Mr. Stewart, and desolation to his store and dwellinghouse.

The mob of Maryland, like the common people of all Countries, are ever ready to receive the first impressions; and being too lazy or too ignorant to inquire or examine into causes or complaints, they are ever violent in their proceedings; and when a notion is once impressed on them, it is scarcely to be effaced by reason. Can it then be surprising that the Committee who met to inquire into the merits of the affair (inflamed as they were by the incendiaries who set them on) could not put a stop to their rage, though a great majority of the Committee were of opinion that the destruction of the Tea, and a publick acknowledgment of the fault from the parties, was a sufficient atonement for the trespass? Is it surprising that this should not appease, when the death or destruction of Mr. Stewart only could have satiated their vengeance?

To avert so great a calamity, some of Mr. Stewart’s, friends proposed “that the Vessel with the Tea on board, should immediately be burnt,” which was executed almost as soon as proposed, and the happy expedient had the desired effect. The mischief they had perpetrated, and the blaze of the vessel pleased and appeased the populace, and in some measure, though it may be presumed not to the extent of their wishes, gratified the malicious and interested, and saved Mr. Stewart, if not from death and destruction, at least from ruin, tar, and feathers.

This disturbance happened in the absence of the Governour, who was then on his passage from England; but had he been on the spot it could not have been prevented, for the civil power in Annapolis, though the capital of Maryland and residence of the Governour, is unable to cope with, or curb the fury of an exasperated people. There are no military in the Province.

AMERICANUS.

TO THE PUBLICK.

To hold a man up as an object of general detestation, to deprive him of the benefits that result from society, is disagreeable, is painful; but, on the other hand, to neglect the interest of our Country, to disappoint the just expectations of our constituents, is dishonourable and base. The Committee of Inspection for the Town of Falmouth, therefore, come forward, to discharge the duty they owe the publick, and the trust reposed in them by their fellow-citizens.

On Thursday, the 2d ult., the Sloop John and Mary, Henry Hughes, master, arrived here from Bristol, supposed to have goods on boar for Captain Thomas Coulson, of this place; and as the late Continental Congress had, by their Association, prohibited the importation of any goods from Great Britain after the first day of February last, this Committee, chosen by the said Town of Falmouth to observe the conduct of all persons in said Town touching said Association, immediately convened, and after employing some persons to see that nothing was taken out of said Sloop during their debates, they proceeded to consider the circumstances of the case; and being informed by Captain Coulson that said vessel had on board sundry Rigging, Sails, and Stores, sent him by Mr. Garnet, Merchant in Bristol, for a new Ship lately built here by said Coulson for said Garnet, the said Committee, after a full and serious consideration of the matter, gave it as their opinion, that his taking said Rigging and Sails out of the vessel in which they arrived, and appropriating them to rig his new Ship, in order to send her to England, would be a violation of the Continental Association, and therefore that the said Rigging, Sails, and Stores, ought forthwith to be sent back again, without breaking any of the packages thereof.

Of this opinion the said Coulson had due notice, but not making any preparations to comply therewith, the said Committee again convened on Tuesday following, viz: the 7th ult. Captain Coulson then attended, agreeable to the desire of this Committee, and being asked why he had not sent away the goods, agreeable to the opinion of this Committee, founded on the aforesaid Association, he said, because it was not for his interest; and further said that the vessel wanted repairs, and, therefore was unfit to go to sea, and that he did not choose to procure another, or to send back the said Rigging and Sails, otherwise than by rigging his said new Ship with them, and thus to send them back in the said new Ship; but that he would consent to have them stored at the Committee’s risk until the vessel was repaired, and that then he would re-ship them, and send them out of the harbour. But being asked whether he would send them back to Bristol, he declined giving the Committee any assurance that he would, though he was willing to send back the two hogsheads of Lines, which came in said vessel.

This Committee then sent for a Committee of Carpenters, Riggers, and Caulkers, who had been on board to view her, at the request of a number of the inhabitants of this Town, and they informed us that the vessel wanted some repairs, but that, in their opinion, she might be repaired, fit to return, in about two days, without taking out the goods. Upon which the Committee passed the following Resolve, and sent a copy of it to Captain Coulson, viz:

“That seven days be allowed said Coulson, from this time, to repair said vessel, and to make the necessary preparations for sending her back; and if he does not, at the end of that term, (wind and weather permitting,) send said vessel out of this harbour to proceed to Bristol, this Committee will forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published, agreeable to the Continental Association.”

At the expiration of said term, viz: on the evening of the 14th ult., the Committee met again, and although a deposition, signed by several persons, some of whom were merchants, masters of vessels, and ship-carpenters, was then handed in to this Committee, purporting that said vessel was unfit to go to sea until the goods were taken out, and she thoroughly repaired, yet it appeared that Captain Coulson had not taken due care to get said Sloop repaired, nor had endeavoured to procure another, in which to reship the goods to Bristol, and would give the Committee no assurance that he would send them back, in any other manner than he at first proposed. The Committee then adjourned to the 15th ult., and then passed the following Vote, viz:

“That if Captain Coulson will re-ship the aforesaid goods in some other vessel, and send them back immediately, without breaking any of the packages, it will be satisfactory to this Committee.”

To this Captain Coulson (who was again desired to attend, to hear the Committee’s determination) would not consent, though one of this Committee offered him a vessel gratis, to carry them to Halifax or Newfoundland,

We, the said Committee of Inspection, do therefore, agreeable to the directions of the said Continental Congress, as expressed in the said Eleventh Article of their Association, hereby publish the name of the said Thomas Coulson, as a violator of the Continental Association.

By order of the Committee;

ENOCH FREEMAN, Chairman.

At a meeting of the Committee of Inspection, at the Library Chamber, to determine what ought to be done with respect to a vessel that arrived here this day from Bristol, supposed to have goods and merchandise for Captain Thomas Coulson on board:

Voted, That Mr. Benjamin Mussey, Captain Joseph McLellan, and Mr. Benjamin Titcomb, be a Committee to employ some persons to see that no goods are landed from said vessel during the debates of the Committee of Inspection, and to desire that Captain Coulson and the Master of said vessel would attend this Committee.

Captain Coulson and the Master accordingly attended; and being asked if said vessel came from Bristol, and what she had on board, answered that she did come from Bristol, and had on board Rigging, Sails, and Stores for a new Ship lately built here by Captain Coulson.

Voted, That Captain Joseph McLellan, Mr. Jedidiah Cobb, Mr. Benjamin Mussey, and Mr. Samuel Freeman be a Committee to go on board said vessel, or employ some other persons to go on board her, to see whether she has on board any goods other than the Rigging, Sails, and Stores for said new Ship.

The meeting was then adjourned to eight o’clock to-morrow morning, to meet at the Library Chamber, and