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DESTRUCTION OF THE TEA, IN BOSTON HARBOR, 1773- 
 
TEA LEAVES: 
 
 BEING A COLLECTION OF LETTERS AND 
 
 DOCUMENTS 
 
 RELATING TO THE SHIPMENT OF 
 
 TEA 
 
 TO THE AMERICAN COLONIES IN THE YEAR 1773, BY THE 
 
 &ae( '^niia ^ta Company* 
 
 NOW FIRST PRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT. 
 
 WITH AN INT»)DllCTION, NOTES, AND 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICEgatOIl THE BOSTON TEA PARTY, 
 
 < 
 
 FRANCte k DRAKE. 
 5) 
 
 A. oV AaNE. 
 
-/^-/y 
 
 L 2 IS- 
 
 ■ 7 ^s" 
 
 COPYRIGHTED. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, at Waslinigton, D C, 1X84, 
 By A. O. Crane, Boston, Mass. 
 
 Smith & Porter, Printers, Boston. 
 
PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 Y 
 
 The collection of letters and documents which has occa- 
 sioned the preparation of the present volume, though it has 
 been so long buried in obscurity, appears to have been orig- 
 inally made with a view to publication. It was for many 
 years, and until his decease, in the possession of Mr. Abel 
 Bowen, a well-known engraver and publisher, of Boston, sixty 
 years ago, and was obtained by him from a person who pro- 
 cured it in Halifax, N.S., whither many valuable papers, both 
 public and private, relating to New England, were carried, 
 when in March, 1776, the British and Tories evacuated 
 Boston. It contains interesting information relative to the 
 tea troubles that preceded the American Revolution, much 
 of it new to students of that eventful period. 
 
 To the kindness of Mrs. Benjamin Phipps and Mrs. 
 Charles G. Butts, of Chelsea, daughters of Mr. Bowen, the 
 publisher is indebted for permission to make public this 
 valuable contribution to American history. 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 
 
 When contemplating the pubhcation of "Tea Leaves," we issued a circular, 
 stating our intention, and that, judging from the material then in our possession, 
 the book would contain about two hundred and fifty pages, with six illustrations, 
 three of them portraits. 
 
 We are happy to announce on the completion of the work, not only fulfillment 
 of our promises, but much that is additional thereto. Included in its four 
 hundred pages are twenty portraits, taken from family paintings, (one-half never 
 before pubhshed,) eight other illustrations, fifty autographs, one hundred and 
 twelve names of members of the Tea Party, (fifty-eight more than have been 
 heretofore publicly known), and ninety-six biographies of the same. 
 
 Our circular called for a subscription book. All our paper-covered copies have 
 been subscribed for. The balance of the edition is nicely bound in cloth, with 
 embellished covers. Price, (as before), five dollars. 
 
 The publisher will welcome all new matter relating to the Tea question, and 
 will be especially grateful for any hitherto unpublished portraits. Such material 
 is desired for possible pubhcation in a companion work to " Tea Leaves." 
 
 All who desire the Portraits and Illustrations separate from this volume, to be 
 used in works on American history, can obtain them from the PubHsher. 
 
 In conclusion, we thank our friends who have kindly assisted us, and if we 
 have not given all credit by name, the neglect has been unintentional. 
 
 A. O. CRANE, 
 
 2169 Washington St., 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I 
 
 Among the causes which led to the American Revolution, 
 the one most prominent in the popular judgment is the " tax 
 on tea," imposed by Great Britain on her American colonies. 
 The destruction, in Boston harbor, in December, 1773, of the 
 cargoes of tea sent to that port by the East India Company, 
 was undoubtedly the proximate cause of that memorable 
 event, and in view of this fact, the occurrence, — "by far the 
 most momentous in the annals of the town," says the historian 
 Bancroft, — merits a more thorough and particular considera- 
 tion than it has yet received. 
 
 The silence necessarily preserved by the actors in this 
 daring exploit, respecting their connection with it, has ren- 
 dered this part of the task one of no little difficulty. Their 
 secret was remarkably well kept; and but for the family 
 traditions which survive, we should know very little of the 
 men who composed the famous Boston tea party. 
 
 Nevertheless, the attempt to gather up the scattered frag- 
 ments of personal reminiscence and biography, in order to 
 give a little more completeness to this interesting chapter 
 of our revolutionary history, is here made. The fortunate 
 recovery, by the publisher of this volume, of the letters of the 
 
VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 American consignees to the East India Company, and othei 
 papers shedding light upon the transaction, affords material 
 aid in the accomplishment of our purpose. 
 
 When King Charles II. had finished that first cup of tea 
 ever brewed in England, — the gift of the newly-created 
 East India Company, — no sibyl was at hand to peer into 
 the monarch's cup and foretell from its dregs, the dire disaster 
 to his realm, hidden among those insignificant particles. 
 Could a vision of those battered tea chests, floating in Boston 
 harbor, with tu doces, in the legible handwriting of history, 
 inscribed upon them, have been disclosed to him, even that 
 careless, pleasure-loving prince would have been sobered by 
 the lesson. It was left for his successor, George III., who 
 failed to read the handwriting on the wall, — visible to all but 
 the willfully blind, — to realize its meaning in the dismember- 
 ment of an empire. 
 
 A survey of the progress of the revolution up to the be- 
 ginning of the year 1773, will help us to understand the 
 political situation. Ten years of constant agitation had edu- 
 cated the people of the colonies to a clear perception of 
 their rights, and also to a knowledge that if was the fixed 
 purpose of the home government to deprive them of the 
 one they most valued, namely, that of being taxed with their 
 own consent, through their local assemblies, as had always 
 been the custom, and not at the arbitrary will of the British 
 parliament — a body in which they were not and could not be 
 represented — three thousand miles away. The strange thing 
 about this is, that the people of Great Britain should not have 
 seen in the light of their own past history — what they have 
 
INTRODUCTION. vri 
 
 since seen clearly enough — that the Americans were only- 
 contending for principles for which their own ancestors had 
 often fought, and which they had more than once succeeded 
 in wresting from the grasp of arbitrary and tyrannical sover- 
 eigns. 
 
 Their difficulty seems to have been that they looked upon 
 the Americans, not as equals, but as inferiors, as their subjects, 
 and as having no rights that an Englishman was bound to 
 respect. Even the celebrated moralist, Dr. Johnson, could 
 say of the Americans, " They are a race of convicts, and ought 
 to be thankful for anything we allow them short of hanging." 
 King George III., that obstinate but well-meaning monarch, 
 and his ministers, no doubt honestly believed that the re- 
 publican tendencies of the colonists endangered British 
 supremacy. Perhaps they were right in this, for it was the 
 kind and degree of supremacy that was really in question. 
 But in entertaining the belief that these tendencies could be 
 eradicated at a blow, they were, as the event proved, grievously 
 mistaken. 
 
