IMAG0013.htm

to, nem. con., that the Tea should be not only sent back, but that no duty should be paid thereon.

It was also voted, nem. con., that Mr. Rotch, owner of the vessel, and Captain Hall, the master of the ship, at their peril, should not suffer any of the Tea to be landed; it was also voted, that Gov. Hutchinson's conduct, in requesting the Justices of the Peace to meet to suppress all riots and unlawful assemblies, carried a designed reflection upon tiie People there met, and was solely calculated to serve the views of Administration. They afterwards voted that the Tea brought by Captain Hall, should be returned, by Mr. Rotch, to England, in the same bottom in which it came; it was also voted, nem. con., that six persons should be appointed to give due notice to the towns in the country, when they should be required so to do upon any important occasion.

They also resolved, that if any person or persons should hereafter import any Tea from Great Britain, or if any master or masters of any vessel or vessels in Great Britain, should take the same on board to be imported to that place, until the said unrighteous Act should be repealed, he or they should be deemed by that body an enemy to his country, and that they would prevent the landing and sale of the same, and the payment of any duty thereon, and that they would effect the return thereof to the place from whence it came.

They also resolved that these their votes be printed, and sent to England, and all the sea ports in the Province. Before they separated they voted that their brethren in the country should be desired to give their assistance upon the first notice that should be given.

After the dissolution of this Assembly of the People what is called the Committee of Correspondence, called in Committees of other towns, or other persons to join with them, kept up a military watch and guard every night, to prevent the landing any Teas, and appeared to be the Executioners of the resolves and orders passed at the aforesaid Assembly.

The consignees having retired to the Castle, the owner of the first ship that arrived was the principal person applied to, and he was sent for repeatedly by these Committees, and was frequently required to send back the ship with the Teas; he pleaded, "That he could not get a clearance at the custom-house, nor a pass for the Castle; and that if he should be able to get his ship out of the harbour, bath ship and cargo would be forfeited in every part of the King's dominions." This was not thought satisfactory, and the next morning another Assembly of the People met and chose a Moderator. At this meeting it was determined, that Mr. Rotch, the owner of the ship, should demand at the custom-house, a clearance of the Teas for England, which was done the 15th, when the Collector and Comptroller refused to grant it.

He then was obliged to demand a permit from the Naval Office to pass the Castle; afterwards he was sent to the Governor to apply to him for the permit, who soon satisfied him that no permit could be granted until the vessel was regularly cleared. He returned to town that evening and reported this answer to the meeting. Immediately whereupon numbers of the People cried out a mob! a mob! left the house, repaired to the wharfs where three of the vessels lay aground, having on board three hundred and forty chests of Tea, and in two hours time it was totally destroyed. A sufficient number of People for doing the work were disguised, and these were surrounded by numbers, as well of the inhabitants of Boston, as of other towns.

The Committee observe, that many persons of consideration in the town of Boston took the lead in the proceedings of this meeting, for whose names they beg leave to refer your Lordships to the papers themselves.

On 4th of March, 1774, the Earl of Dartmouth acquainted the House, "That his Majesty had given directions that the several Papers received from America, relating to the Disturbances there, with regard to the Importation of Tea, should be laid before the House; and that the same would be delivered on Monday next,"

The Earl of Dartmouth acquainted the House "That he had a Message from his Majesty, under his Royal sign manual, which his Majesty had commanded him to deliver to this House.

And the same was read by the Lord Chancellor, and is as follows; (videlicet:)

"GEORGE R.

His Majesty, upon information of the unwarrantable practices which have been lately concerted and carried on in North America, and particularly of the violent and outrageous proceedings at the town and port of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, with a view to obstructing the commerce of this Kingdom, and upon grounds and pretences immediately subversive of the Constitution thereof, hath thought fit to lay the whole matter before his two Houses of Parliament, fully confiding as well in their zeal for the maintenance of his Majesty's authority, as in their attachment to the common interest and welfare of all his Dominions, that they will not only enable his Majesty effectually to take such measures as may be most likely to put an immediate stop to the present disorders, but will also take into their most serious consideration what farther regulations and permanent provisions may be necessary to be established for better securing the execution of the laws, and the just dependence of the Colonies upon the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.

G. R."

The Earl of Dartmouth, also, (by his Majesty's command,) laid before the House, copies of all letters, &c., received from North America, relating to the Disturbances there with regard to the Importation of Tea, with a list thereof.

It was ordered, that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, "To return his Majesty the thanks of this House for his Majesty's gracious Message, and for the communication his Majesty hath been graciously pleased to make to this house of the several Papers relative to the present state of some of his Majesty's Colonies in North America.

"To assure his Majesty, that this House, truly sensible that the peace and good Government of the. Colonies, and the preventing any obstructions there to the commerce of this Kingdom, are objects of their most serious attention, will enter upon the consideration of these Papers with an earnest desire to make such provisions as, upon mature deliberation, shall appear necessary and expedient for securing the just dependence of the said Colonies upon the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, and for enforcing a due obedience to the laws of this Kingdom throughout. all his Majesty's dominions."

And the said Papers and his Majesty's most gracious Speech were likewise ordered to be taken into consideration on Thursday sevennight, and the Lords summoned.

On the 11th of March, the Earl of Dartmouth (by his Majesty's command) laid before the house more Papers from America, relating to the Disturbances there with regard to the Importation of Tea, together with a list thereof; and the same was read, and ordered to lie on the table; and to be taken into consideration on Thursday next.

On the 26th March, a Message was brought from the House of Commons, with a Bill intituled, An act to discontinue, in such manner, and for such time, as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the town and within the harbour of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in North America.

On the 28th of March, a Petition of Mr. sayer, and others, natives of America, was presented and read, praying the said Bill may not pass into a law; which was ordered to lie on the table. Then the House took into consideration the several Papers in his Majesty's most gracious Message; and the said Bill was read a second time and committed.

On the 30th of March, a Petition of William Bollan, Esq., Agent for the Council of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, was presented to the House and read; and he was called in, and heard at the bar; and being withdrawn, the said Bill was read a third time and passed nem. diss.; and received the Royal assent on the following day.