meeting, legally assembled, that they would, to the utmost of their
power, prevent the landing of the tea, the question being put whether
this body be absolutely determined that the tea now arrived, in Cap^t.
Hall's ship, shall be returned to the place from whence it came, at all
events, and the question being accordingly put, it passed in the
affirmative, _nem. con._
It appearing that the hall could not contain the people assembled, it
was voted that the meeting be immediately adjourned to the Old South
meeting-house, leave having been obtained for this purpose.
* * * * *
The people met at the Old South, according to adjournment.
A motion was made, and the question put, viz.: Whether it is the firm
resolution of this body, that the tea shall not only be sent back, but
that no duty shall be paid thereon, and passed in the affirmative, _nem.
con._
It was moved, that in order to give time to the consignees to consider
and deliberate before they sent in proposals to this body, as they had
given reason to expect would have been done at the opening of the
meeting, there might be an adjournment to 3 o'clock, P.M., and the
meeting was accordingly adjourned for that purpose.
* * * * *
Three o'clock, P.M. Met according to adjournment.
A motion was made whether the tea now arrived in Cap^t Hall's ship,
shall be sent back in the same bottom. Passed in the affirmative, _nem.
con._
Mr. Rotch, the owner of the vessel, being present, informed that body
that he should enter his protest against their proceedings.
It was then moved and voted, _nem. con.,_ that Mr. Rotch be directed not
to enter this tea, and that the doing of it will be at his peril.
Also voted, that Cap^t. Hall, the master of the ship, be informed that,
at his peril, he is not to suffer any of the tea brought by him, to be
landed.
A motion was made, that in order for the security of Cap^t. Hall's ship
and cargo, a watch may be appointed, and it was voted that a watch be
accordingly appointed, to consist of 25 men.
Cap^t. Edward Proctor was appointed by the body to be cap^t. of the
watch for this night, and the names were given in to the moderator of
the townsmen who were volunteers upon the occasion.
It having been observed to the body that Governor Hutchinson had
required the justices of the peace in this town to meet and use their
endeavours to suppress any routs, or riots, &c., of the people, that
might happen, it was moved and the question put, whether it be not the
sense of this meeting that the Governor's conduct herein carries a
designed reflection upon the people here met, and is solely calculated
to serve the views of administration. Passed in the affirmative, _nem.
con._
The people being informed by Colonel Hancock that Mr. Copley, son-in-law
to Mr. Clarke, sen^r., had acquainted him that the tea consignees did
not receive their letters from London 'till last evening, and were so
dispersed that they could not have a joint meeting early enough to make
their proposals at the time intended, and therefore are desirous of a
further space for that purpose.
[It is necessary to note that Mr. Copley, and some others, our friends
informing us, that to prevent immediate outrage, it was necessary for us
to send something in writing to the Select men, which we then did,
absolutely refusing to do what they had before informed us the people
expected; but Mr. Copley, on his return to town, fearing the most
dreadful consequences, thought best not to deliver our letter to the
Select men, he returned to us at night representing this. We then wrote
the letter you see printed in this paper.]
The meeting, out of great tenderness to these persons, and from a strong
desire to bring this matter to a conclusion, notwithstanding the time
they had hitherto expended upon them, to no purpose, were prevailed upon
to adjourn to the next morning, 9 o'clock.
Thursday morning, nine o'clock.
Met according to adjournment.
The long-expected proposals were at length brought into this meeting,
not directed to the moderator, but to John Scollay, Esq^r., one of the
Select men. It was, however, voted that the same should be read, and
they were, as follows, viz.:
"Monday, Nov^r 29^th, 1773.
Sir:
We are sorry that we could not return to the Town satisfactory answers
to their two late messages to us respecting the teas. We beg leave to
acquaint the gentlemen, Select men, that we have since received our
orders from the Hon'ble East India Com^y.
We still retain a disposition to do all in our power to give
satisfaction to the Town; but, as we understood from you and the other
gentlemen, Select men, at Messrs. Clarke's interview with you last
Saturday, that this can be effected by nothing less than our sending
back the teas, we beg leave to say that this is utterly out of our power
to do, but we do now declare to you our readiness to store the teas
until we shall have an opportunity of writing to our constituents, and
shall receive their further orders respecting them, and we do most
sincerely wish that the Town, considering the unexpected difficulties
devolved upon us, will be satisfied with what we now offer. We are, sir,
Your most humble servants,
THO^S. & ELISHA HUTCHINSON.[52]
BENJ^N FANEUIL, Jun^r., for self and
JOSHUA WINSLOW, Esq^r.,
RICHARD CLARKE & SONS.