 Another moving cause for the new policy toward the colo- 
 nies was the heavy taxation at home, — a result of the late war. 
 Some of this burden they hoped to transfer from their own 
 shoulders to those of their transatlantic brethren. 
 
 The stamp act of 1765, repealed in the year following, 
 was in 1767, succeeded by Charles Townshend's revenue acts, 
 imposing duties on paper, painters' colors, glass and tea. The 
 Americans opposed this measure with the only weapon at 
 their command — the policy of non-importation. This policy, 
 while causing much inconvenience to themselves, yet helped 
 them materially in two ways. In the first place it stimulated 
 
VIII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 home manufactures, and accustomed the people to do without 
 luxuries, and in the second place by distressing British mer- 
 chants and manufacturers, it brought the united influence 
 of these two powerful bodies to bear upon parliament for a 
 change in its policy. 
 
 The people of the colonies everywhere seconded the non- 
 importation movement, entering at once upon a course of rigid 
 self-denial, and their legislatures commended the scheme. 
 An agreement, presented in the Virginia House of Burgesses, 
 by Washington, was signed by every member. For more 
 than a year, this powerful engine of retaliation waged war 
 upon British commerce, in a constitutional way, before minis- 
 ters would listen to petitions and remonstrances ; and it was 
 not until virtual rebellion in the British capital, born of 
 commercial distress, menaced the ministry, that the expostu- 
 lations of the Americans were noticed, except with sneers. 
 Early in the year 1770, the obnoxious act was repealed, except 
 as regarded tea. This item was retained in order that the 
 right of parliamentary taxation of the colonies might be 
 upheld. The liberal leaders of parliament did their best to 
 prevent this exception, and the subject was fully and ably 
 discussed, but they were overruled. 
 
 Besides these acts, which had aroused in the colonies a 
 sentiment of union, and embodied an intelligent public opin- 
 ion, there were others which had contributed to the same 
 result. Such were the royal instructions by which, among 
 other things, accused persons were to be sent to England, for 
 trial. Still another, was the publication of a collection of 
 letters from Governor Hutchinson, and other prominent co- 
 lonial officials, revealing their agency in instigating the obnox- 
 ious measures. These and other aggravating causes had at 
 
INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 length brought about that, without which, no revokition can 
 succeed, — organization. Committees of correspondence, local 
 and general, had been created, and were now in full operation. 
 
 One thing more was essential to the success of the colo- 
 nists, — union. Instead of pulling different ways, as from a 
 variety of causes they had hitherto done, the different colonies 
 must bring their combined efforts to bear in order to effect the 
 desired result. This was brought about by the destruction 
 of the tea in Boston harbor, and by the Boston port bill, and 
 other coercive measures, its immediate consequence. 
 
 The impolitic reservation of the duty on tea produced an 
 association not to drink it, and caused all the merchants, 
 except a few in Boston, to refuse its importation. 
 
 Three hundred women of Boston, heads of families, among 
 them many of the highest standing, had, as early as February, 
 1770, signed an agreement not to drink any tea until the 
 impost clause of the revenue acts was repealed. The daugh- 
 ters of liberty, both north and south, did the same. The 
 young women of Boston followed the example of their mothers, 
 and subscribed to the following pledge: 
 
 "We, the daughters of those patriots who have, and do now appear for the 
 public interest, and in that principally regard their posterity, as such do with 
 pleasure engage with them in denying ourselves the drinking of foreign tea, in 
 hopes to frustrate a plan that tends to deprive a whole community of all that is 
 valuable in life." 
 
 From this time forth tea was a proscribed beverage through- 
 out the colonies. " Balsamic hyperion," made from the dried 
 leaves of the raspberry plant ; thyme, extensively used by the 
 women of Connecticut; and various other substitutes came into 
 general use. The newspapers of the day abound with details 
 of social gatherings, in which foreign tea was totally discarded. 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 They also voiced the public abhorrence for it, or what it 
 represented, by applying to it all the objurgatory and abusive 
 epithets they could muster — and their vocabulary was by no 
 means limited — such as "detestable," "cruel," "villainous," 
 "pernicious," "fatal," "devilish," "fiendish," etc. 
 
 Of course there were those who would not deny themselves 
 the use of tea, — drinking it clandestinely in garrets, or pre- 
 paring it in cof¥ee-pots to deceive the eye, resorting to any 
 subterfuge in order to indulge in the use of their favorite 
 beverage. These people, when found out, did not fail to 
 receive the condemnation of the patriotic men and women, 
 who, from principle, abstained. There was still a considerable 
 consumption of tea in America, as the article could be 
 obtained more cheaply from Holland than from the English 
 East India Company, and on arrival here could easily be 
 smuggled ashore. It was supposed that of the three millions of 
 inhabitants of the colonies, one-third drank tea twice a day, 
 Bohea being the kind preferred ; and it was estimated that 
 the annual consumption, in Massachusetts alone, was two 
 thousand four hundred chests, some eight hundred thousand 
 pounds. 
 
 Tea continued to arrive in Boston, but as no one would 
 risk its sale, it was stored. The " Boston Gazette," in April, 
 1770, said: " There is not above one seller of tea in town who 
 has not signed an agreement not to dispose of any tea until 
 the late revenue acts are repealed." 
 
 John Hancock offered one of his vessels, free of charge, to 
 re-ship the tea then stored in Boston. His offer was accepted, 
 and a cargo despatched to London. So strict was the watch 
 kept upon the traders, that many of those suspected of illicit 
 dealings in tea, among whom was Hancock himself, found 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 it convenient to publish cards declaring their innocence. 
 Governor Hutchinson wrote at this time (April, 1770,) to Lord 
 Hillsborough, the English secretary, " That the importers 
 pleaded that they should be utterly ruined by this combination, 
 but the Boston zealots had no bowels, and gave for answer, 
 ' that if a ship was to bring us the plague, nobody would doubt 
 what was necessary to be done with her;' but the present case 
 is much worse than that." Theophilus Lillie, who was selling 
 tea contrary to the agreement, found, one morning, a post 
 planted before his door, upon which was a carved head, with 
 the names of some tea importers on it, and underneath, a hand 
 pointing towards his shop. One of his neighbors, an in- 
 former, named Richardson, asked a countryman to break the 
 post down with his cart. A crowd gathered, and boys threw 
 stones and chased Richardson to his house. He fired into 
 them with a shotgun, and killed a German lad of eleven years, 
 named Snider. At his funeral, five hundred children walked 
 in front of the bier; six of his school-fellows held the pall, 
 and a large procession moved from liberty tree to the town- 
 house, and thence to the burying-place. This exciting affair, _^ 
 preceded by a few days only, the memorable "Boston rnas^gJtniversi^^J^ 
 ere" of March 5, 1770. //cf % ^-^ 
 
