[Halifax] Friday April 12th 1776
The Committee to enquire into the Cost of sundry Merchandizes deemed useful to the service of this province as per Invoice exhibited by Mr John Wright Standley and to agree with him for the same reported as follows, vizt Your Committee have examined the Invoices of sundry Goods imported by John Wright Stanley the Cost of which appears to amount to the sum of three thousand one hundred sixty two peices of eight (peices 8/8) and two rials charged at St Eustatia, on which an Advance of seventy five per Cent, for risk and charges appear reasonable as they were bought in Barter; also sundry other Goods, by Invoice produced amounting [to] three thousand nine hundred thirty four peices of eight (peices 8/8) for Rials and four stivers bought with Ready Money, on which an advance of eighty seven and a half per Cent for risk, and Charges, and twenty per Cent for the risk, trouble, and Commission, Mr Stanley had in the Adventure. Your Committee are further of Opinion the five hundred pounds of Gunpowder offered by Mr Stanley at eight shillings per pound is at this time a reasonable price; which several sums amount .in the whole to four thou.sand eight hundred forty eight pounds one Shilling one penny three farthings Proclamation Money, which your Committee are of Opinion may be allowed and paid to Mr Stanley for the said Goods, on Account and for the use of the public, on delivery of said Goods at Newbern in good order, to such person or persons as the Congress shall appoint to receive them. humbly sub:rpitted to the House The Congress taking the same into Consideration and the said report being read concurred therewith The Congress having agreed with Mr John Wright Stanley on Account of the public, for sundry Goods, and Merchandizes, as per Invoice exhibitted;
Resolved That the. Treasurers or either of them pay to John Wright Stanley the Sum of four thousand eight hundred forty eight pounds one Shilling one penny three Farthings Proclamation Money, for sundry Goods and Merchandizes purchased of him on Account and for the use of this province, he first producing a Receipt from John Green, and David Baron that all and every Article contained in the said Invoice are Bona fideand actually delivered into their possession in good and Merchantable Order, and that the Treasurers be allowed in their Accounts with the Public
On Motion, Resolved, That Mr John Green and Mr David Baron of New Bern be requested to receive and take into their possession from Mr John Wright Stanley, sundry Goods and Merchandizes as per Invoice exhibited, amounting to forty eight pounds one Shilling one penny three farthings, at the risk and account of the public till further Orders.
Mr Harnett Chairman from the Committee to take into Consid~ration the Petition of Joseph Wood and Copartners, praying an Order to dispose of the Effects of his Excellency Josiah Martin Esquire reported as follows to wit.
Your committee having enquired into the several Allegations set forth .in t.he said Petition do report as follows: That the said Joseph Wood and Partners, with permission of the Committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, did on the fifth day of January last past, load on Board the Sloop Joseph, William Raddon Master, sundry Goods and Merchandize, on their own Account to the value of Six hundred and seventy pounds three Shillings and seven pence, on the Account of William Todd, one hundred and ninety pounds, of Joseph Wood junr Ten pounds, of William R~ddon, nine pounds eighteen Shillings, prime Cost in Philadelphia, all which were consigned to the said Joseph Wood and bound to Georgia; that in his passage the said Sloop and Cargo were taken by an Armed Vessel called the General Gage, George Sybels Master, and carried into Cape Fear, where Josiah Martin, Esquire late Governor of this Province bore the chief Command, and the officers under Command of the said Josiah Martin did viblently seize the said sloop and Cargo, and apply them to the use of the Enemies of America, whereby the said Joseph and Partners lost fifteen hundred pounds Current Money of Pennsylvania over the above the Profits they might reasonably have made The house taking the same into Consideration concurred therewith.