To John Scollay, Esq^r."
Mr. Sheriff Greenleaf came into the meeting, and begged leave of the
moderator that a letter, he had received from the Governor, requiring
him to read a proclamation to the people here assembled, might be read,
and it was accordingly read.
Whereupon it was moved, and the question put, whether the sheriff should
be permitted to read the proclamation, which passed in the affirmative,
_nem. con._
The proclamation is as follows, viz.:
"Massachusetts Bay.
By the Governor.
_To Jonathan Williams, Esq^r., acting as Moderator of an assembly of
people, in the Town of Boston, and to the people so assembled:_
Whereas, printed notifications were on Monday, the 29^th inst., posted
in divers places in the town of Boston, and published in the news papers
of this day, calling upon the people to assemble together for certain
unlawful purposes, in such notifications mentioned; and whereas, great
numbers of persons belonging to the town of Boston, and divers others
belonging to several other towns in the Province, did assemble in the
said town of Boston, on the said day, and did then and there proceed to
chuse a moderator, and to consult, debate, and resolve upon ways and
means for carrying such unlawful purposes into execution, openly
violating, defying and setting at naught the good and wholesome laws of
the Province, and the constitution of government under which they live;
and whereas, the people thus assembled, did vote or agree to adjourn, or
continue their meeting to this the 30^th inst., and great numbers of
them are again met or assembled together for the like purpose, in the
said town of Boston:
In faithfulness to my trust, and as his Majesty's representative within
the Province, I am bound to bear testimony against this violation of the
laws, and I warn and exhort you and require you, and each of you thus
unlawfully assembled forthwith, to disperse and to surcease all further
unlawful proceedings at your utmost peril.
Given under my hand, at Milton, in the Province aforesaid, the 30^th day
of Nov^r., 1773, and in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign.
T. HUTCHINSON.
By his Excellency's command.
THO^S. FLUCKER, Sec^y."
And the same being read by the sheriff,[53] there was, immediately
after, a loud and very general hiss.
A motion was then made, and the question put whether the assembly would
disperse and surcease all further proceedings, according to the
Governor's requirement. It passed in the neg^e, _nem. con._
A proposal of Mr. Copley was made, that in case he could prevail with
the Messrs. Clarkes to come into this meeting, the question might now be
put, whether they should be treated with civility while in the meeting,
though they might be of different sentiments with this body, and their
persons be safe, until their return to the place from whence they should
come. And the question being accordingly put, passed in the affirmative,
_nem. con._
Another motion of Mr. Copley's was put, whether two hours shall be given
him, which also passed in the affirmative.
Adjourned 'till two o'clock, P.M.
* * * * *
Two o'clock, P.M. Met according to adjournment. A motion was made and
passed, that Mr. Rotch and Capt^n Hall be desired to give their
attendance. Mr. Rotch appeared, and upon a motion made, the question was
put, whether it is the firm resolution of this body, that the tea
brought by Capt^n Hall shall be returned by Mr. Rotch to England, in the
bottom in which it came, and whether they accordingly now require the
same, which passed in the affirmative, _nem. con._
Mr. Rotch then informed the meeting, that he should protest against the
whole proceedings, as he had done against the proceedings on yesterday,
but that, tho' the returning the tea is an act in him, he yet considers
himself as under a necessity to do it, and shall therefore comply with
the requirement of this body.
Captain Hall being present, was forbid to aid or assist in unloading the
teas at his peril, and ordered, that if he continues master of the
vessel, he carry the same back to London, who replied, he should comply
with these requirements.
Upon a motion, resolved, that John Rowe, Esq^r., owner of part of Cap^t.
Bruce's ship, expected with tea, as also Mr. Timmins, factor for Cap^t.
Coffin's brig, be desired to attend.
Mr. Ezekiel Cheever was appointed captain of the watch for this night,
and a sufficient number of volunteers gave in their names for that
service.