 The application of the East India Company to the Britisti, 
 government for relief from pecuniary embarrassment, occa- 
 sioned by the great falling off in its American tea trade, 
 afforded the ministry just the opportunity it desired to fasten 
 taxation upon the American colonies. The company asked 
 permission to export tea to British America, free of duty, 
 offering to allow government to retain sixpence per pound, 
 as an exportation tariff, if they would take off the three per 
 
xii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cent, duty, in America. This gave an opportunity for con- 
 ciliating the colonies in an honorable way, and also to procure 
 double the amount of revenue. But no ! under the existing 
 coercive policy, this request was of course inadmissible. At 
 this time the company had in its warehouses upwards of 
 seventeen millions of pounds, in addition to which the impor- 
 tations of the current year were expected to be larger than 
 usual. To such a strait was it reduced, that it could neither 
 pay its dividends nor its debts. 
 
 By an act of parliament, passed on May lo, 1773, "with 
 little debate and no opposition," the company, on exportation 
 of its teas to America, was allowed a drawback of the full 
 amount of English duties, binding itself only to pay the three- 
 pence duty, on its being landed in the English colonies. 
 
 In accordance with this act, the lords-commissioners of the 
 treasury gave the company a license (August 20, 1773,) for the 
 exportation of six hundred thousand pounds, which were to be 
 sent to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Charleston, S.C., 
 the principal American ports. As soon as this became 
 known, applications were made to the directors by a number 
 of merchants in the colonial trade, soliciting a share of what 
 promised to be a very profitable business. The establishment 
 of a branch East India house, in a central part of America, 
 whence the tea could be distributed to other points, was sug- 
 gested. The plan finally adopted was to bestow the agency 
 on merchants, in good repute, in the colonies, who were 
 friendly to the administration, and who could give satisfactory 
 security, or obtain the guaranty of London houses. 
 
 The company and its agents viewed this matter solely 
 in a commercial light. No one supposed that the Ameri- 
 cans would oppose the measure on the ground of abstract 
 
INTRODUCTION. xiii 
 
 principle. The only doubt was as to whether the company 
 could, merely with the threepenny duty, compete successfully 
 with the smugglers, who brought tea from Holland. It was 
 hoped they might, and that the difference would not com- 
 pensate for the risk in smuggling. But the Americans at 
 once saw through the scheme, and that its success would be 
 fatal to their liberties. 
 
 The new tea act, by again raising the question of general 
 taxation, diverted attention from local issues, and concentrated 
 it upon one which had been already fully discussed, and on 
 which the popular verdict had been definitely made up. 
 Right and justice were clearly on their side. It was not that 
 they were poor and unable to pay, but because they would 
 not submit to wrong. The amount of the tax was paltry, and 
 had never been in question. Their case was not — as in 
 most revolutions — that of a people who rose against real 
 and palpable oppression. It was an abstract principle alone 
 for which they contended. They were prosperous and happy. 
 It was upon a community, at the very height of its pros- 
 perity, that this insidious scheme suddenly fell, and it immedi- 
 ately aroused a more general opposition than had been created 
 by the stamp act. " The measure," says the judicious English 
 historian, Massey, "was beneficial to the colonies; but when 
 was a people engaged in a generous struggle for freedom, 
 deviated by an insidious attempt to practice on their selfish 
 interests } " 
 
 " The ministry believe," wrote Franklin, " that threepence 
 on a pound of tea, of which one does not perhaps drink ten ^ 
 pounds a year, is sufficient to overcome all the patriotism of 
 an American." The measure gave universal offence, not only 
 as the enforcement of taxation, but as an odious monopoly of 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 trade. To the warning of Americans that their adventure 
 would end in loss, and to the scruples of the company, Lord 
 North answered peremptorily, " It is to no purpose making 
 objections, the king will have it so. The king means to try 
 the question with America." How absurd was this assertion 
 of prerogative, and how weak the government, was seen when 
 on the first forcible resistance to his plans, the king was com- 
 pelled to apply to the petty German states for soldiers. Lord 
 North believed that no difficulty could arise, as America, under 
 the new regulation, would be able to buy tea^ from the com- 
 pany at a lower price than from any other European nation, 
 and that buyers would always go to the cheapest market. 
 
 Before receiving intelligence of the passage of the new act, 
 in the summer of 1773, political agitation in the colonies had 
 in great measure subsided. ""^The ministry had abandoned 
 its design of transporting Americans to England for trial ; 
 the people were prosperous ; loyal to the king ; considered 
 themselves as fellow subjects with Britons, and indignantly 
 repelled the idea of severing their political connection. The 
 king, however, was obstinately bent upon maintaining the 
 supreme authority of parliament to make laws binding on 
 the colonies " in all cases whatsoever." He was unfortunate 
 in having for his chief adviser, Lord North, who sought to 
 please the king even against his own better judgment. He 
 was still more unfortunate in North's colleagues, — Mansfield, 
 
 1 Dr. Holmes, the annalist, says, that (now Carver,) Mass., between 1760 and 
 
 tea began to be used in New England 1765. When ladies went to visiting par- 
 
 in 1720. Small quantities, must, how- ties, eax;h one carried her tea-cup, saucer, 
 
 ever, have been made many years before, and spoon. The cups were of the best 
 
 as small copper tea-kettles were in use china, very small, containing about as 
 
 in Plymouth, in 1702. The first cast- much as a common wine-glass, 
 iron tea-kettles were made in Plympton, 
 
INTRODUCTION. xv 
 
 Sandwich, Germalne, Wedderburne and Thurlow, — violent or 
 corrupt men, wholly unfit for the grave responsibilities they 
 had assumed. 
 
 Governor Hutchinson^ asserts that "when the intelligence 
 first came to Boston it caused no alarm. The threepenny 
 duty had been paid the last two years without any stir, and 
 some of the great friends to liberty had been importers of 
 tea. The body of the people were pleased with the prospect 
 of drinking tea at less expense than ever. The only appar- 
 ent discontent was among the importers of tea, as well 
 those who had been legal importers from England, as others 
 who had illegally imported from Holland, and the complaint 
 was against the East India Company for monopolizing a 
 branch of commerce which had been beneficial to a great 
 number of merchants." 
 
