In Committee of Safety, Philad'a, 26th March, 1776.
Resolved, That Fire Ship. William Gamble be appointed C aptain to the Aetna
That William Greenway be appointed Captain to one of the tier of Fire Rafts.
Resolved, That the Provincial Ship of War be called the Montgomery.
That the Floating Battery be called the Arnold.
Resolved, That Mr. 0. Biddle & Mr. Clymer employ Arthur Donaldson to build two piers to sink, for fixing the Boom for obstructing the navigation of the passage at Fort Island.
At a Special Meeting of the Committee of Safety, at the Coffee House,
Mr. [John] Nixon laid before the Board a Letter sent by express from Henry Fisher, dated Lewes Town, Monday evening, Seven O'Clock, acquainting this Committee that a Sloop-of-war was then coming into Lewes Road with a small Tender, and that there was reason to believe they would proceed up the Bay. The Committee sent for the Commodore and ordered him to send four of the armed Boats, well filled & manned, immediately down the River, as far, if necessary, as Reedy Island, and to direct the commanding Officer and other officers of the said Boats to Act in concert with, and by the advice of Cap't Barry, of the Brig't. Lexington, (in the Continental Service,) and exert their utmost endeavours to take or destroy all such Vessels of the Enemy as they shall find in the River Delaware.
The Committee also sent an Express to Cap't [Thomas] Proctor, or the Commanding Officer of the Artillery Company at Liberty Island, with the above intelligence, and order'd to keep a good Look out to prevent surprize, and be fully prepared to oppose the Enemy if they should attempt to come up the River.