Voted, that the captain of this watch be desired to make out a list of
the watch for the next night, and so each captain of the watch for the
following nights, until the vessels leave the harbour.
Upon a motion made, voted, that in case it should happen that the watch
should be any ways molested in the night, while on duty, they give the
alarm to the inhabitants by the tolling of the bells, and that if any
thing happens in the day time, the alarm be by ringing of the bells.
Voted, that six persons be appointed, to be in readiness, to give due
notice to the country towns, when they shall be required so to do, upon
any important occasion, and six persons were accordingly chosen for that
purpose.
John Rowe, Esq^r., attended, and was informed that Mr. Rotch had
engaged, that his vessel should carry back the tea she brought, in the
same bottom, and that it was the expectation of this body that he does
the same by the tea, expected in Cap^t. Bruce, whereupon he replied,
that the ship was under the care of the said master, but that he would
use his utmost endeavor, that it should go back as required by this
body, and that he would give immediate advice of the arrival of said
ship.
Voted, that it is the sense of this body, that Cap^t. Bruce shall, on
his arrival, strictly conform to the votes passed respecting Cap^t.
Hall's vessel, as they had all been passed in reference to Cap^t.
Bruce's ship.
Mr. Timmins appeared and informed, that Cap^t. Coffin's brig, expected
with tea, was owned in Nantucket. He gave his word of honor that no tea
should be landed while she was under his care, nor touched by any one,
until the owner's arrival.
It was then voted, that what Mr. Rowe and Mr. Timmins had offered, was
satisfactory to the body.
Mr. Copley[54] returned, and acquainted the body, that as he had been
obliged to go to the castle, he hoped that if he had exceeded the time
allowed him, they would consider the difficulty of a passage by water at
this season, as an apology. He then further acquainted the body, that he
had seen all the consignees, and though he had convinced them that they
might attend this meeting with safety, and had used his utmost endeavors
to prevail on them to give satisfaction to the body, they acquainted
him, that believing nothing would be satisfactory short of reshipping
the tea, which was out of their power, they thought it best not to
appear, but would renew their proposal of storing the tea, and
submitting the same to the inspection of a committee, and that they
could go no further without incurring their own ruin; but as they had
not been active in introducing the tea, they should do nothing to
obstruct the people in their procedure with the same.
It was then moved, and the question put whether the return made by Mr.
Copley from the consignees be in the least degree satisfactory to this
body. It passed in the negative, _nem. con._
Whereas, a number of merchants in this Province have inadvertently
imported tea from Great Britain, while it is subject to the payment of a
duty, imposed upon it by an Act of Parliament, for the purpose of
raising a revenue in America, and appropriating the same, without the
consent of those who are required to pay it, Resolved, that in thus
importing said tea, they have justly incurred the displeasure of our
brethren in the other Colonies.
And resolved further, that if any person or persons shall hereafter
import tea from Great Britain, shall take the same on board, to be
imported to this place, until the said unrighteous Act shall be
repealed, he or they shall be deemed by this body an enemy to his
country, and we will prevent the landing and sale of the same, and the
payment of any duty thereon, and we will effect the return thereof to
the place from whence it shall come.
Resolved, that the foregoing vote be printed and sent to England, and
all the sea ports in this Province.
Upon a motion made, voted that fair copies be taken of the whole
proceedings of this meeting, and transmitted to New York and
Philadelphia, and that Mr. Samuel Adams, Hon'ble John Hancock, Esq^r.,
William Phillips, Esq^r., John Rowe, Esq^r., Jonathan Williams, Esq^r.,
be a committee to transmit the same.
Voted, That it is the determination of this body to carry their votes
and resolutions into execution, at the risque of their lives and
property.
Voted, That the committee of correspondence for this town be desired to
take care, that every other vessel with tea that arrives in this
harbour, have a proper watch appointed for her; also,
Voted, That those persons who are desirous of making a part of these
nightly watches, be desired to give in their names at Messrs. Edes &
Gill's printing office.
Voted, That our brethren in the country be desired to afford their
assistance upon the first notice given, especially if such notice be
given upon the arrival of Capt^n Loring, in Mr. Clarke's brigantine.
Voted, That those of this body who belong to the town of Boston, do
return their thanks to their brethren who have come from the
neighbouring towns, for their countenance and union with this body, in
this exigence of our affairs.
