Lamb, has violated the Resolve of the Provincial Convention; that such measures may be of mischievous consequence, as tending to create a disregard to publick regulation, formed for preserving the liberties of America.

Ordered, That a copy of these proceedings be signed by the Chairman, and sent to be published in the Maryland Gazette. Signed by order of the Committee:

JOSIAS BEALL, Chairman.

ANNE AKUNDEL COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County, held at Mr. Isaac McHard’s, the 10th of April, were present forty-three Members.

It being moved that a Paper printed in the Publick Ledger of the 4th of last January, entitled, “Facts relative to the Riot at Annapolis in Maryland,” be read, and the motion being seconded, the Paper aforesaid was read accordingly by the Clerk:

On motion, Resolved, That the said Paper be reprinted in the Maryland Gazette.

2. Resolved unanimously, That the said Paper contains a false, scandalous, and malicious narrative of facts invented by the author, or so disguised and misrepresented, that when they border upon truth, and even seem to assume, its semblance, they are devoid of its reality.

3, Resolved unanimously, That the Author of the said Paper has designedly injured, against the conviction of his own conscience, the characters of the gentlemen mentioned and alluded to in his publication, gentlemen of approved worth; that he has cast unjust and invidious aspersions on a great number of very respectable inhabitants of this and two adjoining Counties, by representing them as a lawless mob, ignorant of their interests, or too lazy to be at the trouble of investigating them.

4. Resolved unanimously, That the Author has manifested an inveterate enmity to the liberties of this Province in particular, and of British America in general, by insinuating the necessity of introducing a military and mercenary force to support the Civil Government, and to secure obedience to the Laws of this Colony: that, by a suggestion so false and so malicious, he has inadvertently discovered his political opinion, that these Colonies ought, and his secret wish that they may be forced to submit to the arbitrary decrees of a despotick Ministry and a servile Parliament.

ISAAC MCHARD, Cleric Committee.

Facts relative to the Riot at ANNAPOLIS, in MARYLAND.

Nothing but a civil war at home can be so pernicious and detrimental to this Nation, as a contest with the Colonies driven to too great a length, as they are connected with the Mother Country by every social tie subsisting between subjects of the same Empire divided by so great a distance; the commerce of the one, and the defence of the other, depending in a great measure on a mutual harmony and good understanding with each other; in a word, they may be said to be linked together by the strongest interests, those of protection and profit.

This being the case, it is not surprising that every piece of intelligence on a subject so important and consequential to the community at large, should be received by every individual with the utmost avidity; for it is next to impossible for any British subject to be so neutral or disinterested in a matter so momentous as the present unhappy situation of our affairs on the Continent of America, as not to wish to be acquainted with the proceedings there, however limited and confined they may be in their nature, and private in their consequences. I hope, on this account, the following narration, taken from the best and most authentick authorities, will be agreeable to the publick, as from it may be deduced the real source and primary causes of the riot at Annapolis in Maryland, in which the Brigantine, called the Peggy, laden with Teas, was burnt; but I imagine some will scarcely believe that “an Officer in his Majesty’s Revenue” was the principal abetter and promoter of the riot, though this was actually the case.

At the first publick meeting at Annapolis on American affairs, after the passing the Boston Port Bill, a resolution was proposed and zealously supported by many members at the meeting—“That the gentlemen of the Law should decline bringing any action for debts due to persons in Great Britain.” The passing so dishonest a resolution, however necessary and convenient it might appear to some people in trade, was too pregnant with injustice to meet with general approbation; for the honest and thinking traders plainly foresaw that this measure, calculated only to serve the private purposes and views of a few individuals, would, in the end, greatly prejudice and injure the general credit of the Province, and prove extremely prejudicial to its commerce; therefore a strong opposition was formed, and a spirited protest was entered against the resolution, in both of which Mr. Stewart, one of the owners of the Brigantine, distinguished himself, and bore a very active share therein.

But notwithstanding that the opposition of the protesters against this dishonest and illegal resolution seemed to give general satisfaction, and met with almost universal approbation, as appeared by that measure never having again been proposed to be adopted at any of the future meetings; nevertheless Mr. Stewart’s conduct therein procured him many enemies amongst those whose interest was injured; and it afforded matter for calumny and complaint to many of the neighbouring Merchants, who did not fail to embrace the first opportunity which happened by the arrival of the Brigantine with Teas on board, of gratifying their spleen and malice, and satiating their diabolical resentment and revenge, by endeavouring the ruin, perhaps the death of the man who had honestly dared actively to oppose these dishonest designs.

By the Brigantine, Messrs. Williams, the gentlemen to whom the Tea was consigned, had also fortunately received a plentiful supply of other goods from London; this gave umbrage to some of their neighbours who had been disappointed of the goods they intended to lay in before the Association or Non-Impoitation Agreement, which was then generally expected, and which has actually taken place, should operate; amongst these there was one house, a branch of a mercantile one in London, and of which Mr. Davison, Deputy Collector and Deputy Comptroller is a partner, to which the Messrs. Williams. were likely to become formidable rivals in trade, who had the misfortune to have a vessel, on board of which the goods were shipped, stranded in the English Channel. Chagrined at, their own disappointment, and determined that Messrs. Williams should not reap the benefit of this seasonable supply by the Peggy Stewart, resolved also to wreak their, vengeance on Mr. Stewart. They used every means to inflame the populace, not only to prevent the landing of the Tea, but also to procure its destruction.

In this dilemma, Messrs. Williams adopted the only prudent method they had left to extricate themselves from the impending danger. Aware of the machinations of their enemies, they wisely refused to enter the Teas, or pay the duties, imagining that thereby the people would be satisfied, and that the Teas being seized for non-payment of the duties, the Officers of the Customs would in that case be obliged to land them, even at the risk of tarring and feathering.

But Mr. Stewart, as an owner of the vessel, anxious for despatch, in order that she might proceed to another port, too precipitately, as appeared by the issue settled the matter otherwise. He agreed to deposit a bill of exchange at the Custom-House, as security for the duty of the Teas, which was the very point his enemies Wished; for by this measure he laid himself open to the most virulent attacks malice could invent to excite the populace against him, which would end in his destruction.

To forward their malicious and infernal designs, the officer of the revenue before mentioned, although the house of which he was a partner had, unmolested, three months before, landed Teas, used every means in his power, personally, and by the interest of his partner, who is undertaker of the publick buildings, and by the means and assistance of every friend arid dependant they had in the neighbourhood, endeavoured to stir up the populace against Mr. Stewart, in which they proved but too successful; for having depicted his proceedings as a crime of the most atrocious nature, giving out “that it was done intentionally to entail slavery and heavy taxes on the Americans, and to strike at the root of, and teat up every privilege British subjects possessed on the Continent of America,” the minds of the people were so inflamed, that they threatened death to

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