 The circular-letter of the Massachusetts Committee of 
 Correspondence of October 21, 1773, — by which time the 
 public sentiment against the new regulation had been thor- 
 oughly aroused, — said of it: " It is easy to see how aptly this 
 scheme will serve both to destroy the trade of the colonies 
 and increase the revenue. How necessary then it is that each 
 colony should take effectual methods to prevent this measure 
 from having its designed effects." 
 
 One of the Boston consignees writing to London, says, 
 under date of i8th October: "But what difficulties may arise 
 from the disaffection of the merchants and importers of tea 
 to this measure of the East India Company, I am not yet able 
 to say. It seems at present to be a matter of much specu- 
 lation, and if one is to credit the prints, no small opposition 
 will be made thereto. ... My friends seem to think it will 
 
 1 Hist, of Mass., iii. 422. 
 
XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 subside ; others are of a contrary opinion." Another, under 
 date of October 30th, gives it as his opinion that the un- 
 easiness is fomented, if not originated, by persons concerned 
 in the Holland trade, a trade which, he is informed, is much 
 more practiced in the Southern governments than here. 
 
 In a letter dated New York, November 5th, Abraham Lott, 
 one of the New York consignees, says, that if the tea arrives 
 subject to duty, " there will be no such thing as selling it, as 
 the people would rather buy so much poison, as they say it is 
 calculated to enslave them and their posterity, and are there- 
 fore determmed not to take what they call the nauseous 
 draught." The tenor of these letters and of the American 
 newspapers, must have given the British public an inkling of 
 what was to come. 
 
 It was thought by all the colonies that this was the precise 
 point of time when it was absolutely necessary to make a 
 stand, and that all opposition to parliamentary taxation must 
 be for ever given up, if this critical moment was neglected. 
 The only practical way open to defeat the measure seemed 
 to be through popular demonstrations. 
 
 The press now became more active than ever in its political 
 discussions. As to the mode of payment of the tea duty, it 
 said : " We know that on a certificate of its being landed here, 
 the tribute is, by agreement, to be paid in London. The 
 landing, therefore, is the point in view, and every nerve will 
 be strained to obtain it." It was asked in New York, " are 
 the Americans such blockheads as to care whether it be a 
 hot red poker, or a red hot poker which they are to swallow, 
 provided Lord North forces them to swallow one of the two ? " 
 
 " All America is in a flame on account of the tea exporta- 
 tion," wrote a British officer at New York to a friend in Lon- 
 
INTRODUCTION. xvn 
 
 Al 
 
 don. " The New Yorkers, as well as the Bostonians and 
 Philadelphlans, it seems, are determined that no tea shall be 
 landed. They have published a paper in numbers called the 
 ' Alarm.' It begins, ' Dear countrymen,' and goes on exhort- 
 ing them to open their eyes, and then, like sons of liberty, 
 throw off all connection with the tyrant — the mother country.' 
 They have on this occasion raised a company of artillery, and 
 every day almost, are practicing at a target. Their inde- 
 pendent companies are out, and exercise every day. The 
 minds of the townspeople are influenced by the example of 
 some of their principals. They swear that they will burn 
 every tea-ship that comes in ; but I believe that our six and 
 twelve pounders, with the Royal Welch Fusileers, will prevent 
 anything of that kind." 
 
 Philadelphia, the largest town in the colonies, led off in the 
 work of opposing the plans of the home government. In a 
 handbill signed " Sc^vola," circulated there, with the heading, 
 "By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall," the factors ap- 
 pointed, by the East India Company were characterized as 
 "political bombardiers to demolish the fair structure of 
 liberty;" and it was said that all eyes were fixed on them, 
 and they were urged to refuse to act. 
 
 At a large meeting held at the State House on October i8, 
 resolutions were passed declaring that the duty on tea was a 
 tax imposed on the colonists without their consent, and 
 tended to render assemblies useless ; that the shipment by the 
 East India Company was an attempt to enforce the tax, and 
 that every one who should be concerned in the unloadmg, 
 receiving or vending the tea, was an enemy to his country. 
 In accordance with one of the resolutions of the meeting, a 
 committee was appointed to wait on the consignees in that 
 
xviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 city, to request them, from regard to their own characters 
 and the public peace, and good order of the city and Prov- 
 ince, immediately to resign their appointment. The Messrs. 
 Wharton gave a satisfactory answer, which was received 
 with shouts of applause. Groans and hisses greeted the 
 refusal of another firm to commit themselves, until the tea 
 arrived. So general and so commanding was the movement, 
 however, that in a few days they also resigned. " Be as- 
 sured," wrote Thomas Wharton, one of the consignees, " this 
 was as respectable a body of inhabitants as has been to- 
 gether on any occasion, many of the first rank. Their pro- 
 ceedings were conducted with the greatest decency and 
 firmness, and without one dissentient voice." 
 
 A few days after the action of Philadelphia, a meeting 
 was held at the city hall, New York, (October 26,) when the 
 tea consignees were denounced, and the attempted monopoly 
 of trade was stigmatized as a " public robbery." The press 
 was active, and handbills were circulated freely among the 
 people. A series of these called the " Alarm," has been 
 already mentioned. '• If you touch one grain of the accursed 
 tea you are undone," was the sentiment it conveyed. " Amer- 
 ica is threatened with worse than Egyptian slavery. . . . 
 The language of the revenue act is, that you have no 
 property you can call your own, that you are the vassals, the 
 live stock, of Great Britain." Such were the bold utterances 
 of the New Yorkers. Within three weeks the New York 
 agents withdrew from the field. It was thereupon an- 
 nounced that government would take charge of the tea 
 upon its arrival. 
 
 The New York Sons of Liberty at once reorganized; owners 
 and occupants of stores were warned against harboring the 
 
INTRODUCTION. xix 
 
 tea, and all who bought, sold or handled it, were threatened 
 as enemies to the country. Handbills were issued, notifying 
 the "Mohawks" to hold themselves in readiness for active 
 work. At the very moment when the tea was being des- 
 troyed in Boston, handbills were circulating in New York 
 calling a meeting of "all friends to the liberties and trade 
 of America," for one o'clock the next day, at the city hall, 
 "on business of the utmost importance." 
 
 John Lamb, one of the most active of the' Sons of Liberty 
 of New York, afterwards a colonel of artillery in the Revo- 
 lutionary army, was the speaker at the meeting, and the 
 large assembly unanimously voted that the tea should not 
 be landed. The governor sent a message to the people by 
 the mayor, engaging upon his honor that the tea should 
 not be sold, but should remain in the barracks until the 
 council advised to the delivery of it, or orders were received 
 from England how to dispose of it, and that it should be 
 delivered in an open manner at noon-day. The mayor hav- 
 ing asked if the proposals were satisfactory, there was a 
 general cry of "no! no!" The people were at length 
 quieted with the assurance that the ship should be sent 
 back. 
 