Voted, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Jonathan Williams,
Esq^r., for his good services as moderator.
Voted, That this meeting be dissolved, and it was accordingly dissolved.
* * * * *
LETTER ADDRESSED TO GEO. DUDLEY, ESQ^R.,
_Enclosing 3 news papers and an advertisement, in the name of the
people, threatening vengeance on those who favored the tea scheme._
Sir:
The state and condition of the Hon'ble Company's tea in America is as
you will find in the enclosed papers. Unless the Tea Act is repealed,
no tea can be sold in America. Repeal the Act, and you may dispose of
all your teas. The Americans will not be slaves, neither are they to be
trapped under the notion of cheap teas. Death is more desirable to them
than slavery,--it is impossible to make the Americans swallow the tea.
The ministry may amuse the Company, by telling them their tea shall be
sold, and the Act preserved, but they are grossly mistaken. None of it
is yet landed, neither shall it be.
Your humble servant,
ANGLO AMERICANUS.
Boston, New England,
Dec^r 13^th, 1773.
The papers enclosed contain an account of the proceedings of the town of
Boston, on the 29^th & 30^th November, and of the resolves of some of
the neighboring towns. (The papers are in the miscellany bundle.)
* * * * *
LETTER ADDRESSED TO GEO. DUDLEY, ESQ^R.,
_Enclosing a Boston news paper of the 16^th Dec^r., 1773._
Boston, New England, 17^th Dec^r., 1773.
Gentlemen:
Your tea is destroyed, which was brought in three ships, Cap^ts. Bruce,
Hall and Coffin, and the brig with tea is cast away. If the tea is got
on shore, it will share the same fate. Every possible means has been
used to send it home safe again to you, but the tea consignees would
not send it; then application was made to the commissioners of the
customs to clear out the vessel,--they would not do it, then to the
Governor to grant a pass, which he refused, and finally the people were
obliged to destroy it, (_se defendendo_,) or else, by an unlawful
unrighteous Act, imposing a duty this tea would have destroyed them.
This whole province, of some hundred thousand people, and the other
provinces on the continent, are determined neither to use it, or suffer
it to be landed, nor pay the duty. Force can never make them, and if the
Company can ever expect to sell any tea in America, they must use all
their interest to get this Tea Act repealed, otherwise they will never
sell one ounce.
There is the utmost detestation of tea; even some of our country towns
have collected all the tea they had by them, and burnt it in their
public common, as so much chains and slavery. Get the Tea Act repealed,
and you'll sell all your tea, otherwise you must keep all. The people
will risk life and fortune in this affair,--the very being of America
depends on it. I am sorry the Company are led into such a scrape by the
ministry, to try the American's bravery, at the expence of their
property. The artifice of the ministry is to dispose of your tea, and
preserve the vile Tea Act; but they'll miss their aim,--the Americans
will not swallow cheap tea, which has a poison in the heart of it. They
see the hook thro' the bait. I am a well wisher to the Company, and also
to America; but death to an American is more desirable than slavery.
I am, gentlemen, with all due respect,
Your honors most obedient, humble servant,
ANGLO AMERICANUS.
* * * * *
AN ACCOUNT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEA AT BOSTON,
_As contained in the Boston news paper of the 16^th Dec^r._
Boston, Thursday, Dec^r 16^th, 1773.
It being understood that Mr. Rotch, owner of the ship Dartmouth, rather
lingered in his preparations to return her to London, with the East
India Company's tea on board, there was, on Monday last P.M., a meeting
of the committee of the several neighboring towns in Boston, and Mr.
Rotch was sent for and enquired of, whether he continued his resolution
to comply with the injunctions of the body on Monday and Tuesday
preceding. Mr. Rotch answered that in the interim he had taken the
advice of the best counsel, and found that in case he went on of his own
motion to send that ship to sea in the condition she was then in, it
must inevitably ruin him, and therefore he must beg them to consider
what he had said at that meeting to be the effect of compulsion, and
unadvised, and in consequence that he was not holden to abide by it,
when he was now assured that he must be utterly ruined in case he did.
