The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-12-30

tsulSt REPRESENTATIVES, VI "sS" ~"~~ We
nomiaal. ~
\ So great quantity OF tea arriving
once, Indef (uciI circumstances, jutij a
an Uniserfal alarm For though The iG,.
poltAtion Of few chefs, from time TO time,
IN the feveral London ihlps, had been oves-
looked( not being ilipsesd thole who thought
t would be criminal tamely to give Up any
If our eGsa,ial tights as B'itiih iutje6s,anc
involve our ppieIi,y in fate little beuer
han Aavery. began TO look about them, and
to think il high tine to contend, legal and
to dilpute the aaumed power.
In ,heie circumstances, hand bills were
diisibuted on Thnrfday, and adseItieme' 3
tuck up a. all the uiual and moft pubic
places, inviting ell The Inhabitants, without
exception, particularly the LandhooeTs, TO
sGemble in theGseat Hall over the Exchange
az three o'clock on Friday afternoon, As we'll
with aview TO prevent any raih Of violent
proceedings, as 10 take the frhIe OF the peo-
ole 20 collected; what wosld be absolutely
necelary to be done In she preient cafe I
The inhAhiiantA aeeordingly met on
Friday--and very verify and hoaopr-
abl- Gentleman, having been unanimouf.
" requeiied 70 take the chair, was placed
thereins. ..
After Gs:ae tifhe dpent in calm dsliber.
alton, il appearpd, to be the Grnie OF the
L people, that the Gentlemen in trade
Mould be reqnetled to enter lmmeaiarely
iute~ written agreemenr, not 20 import
any more teas, that would pay duties,
| laid for the uneonititutional purl ole OF
rafting 4 revenue Upon US withoat our
coait nt... which fenlc being declared by
| Mr.. chairman, the form Of proper a.
sr emens was called for, approved of,
aud Ggned, BY leverai Of the gentlemen
preftnr. s.
/, was next propelled and agreed to.
thar the Gentlemrn to whom the EattS
| India company tea had been coniigned,
| mould be deiired 10 attends aad thae
| Mr. Chairman lhonld acquaint them, that
the receiving the faid Tea, iubjea TO a
duty winch they apprshended to be I'M
| conilitutionaIly laid, wou d be exceeds
ingly dilaarceable 20 their fellow cisi-
zens, and che body Of inhabi,ants Of fAis
province and that thersfore IL wes re.
| quoted, they would not accept the faid
commiaion, but return the tea, TO the
proprietors thereof in the fame bottom
that brought IL.
MIR. Smith, end MelIfs. LrgeF and
Greenwood sccordingly atteH4rd Z Ard
Mr.. Chairman having delivered whaf ne
had in charge, thois gentlemen ieverally
lhewed the regard they had for gheif
country, by declining co seceivs she tea,
as the people had reque1ed--apd Mr..
Smith added, 10 his lalling honoufs THAI
he had determined fome weeks before e
arrived, not to have any concern In 3
bufinels, which his countrymen coneeiw.
I'd to have 20 fatal tendency. This was
followed by repeated thanks, and loud
fiouts of aPplaufe.
capr.,curling experimenting himlelf
involved in iome difficulties, ~ this de-
termination, then Leiired TO beinformed
how he faould extricate himieIf FROM
them. He was anfwered, "by Keeping
all the tea on board his vefel, and re-
turning with IL to Englsnd."
A committee wa then appointed, 90
wait, the next day, ppeu fuel genrlemeis
in trade, and other importers, ss were
nor prefent, with the agreenient already
| ligned by feveraI mot to import any more
teas, fhbiett to the afofeIald ddtys In orr
der that they might add their names.
On Saturday the laid committee dill
gently and faithfully pefformed what
was reoueaed Of tIIems
In the mean time the principal plants
ers and landholders have Thought IL pos
per 70 enter into anotlfef agreemenkS
wbich Is fgnihg very fat.