 It was at Boston, the ringleader in rebellion, that the 
 issue was to be tried. It was then the most flourishing 
 commercial town on the continent, and contained a popula- 
 tion of about sixteen thousand, almost exclusively of English 
 orio-in. Though there were no sidewalks in the town, and, 
 except when driven aside by carts or carriages, every one 
 walked in the middle of the street, " where the pavement 
 was the smoothest," an English visitor had twenty years 
 before pronounced it to be, "as large and better built than 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Bristol, or any other city in England except London." The 
 only land communication between Boston and the surround- 
 ing towns at that period, was by way of the narrow neck 
 at its southern extremity. Her inhabitants were industrious, 
 frugal and enterprising, and were equally distinguished for 
 their pertinacity and independence. They were nearly all 
 of the same church, and were strict in the observance of 
 Sunday. Though many had acquired a competence, few 
 were very rich or very poor, and their style of living had 
 little diversity. In her free schools all were taught to read 
 and write. A score of enterprising booksellers, among them 
 Henry Knox, imported into the colony all the standard books 
 on law, politics, history and theology, while a free press and 
 town meetings instructed her citizens in political affairs. 
 Her mechanics, many of whom were ship-builders, were ac- 
 tive in all town meetings. Ever jealous of her rights, she 
 had grown up in their habitual exercise, and was early and 
 strenuous in her opposition to the claims of parliamentary 
 supremacy. Even her divines, many of whom were distin- 
 guished by their learning and eloquence, gave the sanction 
 of religion to the cause of freedom. For these reasons 
 Boston was the fittest theatre for the decisive settlement 
 of the grave question at issue. 
 
 Two men of very different metal were especially promi- 
 nent in Boston at this time, — Thomas Hutchinson, the 
 royal governor, and Samuel Adams, the man of the people. 
 Both were natives of the town, and graduates of Harvard 
 College. Hutchinson, during a public life of over thirty 
 years, had held the ofHces of representative, councillor, chief 
 justice and lieutenant-governor. No man was so experi- 
 enced in the affairs of the colony, no one so familiar with its 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxi 
 
 history, usages and laws. As a legislator and as a judge 
 he had manifested ability and impartiality. 
 
 Unfortunately for his peace of mind, and for his reputa- 
 tion, he set himself squarely against the popular movement. 
 He advised altering the charters of the New England pro- 
 vinces; the dismemberment of Massachusetts; the establish- 
 ment of a citadel in Boston; the stationing of a fleet in its 
 harbor; the experiment of martial law; the transportation of 
 "incendiaries" to England, and the prohibition of the New 
 England fisheries, at the same time entreating of his corres- 
 pondents in England to keep his opinions secret. 
 
 For these errors of judgment he paid dearly in the oblo- 
 quy heaped upon him by his countrymen, and his exile from 
 his native land, in which he earnestly desired that his bones 
 might be laid. The recent publication of his diary and 
 letters shows that he not only acted honestly and conscien- 
 tiously in opposing the popular current, but that he, at the 
 same time, used his influence to mitigate the severe measures 
 of government. He counselled them against the stamp act ; 
 against closing the port of Boston, and against some features 
 of the regulating act, as too harsh and impolitic. It was 
 his sincere wish that his countrymen would admit the suprem- 
 acy of parliament, and he believed that such a result could 
 be attained without bloodshed. He was courteously received 
 in England, — where his course was very generally approved, — 
 and offered a baronetcy, which, however, he declined on the 
 score of the insufficiency of his estate. His judgment in 
 American affairs, though often sought by the ministry, seems 
 to have been seldom followed. Candor requires that in the 
 licrht of his letters and diary, in which his real sentiments 
 
 m. 
 
XXII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 appear, the harsh judgment usually passed upon Hutchinson, 
 should be materially modified. 
 
 His opponent, Samuel Adams, the great agitator, possessed 
 precisely those qualities that the times required. His polit- 
 ical creed was, that the colonies and England had a com- 
 mon king, but separate and independent legislatures, and as 
 early as the year 1769, he had been a zealous advocate of 
 independence. He was the organizer of the Revolution, 
 through the committees of correspondence, which he initiated, 
 and was one of those who matured the plan of a general 
 congress, A genuine lover of liberty, he believed in the 
 capacity of the Americans for self-government. It was 
 Samuel Adams who, the day after the " massacre " of March 
 5, 1770, was chosen chairman of the committee, to demand 
 of the governor the immediate removal of the troops from 
 the town of Boston. The stern and inflexible patriot clearly 
 exposed the fallacy of Hutchinson's reply to the demand, 
 and compelled the governor to yield. No flattery could lull 
 his vigilance, no sophistry deceive his penetration. Difficul- 
 ties did not discourage, nor danger appall him. Though 
 \ poor, he possessed a lofty and incorruptible spirit, and 
 though grave and austere in manner, was warm in his feel- 
 ings. His affable and persuasive address, reconciled con- 
 flicting interests, and promoted harmonious action. As a 
 speaker he was pure, concise, logical and impressive, and 
 the energy of his diction was not inferior to the depth of 
 his mind. As a political writer he was clear and convincing, 
 and was the author of able state papers. No man had equal 
 influence over the popular mind with Samuel Adams, who 
 has been aptly styled, "the last of the Puritans." 
 
 At Boston, where the feeling against receiving the tea 
 
 / 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxiii 
 
 was strongest, the consignees were, "by a singular infelicity," 
 either relatives of the hated governor, or in sympathy with 
 the odious administration. Two of them were his sons. 
 Richard Clarke was his nephew. One of Clarke's daugh- 
 ters married Copley, the painter, and became the mother of 
 Lord Lyndhurst, the future lord-chancellor of England. 
 Benjamin Faneuil and Joshua Winslow were respectable 
 merchants. All but Faneuil were connected by marriage. 
 They were well aware of the temper of the people, and of 
 the proceedings in Philadelphia and New York ; and would 
 doubtless have yielded to the popular demands, but for 
 Hutchinson. Public sentiment was stimulated against them 
 by representing them as crown officers, whereas they were 
 only factors. They were thus put upon the footing of the 
 obnoxious stamp officers. 
 
