[Philadelphia] 20th June; 1776.
Instructions to Commodore Samuel Davidson, was drawn up and agreed to Yesterday, and delivered him this day, and are as follows:
In Committee of Safety, 19th June, 1776.
Sir:
The Committee having thought proper to appoint you Commodore-in-Chief of all the Provincial Naval Armaments in the River Delaware, which you are to notify to the Officers of the Fleet by publishing to them your Commission, It becomes necessary to give you some Instructions to Regulate your Conduct in some Points of this Important Trust.
And first, you are by all possible Means to establish such a proper sense of Subordination in the Fleet, that all the Orders you think necessary to Issue, be punctually and implicitly obeyed, a loose and Relaxed Discipline utterly enfeebling every Military Establishment, however respectable it may otherwise be in the Circumstance of Number or Force.
Secondly, As it is the Duty and Inclination of this Committee to maintain the Fleet in a constant state of preparation to receive the Enemy, you must immediately take an exact survey of its present Condition, and whatever may be wanting in its Equipment to make Report of to Capt. William Richards, who is appointed and directed by this Board to supply all its Defficiencies.
Thirdly, an attack from the Enemy being highly probable, tho' the time uncertain, it is necessary that every part of the Fleet should have its proper station assign'd, in such way as to afford Mutual support, and that the whole may act to the best effect.
Fourthly, you must particularly attend not only to the situation of the Fleet, but take great care that the Officers and Men are not absent from their respective Vessels any length of time & at any great distance, but as it is probable that some of the Officers of the Boats may be desirous of coming up to this City, you may give leave of absence to them, but only to six Officers at one time, and that no more than three of that number shall be Captains, who shall not be absent more than Forty-Eight Hours at one time from their Respective Vessels.
Lastly, Should any accident or Circumstance happen in the Fleet that has the least Tendency to effect the service, you are to give the earliest information of it to the Committee of Safety, that, they, if they have the means of Remedy, may apply such as the nature of the Case may Require.
These being the Principal matters that have occurr'd to the Committee, they confide in your prudence and Discretion, which have directed their Choice, to supply their Omission in those Numberless Circumstances and situations in which you may be placed, earnestly Recommending to you, however, that you endeavour to promote the Utmost Harmony between you and the Officers of the Fleet, and between one another, on which depends so much the success of every undertaking, where Men are to act in Concert, and Mutual Assistance is required.
By order of the Committee,
Sign'd, Jno. Nixon, Chair'n.
The Commodore had directions this day to distribute 50 Rounds of Gun Powder to each of the armed Boats, taking receipts for the Delivery from their Commanding Officers, and at the same time to take from them all the Powder they have now on Board.
A letter was this day wrote to George Bryan, Esq'r, Naval Officer, desiring he would grant permits to the Captains of Vessels that may apply for Chevaux de Frize Pilots to the town of Chester, taking a qualification that they will take no Pilot further down the River than Chester, unless it be such Vessels as go down the Bay under Convoy of Continental Ships of War, who are to be allowed pilots on their producing a Certificate from the Marine Committee that they are to be taken under Convoy, and that Privateers will always receive the necessary Papers from this Board.