should it appear to you to carry with it any thing uncommon, will find an ample vindication in the present critical circumstances of this province.

Mr. Swann and Mr. Robeson, made report to the committee, that all the persons applied to had complied to the request of the committee, excepting Mr. Burgwin, whose answers appeared to be evasive, as he neither specified the quantity of powder he could spare nor absolutely fixed the price he would take for it, Therefore,

Resolved, unanimously, that Mr. Burgwin's answer is unsatisfactory, and deserves the censure of this committee, and that he have notice thereof.