 The North End Caucus,^ composed mostly of mechanics, 
 met frequently to consider what should be done, and voted 
 (October 23d,) that they would oppose with their lives and 
 fortunes, the vending of any tea that might be sent to the 
 town for sale by the East India Company. " We were so 
 careful," says Paul Revere, " that our meetings should be 
 kept secret, that every time we met, every person swore 
 upon the Bible not to discover any of our transactions, but 
 
 1 This body, which originally consisted the committees of public service were 
 
 of sixty-one members, with Dr. Thomas formed, and measures of defence, and 
 
 Young for its president, was organized by resolves for the destruction of the tea, 
 
 Dr. Joseph Warren, who, with one other discussed. It was here, when the best 
 
 person, drew up its regulations. Its mode of expelling the regulars from 
 
 usual place of meeting was at William Boston was under consideration, that 
 
 Campbell's house, near the North Bat- John Hancock exclaimed, "Burn Boston, 
 
 tery, though its sessions were sometimes and make John Hancock a beggar, if the 
 
 held at the Green Dragon tavern. Here public good requires it." 
 
 i 
 
XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to Hancock, Warren or Church, and one or two more 
 leaders." 
 
 The Caucus and the Long-Room Club were local organi- 
 zations, and were all included in the larger and more im- 
 portant one, known as " The Sons of Liberty." This 
 association pervaded nearly all the colonies. It was first 
 known in Boston as the " Union Club," and gained its later 
 name from the phrase employed in the British parliament 
 by Col. Barre, in his famous speech. It was formed in 
 1765, soon after the passage of the stamp act, and had 
 among its members most of the leading patriots of the day. 
 Their organization was secret, with private pass-words, to 
 protect them from Tory spies. On public occasions, each 
 member wore, suspended from his neck, a medal, on one 
 side of which was the figure of a stalwart arm, grasping in 
 its hand a pole, surmounted with a cap of liberty, and sur- 
 rounded by the words, "^ons of Liberty." On the reverse 
 was a representation of' Liberty Tree. It was under this tree, 
 in the open space known as " Liberty Hall," — at the junction 
 of Newbury, Orange and Essex Streets, — that their public 
 meetings in Boston were held. 
 
 The Sons of Liberty issued warrants for the arrest of 
 suspected persons; arranged in secret caucus the prelimin- 
 aries of elections, and the programme for public celebrations ; 
 and in fact were the mainspring, under the guidance of the 
 popular leaders, of every public demonstration against the 
 government. In Boston they probably numbered about three 
 hundred. The 14th of August, — the anniversary of the 
 repeal of the stamp act, — was celebrated by them for several 
 years, with grand display and festivity. 
 
 Under date of January 15, 1766, John Adams says, in his 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXV 
 
 diary : " I spent the evening with the Sons of Liberty, at 
 their own apartment, in Hanover Square, near the Tree of 
 Liberty. It is a counting-room, in Chase & Speakman's dis- 
 tillery; a very small room it is. There were present, John 
 Avery, a distiller, of liberal education ; John Smith, the 
 brazier; Thomas Crafts,^ the painter; Benjamin Edes,^ the 
 printer ; Stephen Cleverly, brazier ; Thomas Chase, distiller ; 
 Joseph Fields, master of a vessel ; Henry Bass ; George 
 Trott, jeweller; and Henry Welles. I was very cordially 
 and respectfully treated by all present. We had punch, 
 wine, pipes and tobacco, biscuit and cheese, etc. They chose 
 a committee to make preparations for grand rejoicings upon 
 the arrival of the news of a repeal of the stamp act.", The 
 counting-room of which Adams speaks, could, from its small 
 size, have been the committee-room of the body only. 
 
 Governor Bernard wished to send some of the leading 
 Sons of Liberty to England, for trial, but did not dare do so. 
 New York was the centre of the organization, to which all 
 
 / 
 
 1 Thomas Crafts was, in 1 789, a 
 painter and japanner, opposite the site 
 of the great tree (corner of Boylston 
 and Washington Streets). He became 
 a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. 
 Andrew in 1762. 
 
 2 Benjamin Edes, journahst, born in 
 Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 14, 1732; died 
 in Boston, December 11, 1803. In 1755, 
 he began, with John Gill, the publica- 
 tion of the "Boston Gazette and Coun- 
 try Journal," a newspaper of deserv3W 
 popularity, unsurpassed in its patriotic 
 zeal for liberty, — the chosen mouth-piece 
 of the Whigs. To its columns, Otis, 
 the Adamses, Quincy and Warren, were 
 
 4 
 
 constant contributors. Their printing- 
 office, on the corner of Queen (now Court) 
 Street and Dassett's Alley (now Franklin 
 Avenue), was the place of meeting of 
 a party of the " Mohawks," on the after- 
 noon of December 16, 1773. During the 
 siege of Boston, the "Gazette" was is- 
 sued at Watertown. It was discontinued 
 September 17, 1798. At the opening of 
 the war, Mr. Edes possessed a handsome 
 property, which was wholly lost by the 
 depreciation of the currency. Edes was 
 a member of the Ancient and Honorable 
 Artillery Company in 1760, and a promi- 
 nent " Son of Liberty." 
 
XXVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 communications from the other colonies were sent. A cor- 
 respondent in London kept them informed of the proceed- 
 ings and designs of the British ministry. 
 
 At one o'clock in the mornincf of the 2d of November, 
 1773, the consignees were aroused from their slumbers by a 
 violent knocking at their doors, and a summons was left for 
 them to appear at Liberty Tree on the following Wednesday, 
 to resign their commissions ; and not to fail at their peril. 
 A handbill was, at the same time, posted about the town, 
 notifying the people of Boston and the vicinity to be present 
 at the same time and place, to witness their resignation. 
 
 On the appointed day, a large flag was hung out at Liberty 
 Tree. The public crier announced the meeting, at the top 
 of his voice, and the church bells, were rung for an hour. 
 At noon, five hundred persons assembled. Samuel Adams, 
 John Hancock and William Phillips, representatives of 
 Boston, were present, with William Cooper, — the patriotic 
 town clerk, — and the board of selectmen. The consignees 
 failing to appear, a committee, consisting of William 
 Molineux, William Dennie, Dr. Joseph Warren, Dr. Benjamin 
 Church, ^ Henderson Inches, Edward Proctor, Nathaniel 
 
 /B^^^^^ 
 
 1 Dr. Benjamin Church, physician, 
 orator and poet, grandson of the famous 
 Indian fighter of the name ; born in New- 
 port, R. I., August 24, 1734; was lost at 
 sea in May, 1776. He graduated at Har- 
 vard College in 1754; studied medicine 
 in London, and after his return to Bos- 
 
 ton, became eminent as a surgeon. For 
 several years previous to the Revolution, 
 1ft was a conspicuous and leading Whig. 
 He was a representative, a member of 
 the Provincial Congress of 1774, and 
 physician-general to the patriot army. 
 Pecuniary embarrassment is supposed to 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXVII 
 
 Barber, Gabriel Johonnot/ and Ezekiel Cheever, waited on 
 them at Clarke's warehouse, at the foot of King (now State) 
 Street, where they, together with a number of their friends, 
 had assembled. As they passed the town house, still stand- 
 ino- at the head of this street, Hutchinson, who saw the 
 procession, says that "the committee were attended by a 
 large body of the people, many of them not of the lowest 
 
 rank." 
 
