134 Journal and Correspondence

small expence to the province, many of the guns belonging to
the poorer People, who cannot conveniently pay for the
repairing and putting them in proper order, could be made fit
for use. Beg leave to request of your honours, that should
you think it expedient, that said arms should be repaired to
signify the same to us, and we will have them done in the most
speedy, cheapest, & effectual manner. We are respectfully
Gen^t y^r most ob^t Serv^ts
Thomas Dorsey
Jn^o Dorsey
Edw^d Gaither Jun^r

Original.

[Alexander and Paca to Council.]

Phil^A 2^d Feb^y 1776.
Gent. Last night we received your Letters by Maynard,
covering the Resolutions of Congress relative to the Plates &
Paper for the Prov^l Currency as the furnishing Devices, is a
Business to which We are entire Strangers, We have advised
with Doct^r B. Franklin & shall with his assistance set the
Engraver to Work in a few Days; as the Convention have
ordered both Plates & Paper here, we submit to you, whether
it would not be expedient to have the Printing also done by
Hall or Sellers, of this we are certain, the Business would be
done with much greater Expedition but in this, shall be gov-
erned by your Directions.
With Respect to Cannon, so far as we can form any Opinion
from the short Time to make the Enquiry, none can be had
here or from any of the Eastern Governments, they are very
scarce thro' the whole Continent — a Committee of Congress
of which M^r Rogers is a Member, have been appointed to
make Enquiry into the Quantity of Cannon on Hand & what
will be wanted & where & on what Terms they can be had ;
no Report is yet made, but a Letter, from M^r Chase to M^r Paca
mentioning that Hughes in Fred^k had contracted with Con-
vention to supply our Province at £32.10, being communicated
to Congress, the Members of the Committee were immedi-
ately very desirous to see M^r Hughes & to know whether he
would make the like Contract, for supplying the Demands of
Congress; this will convince you that a Supply cannot be had
from hence & that you must rely on your Resources, by casting
them in the Province. M^r Paca purchased from M^r Morris 12
Guns of 6 pounds Ball for £600, by order of M^r Johnson, they
would have been sent down, had not the Ice stopped the
navigation.
We are with respect Gen^t Y^r hum^l servants.
R. Alexander W^m Paca.