Naval Documents of The American Revolution, Volume 1 ... - Ibiblio

1032 AMERICAN THEATRE
Biddle was applied to for the purpose and dispatched with a pilot boat to Hispaniola
which he procured a Cargo of powder with which he returned in a very short time.
Soon after he was appointed to the Command of the Franklin Galley then just built."
Nicholas Biddle Papers, HSP.
To Nicholas Biddle, Eesquire.
In Committee of Safety
We reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct
and Fidelity. Do by these Present constitute and appoint you to be Captain
of the Provincial Armed Boat, called t.he Franklin fitted out for the protection
of the Province of Pennsylvania, and the Commerce of the River Delaware,
against all hostile Enterprizes, and for the defence of American Liberty: you
are therefore to take the said Boat into your charge, and carefully and diligently
to discharge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all manner of things
thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers, Soldiers
and Mariners under your command to be obedient to your orders, as Captain.
And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time,
as you shall receive from the Assembly or Provincial Convention, during their
Sessions, or from this or a future Committee of Safety for this Province, or from
your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, pursuant
to the trust reposed in you; this commission to continue in force until revoked by
the Assembly or Provincial Convention, or by this or any succeeding Committee
of Safety.
By order of the Committee.
B. Franklin, Presid't
Philadelphia, August 1 st 1775.
Wm. Govett, Sec'ty
1. James S. Biddle, ed., Autobiography of Charles Biddle, Vice-President of the Supreme Executiue
Council of Pennsylvania, 1745-1821 (Philadelphia, 1883), 393. While three captains
had been commissioned prior to Biddle, his is the earliest one that has been located.
Although dated August 1, it was not issued until after August 26, 1775, when the form
was adopted and one hundred copies ordered printed. Hereafter cited as Biddle, ed.,
Charles Biddle Autobiography.
I am amazed at the stupor and supineness of your Admiralty. For God's
sake what are you doing in England? Are the friends of Great Britain and their
property to be left exposed at this rate, to the dictates of an inhuman rabble? . . .
Where is the boasted Navy of our country, that only one poor sloop is stationed
here? Whereas, if we had but three ships of war, one of fifty and two of forty
guns each, this place would not only be kept in awe, and the friends of Government
secured, but a sufficient quantity of provisions might be had at all times for your
fleet and army, which, we are informed, are half starved at Boston. As to the
sloop we have here, the Nautilus, I fear she will soon go to the shades; for our
good friends are building above fifty row-boats of large dimensions, which are to
have a twenty-four pounder in the stern sheets, several swivels in the sides, and
plenty of musquets for the people on board, and all for the purpose of attacking the
King's ships that may arrive here. But if Government would order the Navy to