 Molineux was the spokesman. " From whom are you a 
 committee?" asked Clarke. "From the whole people," was 
 the reply. " Who are the committee ? " "I am one," said 
 Molineux, and he named the rest. " What is your request ? " 
 "That you give us your word to sell none of the teas in 
 
 (^u^h/^^^^^<^^ 
 
 have led to his defection from the cause 
 of his country. In September, 1775, an 
 intercepted letter of his, in characters, to 
 Major Cain, in Boston, was deciphered ; 
 and October 3, 1775, he was convicted 
 by a court martial, of which Washington 
 was president, of "holding a criminal 
 correspondence with the enemy." Con- 
 fined in jail at Norwich, Conn., he was 
 released in May, 1776, on account of 
 failing health ; sailed for the West 
 Indies, and was never afterwards heard 
 from. 
 
 1 Gabriel Johonnot, born in Boston, 
 1748; died in Hamden, Me., October 9, 
 1820. Zacharie, his father, a Huguenot, 
 was a distiller and merchant. His dwell- 
 ing-house and store was on Orange Street, 
 and his distillery on Harvard Street, 
 directly opposite. At the bottom of the 
 
 street was his wharf, wooden distillery, 
 storehouses, etc. The mansion house 
 and store were burned in the great fire, 
 20th April, 1 787. Gabriel was a member 
 of St. John's Lodge, Boston, 1780, and 
 a charter member of Hancock Lodge, 
 Castine, Me., 1794. He was chairman of 
 a committee appointed by the company 
 of Cadets, of Boston, August 15, I774, to 
 proceed to Salem, and return to Governor 
 Gage, the standard presented to them; 
 and was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 14th 
 Regiment of the Massachusetts line, 
 known as the Marblehead regiment, com- 
 manded by Colonel Glover. He removed 
 to Castine, Me., soon after the Revolu- 
 tionary war; todk a prominent part in 
 town affairs, and at one time represented 
 the town of Penobscot in the Massachu- 
 setts Legislature. 
 
XXVIII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 your charge, but return them to London in the same 
 bottoms in which they were shipped. Will you comply ? " 
 " I shall have nothing to do with you," was the rough and 
 peremptory reply, in which the other consignees, who were 
 present, concurred. Molineux then read the resolve, passed 
 at Liberty Tree, declaring that those who should refuse to 
 comply with the request of the people, were " enemies to 
 their country," and should be dealt with accordingly. 
 
 When the committee reported the result to the crowd 
 outside, the cry was raised, " Out with them ! out with 
 them ! " Those within attempted to close the doors ; but 
 the people unhinged them, and carried them off. Justice 
 Nathaniel Hatch, who, in the king's name, now commanded 
 the peace, was hooted at and struck, when the people were 
 persuaded to desist. The committee returned to Liberty Tree, 
 where they reported to the meeting, which quietly dispersed. 
 Of those composing this gathering, the consignees wrote to 
 the East India Company, as follows : " They consisted chiefly 
 of people of the lowest rank ; very few respectable trades, 
 men, as we are informed, appeared amongst them. The 
 selectmen say they were present to prevent disorder." There 
 can be little doubt that the political assemblies of that day, 
 as do those at the present time, fairly represented the body 
 of the people. The mechanics of Boston, whatever their 
 rank in the social scale, were the active patriots of the 
 revolutionary period. 
 
 The Sons of Liberty having failed, and the Tories asserting 
 that the meeting at Liberty Tree was irregular, petitioners for 
 a town meeting declared that the people were alarmed at a 
 report that the tea had been shipped to America, and feared 
 that the tribute would be exacted, and that the liberties, for 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxix 
 
 ,which they had so long contended, would be lost to them 
 and their posterity. A meeting was therefore called by the 
 selectmen for the next day, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. 
 
 That night a threatening letter was placed under the door 
 of Mr. Faneuil, one of the consignees, warning them that a 
 much longer delay in complying, would not fail to bring 
 upon them "the just reward of their avarice and insolence." 
 
 The town meeting, held on the 5th of November, was 
 fully attended, and was presided over by John Hancock. 
 After due consideration, it adopted the resolves of the Phila- 
 delphians of October 18, declaring that freemen have an \ 
 inherent right to dispose of their property ; that the tea tax 
 was a mode of levying contributions on them without their 
 consent ; that its purpose tended to render assemblies use- 
 less, and to introduce arbitrary government ; that a steady 
 opposition to this ministerial plan was a duty which every 
 freeman owed to his country, to himself, and to his posterity ; 
 that the East India Company's importation was an open 
 attempt to enforce this plan ; and that whoever countenanced 
 the unloading, vending or receiving the tea, was an enemy 
 to his country. A committee, consisting of the moderator, 
 Henderson Inches, Benjamin Austin, and the selectmen of 
 the town, were chosen to wait on the consignees and request 
 them, from a regard to their own characters, and the peace 
 and good of the town and province, immediately to resign 
 their appointment. 
 
 At this meeting, a Tory handbill, called the " Tradesmen's 
 Protest," against the proceedings of the merchants on the 
 subject of tea importation, was introduced. After the read- 
 ing, without comment, the tradesmen present were desired 
 to collect themselves at the south side of the hall, where 
 
XXX 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the question was put whether they acknowledged the " Trades- 
 men's Protest," and the whole, amounting to at least four 
 hundred, voted in the negative. The paper, its printer, and 
 those who circulated it, were denounced as base, false and 
 scandalous. This gave a finishing blow to the " Protest," of 
 which nothino^ more was heard. 
 
 After voting that it was the just expectation of the town 
 that no one of its merchants should, under any pretext 
 whatever, import any tea liable to duty, the meeting adjourned 
 until three o'clock. 
 
