Bucks County Committee of Safety to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety
January 24, 1776

HENRY WYNKOOP TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY

Bucks County, Jan. 24th, 1776.

Sir,

In consequence of the request of the Committee of Safety to promote the making of Saltpetre in the Country, the Committee of the County have appointed James WALLACE, Andrew KICHLEIN and Joseph FENTON, jun^r., to attend the Saltpetre Works in Philadelphia, those are persons of reputation and influence in different parts of the County who upon their return from the City will set up the Works at their respective Homes, the Committee apprehend that the intention of your Board will be better answered in the Country, and with much less expense to the public, in this way than could be done by sending people about the Country, as much greater attention will be paid to the exhibitions of those Gentlemen than could be expected from any persons that could be induced to undertake the laborious task of traveling about for that purpose. The Committee have likewise appointed Mr. James WALLACE the officer to receive the Saltpetre made in this County. I apprehend the mode of paying for the Saltpetre will prove discouraging to the people, as they will have to go to Philadelphia with the Officer's order before they can be paid for any small quantity of Saltpetre they may have carried in, this is such a roundabout troublesome and expensive way of getting their money that I think it ought to be remedied unless the Committee are possessed of reasons to the contrary which I at present do not think of, Mr. WALLACE is a gentleman of property strict Honesty and firm attachment to our cause [sic], and what evil of inconvenience can arise from some money being put in his Hands to enable him to pay for the Saltpetre as it is brought in; if the Committee should judge that proper, I desire that Mr. WALLACE may be acquainted therewith, that he may make that alteration in an advertisement I put into His hands to be published relative to this matter.

I am, Sir, Your very humble serv^t,

HENRY WYNKOOP.

Directed.

To Chairman of the Committee of Safety, Philadelphia.