[Philadelphia] 8th April, 1776.
Sir,
Mr. James Maule, Pilot, applying to this Board for liberty to go down with your Ship, the Committee are of Opinion that it is unsafe at present to
Suffer any Pilot to go down the River, and therefore cannot grant the Permission.
Whenever it can be done with Safety you will have Notice, and 'till then it is hoped you will not undertake to engage any Pilot upon that Service.
1. Hazard, et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives, 1st series, IV, 731.