1776.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 291 



mill house were 30 by 20 feet, with a head and fall of 8J feet. 

 The drying house was 20 by 15 feet, "neither floored nor 

 plastered." The Doctor had received one ton of saltpetre and 

 600 lbs. of sulphur. lie expected to deliver one ton of powder 

 on the first of June, "and tiie same quantity weekly." 



Another mill, of much greater dimensions, was at this time 

 about being erecteil, at the public expense, on French (.'reek, 

 " about four. miles above Moore Hall." It was expected to be 

 ready to work on the 2oth of June. On a branch of French 

 Creek still another small mill was in the course of erection, and 

 also one on Swamp Creek, in Bucks County.' 



Lead was also in great requisition — so much so, that all the 

 leaden clock weights, draught weights, &c., were required to be 

 given up for military purposes. Six pence per pound was allowed 

 for the lead thus taken. « 



On the 21st of May the Committee of Safety adopted a me- 

 morial to Congress, asking for aid in the completion of the de- 

 fences of the l3elaware. They speak of the large sums appropri- 

 ated for that object by the Provincial Assembly under the direc- 

 tion of the Committee — that they caused "thirteen Arm'd Boats 

 or Gondolas to be built, equip'd and manned, and have since built 

 fitted and Manned, a large Ship, Floating Battery, several Guard 

 Boats, and a great number of fire Rafts ; erected fortifications on 

 deep water Island ; raised a large artillery Company for their de- 

 fence, and sunk Chevaux-de-frize in the channel of the river ; 

 That the Assembly have raised two Battalions of Riflemen and 

 one of Musquetry, stationed on the banks of the river Delaware. 



" That the Committee perceive, after all these exertions, 

 greatly surpassing, as they believe, any that have been made on 

 this Continent, at an expense merely Collonial, that their defence 

 is still imperfect, and far unequal in their idea, to the probable 

 force, that may soon be employed against this colony. 



They ask Congress to make an appropriation for the erection 

 of an additional Floating Battery, and also for a fortification to 

 be erected at Billingsport, on the Jersey shore. Congress made 

 an appropriation for this latter work, but it was executed under 

 the supervision of the Committee of Safety ; a boom erected 

 there was also a Continental charge. The works on Fort Island 

 were also strengthened about this time, as a requisition was made 

 on Col. Miles for a working force of one hundred men for that 

 purpose. To these were allowed, over and above their pay " a 

 quart of ISs. Beer each working day." 



On the 17th of June, Col. Atlee, who had been stationed at 

 Chester, was directed by the Committee to order his whole Bat- 

 talion to be quartered in the Barracks of the city. This order 



' Penna. Archives, iv. T65. 