Mr. Rotch was then asked whether he would demand a clearance for his
ship in the custom house, and in case of a refusal enter a protest, and
then apply in like manner for a pass, and order her out to sea? To all
which he answered in the negative. The committee, doubtless informing
their constituents of what had passed, a very full meeting of the body
was again assembled at the Old South meeting-house, on Tuesday
afternoon, and Mr. Rotch being again present, was enquired of as before,
and a motion was made and seconded that Mr. Rotch be enjoined forthwith
to repair to the collectors and demand a clearance for his ship, and ten
gent^n were appointed to accompany him, as witnesses of the demand. Mr.
Rotch then proceeded with the committee to Mr. Harrison's lodgings, and
made the demand. Mr. Harrison observed he could not give an answer 'till
he had consulted the comptroller, but would, at office hours next
morning, give a decisive answer. On the return of Mr. Rotch and the
committee to the body with this report, the meeting was adjourned to
Thursday morning, at ten o'clock.
Thursday.
Having met on Thursday morning at ten o'clock, they sent for Mr. Rotch,
and asked him if he had been to the collector, and demanded a clearance.
He said he had; but the collector said that he could not, consistent
with his duty, give him a clearance 'till all the dutiable articles were
out of his ship. They then demanded of him whether he had protested
against the collector; he said he had not. They ordered him, upon his
peril, to give immediate orders to the captain, to get his ship ready
for sea to-day, enter a protest immediately against the custom house,
and then proceed directly to the Governor, (who was at his seat at
Milton, 7 miles off,) and demand a pass for his ship to go by the
castle. They then adjourned 'till three o'clock, P.M., to wait Mr.
Rotch's return.
* * * * *
Having met according to adjournment, there was the fullest meeting ever
known. (It was reckoned that there were 2000 men from the country.)
They waited very patiently 'till 5 o'clock.
When they found Mr. Rotch did not return, they began to be very uneasy,
called for a dissolution of the meeting, and finally obtained a vote for
it. But the more moderate part of the meeting, fearing what would be the
consequences, begged that they would reconsider their vote, and wait
'till Mr. Rotch's return, for this reason, that they ought to do
everything in their power to send the tea back, according to their
resolves.
They obtained a vote to remain together one hour longer. In about
three-quarters of an hour Mr. Rotch returned, his answer from the
Governor was, that he could not give a pass 'till the ship was cleared
by the custom house. The people immediately, as with one voice, called
for a dissolution, which having obtained, they repaired to Griffin's
wharf, where the tea vessels lay, proceeded to fix tackles and hoist the
tea upon deck, cut the chests to pieces, and threw the tea over the
side. There were two ships and a brig, Capt^s. Hall, Bruce and Coffin,
each vessel having 114 chests of tea on board. They began upon the two
ships first, as they had nothing on board but the tea; then proceeded to
the brig, which had hauled to the wharf but the day before, and had but
a small part of her cargo out. The captain of the brig begged they would
not begin with his vessel, as the tea was covered with goods belonging
to different merchants in the town. They told him the tea they wanted,
and the tea they would have; but if he would go into his cabin quietly,
not one article of his goods should be hurt. They immediately proceeded
to remove the goods, and then to dispose of the tea.
[Illustration: Signature, Samuel Phillips Savage per list]
(_See page_ LVII.)
Mr. Pownall[55] presents his compliments to Mr. Wheler, and sends him,
by Lord Dartmouth's directions, extract of a letter received yesterday
from the Lieutenant-Governor of South Carolina. If the India Company
have received any advices, Lord Dartmouth will be obliged to him for a
communication thereof.
Whitehall, 29^th Jan., 1774.
* * * * *
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GOV. BULL,[56]
_Dated Charles Town, 24 Dec^r., 1773, to the Earl of Dartmouth._
On the 2^d inst., Cap^t. Curling arrived here with 257 chests of tea,
sent by the East India Company, with the same instructions to agents
appointed here as at Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The spirit which
had been raised in those towns with great threats of violence to hinder
the landing and disposing of the tea there, was communicated to this
Province by letters, gazettes, and merchants. Several meetings of the
inhabitants of Charles Town were held, to consider of measures to effect
the like prohibitions here, but tho' the warmth of some were great, many
were cool, and some differed in the reasonableness and utility thereof.
The gentlemen who were appointed agents for the East India Com^y were
prevailed upon by threats and flattery to decline the trust, and in
imitation of the northern towns, declarations were made that it should
not be landed.