[Philadelphia] Thursday, October 3, 1776
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to take such measures, as they shall judge necessary, for purchasing, arming and equipping, a frigate and two cutters, in Europe, and to give proper orders for the said frigate making a cruize in the British channel against our enemies, and for the said cutters to be employed in transporting to these states, such articles, as the said Committee have been ordered to import.
1. Ford, ed., JCC, V, 842, 846.