Resolved, That Howard Esten, commander of the Ship Virginia, acted imprudently in not remonstrating in stronger terms against the Tea being put on board the Ship, as he well knew it would be disagreeable to the inhabitants of this Colony.

We submit to our countrymen whether every Ship, circumstanced as the Virginia is, ought not to share the same fate.

Signed by order of the Committee,

WILLIAM RUSSELL, Clerk.

Gloucester County, November 7, 1774.

From certain information that the Virginia, Captain Howard Esten, was arrived in York River with a quantity of Tea on board, twenty-three members of the Committee of Gloucester County, with a number of the other inhabitants, assembled at Gloucester Town, to determine how the said Tea should be disposed of.

Hearing that the Members of the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, at eight o'clock this morning, had taken the matter under their consideration, we determined to wait the result of their deliberations. We accordingly waited till after twelve, but the determinations from Williamsburg having not then come down, we repaired to the Ship, in order to meet the Committee of York, which we supposed to be in the great number of those we discerned on board. On our arrival we found the Tea had met its deserved fate, for it had been committed to the waves. We then returned, and after mature deliberation came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That John Norton, Merchant in London, by sending over Tea in his Ship has lent his little aid to the Ministry for enslaving America, and been guilty of a daring insult upon the people of this Colony, to whom he owes his all.

Resolved, That the Ship Virginia, in which the detestable Tea came, ought and shall return in twenty days from the date hereof.

Resolved, That no Tobacco shall be shipped from this County on board the said Ship, either to the owners or any other person whatsoever; and we do most earnestly recommend it to our countrymen to enter into the same Resolution, in their respective Counties.

Resolved, That the said Norton has forfeited all title to the confidence of this County, and that we will not in future consign Tobacco, or any other commodity to his house, until satisfactory concessions are made, and we recommend the same Resolution to the rest of the Colony.

Resolved, That John Prentis, who wrote for, and to whom the Tea was consigned, has justly incurred the censure of this country, and that he ought to be made a publick example of.

Resolved, That Howard Esten, commander of the Ship Virginia, has acted imprudently, by which he has drawn on himself the displeasure of the people of this County.

Signed by order of the Committee,

JASPER CLAYTON, Clerk.

Williamsburg, November 24, 1774.

It gives me much concern to find that I have incurred the displeasure of the York and Gloucester Committees, and thereby of the publick in general, for my omission in not countermanding the order which I sent to Mr. Norton for two half chests of Tea; and do with truth declare, that I had not the least intention to give offence, nor did I mean an opposition to any measure for the publick good. My countrymen, therefore, it is earnestly hoped, will readily forgive me for an act which may be interpreted so much to my discredit; and I again make this publick declaration, that I had not the least design to act contrary to those principles which ought to govern every individual who has a just regard for the rights and liberties of America.

JOHN PRENTIS.

Philadelphia, November 7, 1774.

A respectable number of the Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to notice given in the Pennsylvania Packet, met at the State House, to consider of such matters as it was necessary to determine upon previous to the election of a Committee on Saturday next. After some debate it was unanimously voted that the election be by ballot; whereupon a plan for that purpose was read, amended, and unanimously approved.

The company met, then took into their consideration whether the Committee should be chosen for the City and County jointly, or whether the City and Suburbs should choose a separate Committee; and after some debate,

Voted unanimously, That the City and Suburbs shall choose a Committee to act for themselves distinct from the County.

Voted unanimously, That this Committee do consist of sixty persons.

Voted unanimously, That the Committee of sixty, proposed to be elected on Saturday next, for the City and Suburbs, shall be and continue in office until the close of the sessions of the General Congress, intended to be held next spring, and until two weeks afterwards and no longer.

Voted unanimously, That the following gentlemen be appointed and requested to take care that the election for Inspectors is held in the several Wards respectively, and in the Suburbs, agreeable to the plan of Election, to wit:

UPPER DELAWARE WARD, Jacob Bright, Philip Moore.

LOWER DELAWARE WARD, John Knowles, John Duffield.

MULBERRY WARD Isaac Melchior, Jacob Winey.

NORTH WARD, Isaac Howell, Richard Humphreys.

CHESTNUT WARD, William Bradford, Joseph Dean.

MIDDLE WARD, John Howard, Samuel Simpson.

WALNUT WARD, Adam Hubley, John Taylor.

SOUTH WARD, George Claypool, Sharp Dulancy.

HIGH STREET, W. Hollingshead, John Bayard.

DOCK WARD, Captain Donnell, William Jackson.

NORTHERN LIBERTIES, Joseph Thatcher, W. Masters.

SOUTHWARK, Arthur Donaldson, Thomas Penrose.

THE PLAN, &C.

An Inspector shall be chosen in each Ward in the City, one for the District of Southwark, and one for that part of the Northern Liberties which lies Eastward of Fourth Street continued, and Southward of the Creek whereon Masters's Mill is erected, including also that part of Kensington to the Eastward of the Street leading from Frankford Road to the Bridge over Gunner's Run, and to the Southward of that Run. For this purpose the Freeholders and others, qualified to vote for Members of the General Assembly, in each Ward, shall meet on Thursday next, at the place where the Ward election for Inspectors was held at the last election, between the hours of two and five in the afternoon.—That part of the Northern Liberties before described, at the Northern Liberty Beerhouse, Southwark, to meet at the sign of the Blue Bell (Mr. Patton's.)

The Inspectors so chosen shall meet at the State House on Saturday morning next, at nine o'clook, and choose three reputable Freeholders, to preside as Judges at the election, and they shall, before they proceed in the said election, solemnly declare upon their honour, that they will superintend this election during the continuance of it, and conduct it as near as may be, according to the Act of Assembly for regulating of Elections, &c., passed 15. G. II. And if any person shall offer a vote, who is not known to some one of them to have a right to vote, they will require of him, instead of an oath, a solemn declaration, upon honour, of his right to vote for Members of the General Assembly, and inform him at the same time, that if it shall hereafter appear, that he has declared falsely, he shall be publickly advertised in the Newspapers, as having abused and insulted his distressed country.

The Judges and Clerks who shall assist at the proposed election, shall also make a solemn declaration, upon honour, that they will faithfully perform their duty according to the best of their judgment.

The Inspectors shall then proceed to receive the votes of the Freeholders qualified to vote for Members of the General Assembly, within the limits aforesaid; and having received all such votes as shall be offered, shall, about eight o'clock in the evening, give the usual notice, that the election will be closed in half an hour, and shall close it accordingly. They shall then carefully proceed to count off the tickets, in order justly to determine who are