[Philadelphia] Wednesday, March 13, 1776
A letter from Mr. ].Macpherson, of the 12, was read:
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the memorial from the merchants, traders, and others, inhabitants of Philadelphia, the memorial of Edmund Custis, the letter from the committee of Accomac and Northampton, the letters from General Washington, and the state of the trade of the United Colonies, and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Samuel] Ward reported, that the committee have taken into consideration the matters to them referred, but not having come to any resolution, desired him to move for leave to sit again.
Resolved, That this Congress will, to Morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the matters heretofore referred to them.
Resolved, That the marine committee be directed to purchase the armed vessel now in the river Delaware, on the most reasonable terms, for the service of the continent, and that her destination be left to the said marine committee.