Philada Thursday March 27th 1777.
Mr. Ritchie & Mr. Fitzsimmons from the Navy Board attended the Council and laid a State of divers Naval affairs before the Board. Vizt ー
Gentlemen:
State Navy Board March 27th 1777.
Fully impressed with the weight of Business that in the Commencement of your Office, must have been thrown upon you, and desirous to render what services we could to our Country, we have not waited for any instructions respecting the duties of this board, but have as well as in our power gone through the Business that has come before us. many things however, has occurred, which we think it our duty to lay before you, and we hope you will with your first convenience take them into your consideration, and give Us such advice and instructions respecting them, as [to] you shall seem proper. One of our first duties was to enquire into the State of the Vessels and Boats belonging to this Commonwealth, which we are very sorry to inform Your Honors, is not in the good condition we could wish, most of them requiring repairs or alterations and many of them shamefully deficient in their complement of Men. From the enquiries we have made into the reasons of these deficiencies, it appears to Us that some part might have been remedied, had the Officers exerted themselves as they ought, but at this Time it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to get them manned without your interposition, for it cannot be expected that Men will enlist themselves in this Service at the Wages allowed by the State When Seaman in the merchants Service can get from Fifteen Pounds to Eighteen Pounds P. Month, and Landsmen from Ten To twelve pounds; We would therefore recommend to your most serious Consideration whether it would not be for the public good to lay an Embargo to prevent any Vessels Sailing from this Port for a few days, or until the Armed Vessels, intended for the Service of the State can be put into a better Condition; with due Submission to your better Judgments we apprehend a measure of this kind would have many good advantages, as well to the general cause, as to The State; in particular. The late Council of Safety of this State appointed John Hazlewood [Hazelwood], Esquire, Commander in Chief of the Fire Vessels, Boats and Rafts belonging to the State, subject however to the Commodore of the Fleet for the time being. Capt. Hazlewood has lately informed us that though he is heartily ー disposed to render every service in his power to the State, he does not choose to continue subject to the Orders of the present Commodore of the Fleet, or any of the Captains who in case of accident may succeed him, but if it should be thought consistant, would wish to have the entire direction of that part of the Armament; how far his desire ought to be complied with, we submit to you, but we think it of great importance that it should be immediately determined, and in justice to Capt Hazlewood, must say, he appears to have great merit in his department.
There are at present some Officers wanting in the Fleet, we should be glad to know whether any recommendations for such appointments is expected from us, and whether the Warrant Officers are to be appointed by the Council. Some Account[s] have been brought to us, and more we expect may, of services performed or Contracts made previous to our appointment. We are apprehensive a great loss may arise to the State, if the settlement of such Accounts are thrown upon. us, who are totally unacquainted with the transactions, and have no Books or documents of the Council to refer to; on that account we conceive it would be more eligible to appoint a Committee for the purpose of setling all Accounts previous to our appointment. We find that there is a great number of Men at present employed in throwing up Works at Billingsport, which we should not presume to take notice of, but as we think, it will very materially effect the defences prepared for this River, as far as we have been able to learn these vVorks are meant to be upon so extensive a plan that it will be impossible to complete them in time for this Season. The Military people say, if the whole was complete, the Post is not tenable. We pretend to no Judgment in these matters, but as we know this business is much talked of, we beg leave to recommend it to your Consideration, whether any temporary works erected there could not be easily turned to the annoyance of the Vessels, and if so, whether it should not be discontinued. These things we have thought it necessary to represent to you, and we conceive this mode will take up less of your time, than any other. We shall hope for directions in consequence as you may think proper, and are with great respect.
By Order of the Board Gentlemen Your most Obedt humble Servt
William Bradford Chairman