[Philadelphia] 20th June, 1776, In Committee of Safety.
Sir, In order to prevent the Pilots belonging to our Bay, and (particularly such as are acquainted with the Passage through the Chevaux D'Frize) from falling into the Hands of the Enemy; This Board has restricted all Masters of Vessels going down the River from taking a Chevaux D'Frize Pilot lower than Chester, and from thence they are obliged to proceed down the Bay without any Pilot whatever, and in order to exact a strickt obedience to those Regulations, the Masters of Vessels have been required to take an oath to comply with them. As it will be more convenient to the Public if this Branch of Business should pass through your Hands, this Committee requests that you will oblige all Masters of Vessels to take an Oath to theabove Purpose, which being complyed with, you are hereby authorized to grant Permits to such Vessels to pass the Chevaux D'Frize. You will please to observe that these Regulations are not extended to Vessels which go down the River under the Convoy of Continental Ships of war, and therefore where any Masters of Vessels produce to you a Certificate from the Marine Committee, that their Vessels are to be taken under Convoy, the above Oath is to be dispensed with. Privateers will always receive the necessary Papers from this Board.
1. Hazard, et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives, 1st series, IV, 777-78.