Note 48 — THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE COURT OF FRANCE. (continued 3)
Reading edition
The following resolve was passed in Congress, November 10th, 1777.
"Resolved, That the Committee of Foreign Affairs be directed to write to the commissioners of the United States, in France and Spain, to purchase and ship on continental account, in armed vessels, in addition to what has heretofore been ordered by Congress, 500 tons of lead, 400 tons of powder, one million of gun flints, tents for 50,000 men, and 10,000 yards of flannel for cartridges, to be sent to such ports and places as the said committee shall direct; and that the former orders of Congress, and of the commercial committee for clothing, fire-arms, equipage, brass field-pieces, salt, and other articles, and for 130,000 blankets, be completed as soon as may be;
"That the committee be also directed to write to the commissioners, and instruct them to contract with, and send over, by different conveyances, two or three persons, well acquainted with the making of gun-flints, in order to instruct persons in that business, and introduce into these States so useful a manufacture; likewise, three or more proper persons, skilful in working lead mines and refining lead ore, and three or more persons skilful in the discovery of sulphur mines, and manufacturing and refining sulphur."