Ordered, That 16,000 dollars be advanced to the Marine Committee, to be by them paid to William Smith, Esq. of Baltimore, on account of flour and iron he has purchased for the use of the navy in the eastern department; the said Committee to be accountable:¹

. . . Congress being informed, that cloathing and other articles imported into Massachusetts bay, on account of the United States, have been delivered partly to the navy board in the eastern district, partly to the board of war of that State, and partly to the continental agent there,² and that parcels thereof have been issued by the said navy board without the order of Congress, Committee of Commerce, or of the Board of War, from all which great confusion, misapplication, and waste may insue;³ therefore,

Ordered, That for the future, all such importations, where not otherwise directed, be delivered into the hands of the continental agent, or his order, only; and the said agent is hereby strictly forbidden to deliver out any part thereof, without the special order of Congress, the Board of War and Ordnance, or the Committee of Commerce.