The Committee being informed that a vessel formerly allowed to be purchased by Robert Donald, for the purpose of conveying passengers to Great Britain, is about to proc~ed on her voyage, the s'd Donald declaring upon oath that the said vessel is two thirds his property, the other third the property of a Gent. in Glasgow. This Comm'ee are of opinion, that since the passing of the Act of Parliament for Confiscating American property, and the order of Congress relating thereto, the said vessel ought not to depart this Colony, and it is ordered that Theo. Bland, John Banister and Arch'd Cary or any 2, make enquiry what British property either in Bullion or otherwise may be on board the s'd vessel, and make report to this Board. [A warrant] to Bartholomew Gall for £ 12 for use of himself and 4 sailors, also for I soldier escaped from the Navy, to support them on their way to Philadelphia.

Mr. Robert Donald having offered his vessel, the Brig. Hope, to this Comm'ee for £650, the price she cost and the Expenses he has been at in refitting her, The Comm'ee agree to take her to be employed as a Cruizer for James River, provided Capt. James Cocke shall approve her and she can be delivered to him in some safe place up Appomattox River and a proportion of her value for such part thereof as shall appear to be British property, to be deducted out of the above-stated value 'til the further order of this Comm'ee. And it is ordered that Capt. James Cocke be empowered to examine such prov's on board the said vessel and take such part thereof for the use of the Navy in that River as may suit their purpose at a reasonable price.

The Comm'ee having rec'd Information that vessels loaded with prov's frequently pass down the Rivers ー Resolved, that no vessels be permitted to pass without a permit from the Commanding Officer of the forces or a County Comm'ee, and the officers at the differfillt stations upon the Rivers are required to enforce this Resolution. ,. .

The comm'ee approve of taking Mr. Archer's vessel to be employed as a cruizer in York River at a reasonable price, to be apprazed by Edw'd Champion Travis,Esq're, the elder, who is to examine her state and condition and make report. In the Evening 6 o'clock.

Capt. James Barron appeared and laid before the Comm'ee a packette which he had intercepted, from his Majesty's Secretary of State to Governor Eden of Maryland, containing Letters of Instruction and Advice, which were read and considered. Whereupon this Comm'ee are of opinion that copies thereof be immediately forwarded with all possible dispatch to the District Coinm'ee of Newbern, North Carolina, and the Council of Safety of Baltimore and Annapolis.

Ordered, a Letter to be written to the Council of Safety .for Edenton District, inclosing the above copies, intimating the situation and strength of Lord Dunmore's Fleet, now here, and the advantage and conveniency of erecting a Battery at the mouth of Norfolk River to keep off ships of war and render a secure harbour for the Continental Fleet, should they incline to come here.

Ord., a Letter to be written to the Council of Safety of Maryland and Baltimore, inclosing copies of the s'd Dispatches, requesting they would for" ward copies to Congress, and intimating that a certain Alexander Ross was the person charged with those Dispatches, who went to s'd Dunmore after being denied a permit by this Comm'ee without our knowledge, and recommending the seizure of him as a suspicious person and unfriendly to the American cause.