 At that hour there was again a full assembly. The com- 
 mittee reported that they had communicated the resolves of 
 the town to the Messrs. Clarke and Mr. Faneuil, who in- 
 formed them that they must consult Thomas and Elisha 
 Hutchinson, the other consignees, who were at Milton, and 
 could not give an answer until the following Monday. 
 Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, and Molineux were then 
 desired to acquaint Messrs. Clarke and Faneuil, that the 
 town expected an immediate answer from them. This was 
 very soon received, and pronounced unsatisfactory, by a 
 unanimous vote. John Hancock, John Pitts, Samuel Adams, 
 Samuel Abbott, Joseph Warren, William Powell, and Na- 
 thaniel Appleton,^ were chosen a committee to wait on the 
 
 1 Nathaniel Appleton, Commissioner Street, son of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Apple- 
 of Loans for the State of Massachusetts, ton, of Cambridge; died in June, 1789, 
 a resident of Atkinson (now Congress) aged 66. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Hutchinsons, and request an immediate resignation, and the 
 meeting adjourned until the next day. 
 
 On Saturday, Faneuil Hall was again crowded. The 
 committee reported that it could not find Elisha Hutchin- 
 son, either at Milton or Boston. Thomas Hutchinson, Jr., 
 informed them, in a letter, that when he and his brother 
 were appointed factors, and the tea arrived, they would be 
 sufficiently informed to answer the request of the inhabitants. 
 
 This reply stirred up some of the hot blood in the assem- 
 bly, and a cry of "to arms.! to arms!" was received with 
 applause and clapping of hands. Discretion, as usual, 
 prevailed, and the meeting voted that the replies were 
 "daringly affrontive" to the town, and then dissolved. The 
 governor tried to collect evidence of the inflammatory 
 speeches that had been made, but could find no person 
 
 willing to give it. 
 
 A quiet week followed. The tea-ships were nearmg the 
 
 "h^bor, and the journals were filled with political essays 
 
 o-enerally, strong, well put, and elevating in tone. Locke, 
 
 fn the " Boston Gazette," said : " It will be considered by 
 
 Americans whether the dernier ressort, and only asylum for 
 
 their liberties, is not an American Commonwealth." It was 
 
 evident to the leaders on both sides, that a crisis was at 
 
 hand. Hutchinson foresaw that this "would prove a more 
 
 difficult affair than any which had preceded it ; " and m his 
 
 letters admits that the mass of the people acted m the 
 
 conviction that their rights were invaded. Believmg the 
 
 supremacy of parliament was in issue, he determmed, though 
 
 standing almost alone, and in opposition to the advice of 
 
 his political friends, to make no concession. In a letter 
 
 written at this period, to Lord Dartmouth, Secretary for the 
 
 r 
 
XXXII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Colonies, he describes, with minuteness, the state of political 
 affairs. He says : 
 
 . . . " At present, the spirits of the people in the town of Boston are in a 
 great ferment. Everything that has been in my power, without the Council, I 
 have done, and continue to do, for the preservation of the peace and good order 
 of the town. If I had the aid, which I think the Council might give, my endeav- 
 ors would be more effective. They profess to disapprove of the tumultuous, 
 violent proceedings of the people, but they wish to see the professed end of the 
 people in such proceedings attained in the regular way ; and, instead of joining 
 with me in proper measures to discourage an opposition to the landing of the 
 teas expected, one and another of the gentlemen, of the greatest influence, inti- 
 mate that the best thing that can be done to quiet the people, would be the refusal 
 of the gentlemen to whom the teas are consigned, to execute the trust ; and they 
 declare they would do it if it was their case, and would advise all their connex- 
 ions to do it..7 Nor will they ever countenance a measure which shall tend to 
 carry into execution an act of parliament which lays taxes upon the colonies, for 
 the purpose of a revenue. The same principle prevails with by far the greater 
 part of the merchants who, though in general they declare against mobs and 
 , violence, yet they as generally wish the tea may not be imported. The persons 
 to whom the teas are consigned, declare that whilst they can be protected from 
 violence to their persons, they will not give way to the unreasonable demands 
 which have been made of them. I wish the vessels bound to New York may 
 arrive before those designed to this Province. Governor Tryon I know to be 
 well disposed to do his duty, and the people there are less disposed to any vio- 
 lent proceedings, as I have reason to think, than ihey are here, and an example 
 of peace and good order there may have its influence here." 
 
 Samuel Adams, Hancock, Warren, Molineux and Young, 
 the most prominent of the popular leaders, apprehended 
 fully the responsibilities of the hour. They had a great 
 principle to maintain, and the courage to uphold it. They 
 knew that, though the people were with them, the failure to 
 obtain the resignation of the consignees had inspired doubt 
 in other quarters, as to whether Boston would meet the 
 expectations of the patriots of other colonies. To such as 
 questioned whether it was not premature to push matters to 
 extremities, they replied, that if fidelity to the common 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxxiii 
 
 cause was likely to bring on a quarrel with Great Britain, 
 this was the best time for it to come. " Our credit," they 
 said, " is at stake ; we must venture, and unless we do, we 
 shall be discarded by the Sons of Liberty in the other 
 colonies, whose assistance we may expect, upon emergencies, 
 in case they find us steady, resolute and faithful." With 
 men like these " to the fore," though independence was 
 scarcely dreamed of, revolution was a foregone conclusion. 
 
 Thomas Mifflin, an active patriot of Philadelphia, sub- 
 sequently a general, and governor of Pennsylvania, when in 
 Boston, said to some of these men, "will you engage that 
 the tea shall not be landed ? if so, I will answer for Phila- 
 delphia." And they pledged their honor that its landing 
 should be prevented. 
 
 On November ii, Hutchinson issued the following order: 
 
 " Massachusetts Bay. By the Governor. 
 
 To Colonel John Hancock, Captain of the Governor's Company of Cadets, &c. 
 
 The Cadet company, under your command, having signalized itself heretofore 
 upon a very necessary occasion, and the late tumultuous proceedings in the town 
 of Boston requiring that more than usual caution should be taken at this time 
 for the preservation of the peace, I think it proper that you should forthwith 
 summon each person belonging to the company to be ready, and to appear in 
 arms at such place of parade as you think fit, whensoever there may be a tumult- 
 uous assembly of the people, in violation of the laws, in order to their being 
 aiding and assisting to the civil magistrate as occasion may require." 
 
 This company, which was immediately under the govern- 
 or's orders, had been of service during the stamp act riots, 
 and had often been complimented for its discipline. The 
 evident intent of this order, to use military force to suppress 
 public assemblages, and the stationing of companies of Brit- 
 ish troops in the neighboring towns, augmented the uneasi- 
 ness already felt. There was now, besides the soldiers at 
 
 5 
 
 A 
 
XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the castle, a considerable naval force in the harbor, under 
 Admiral John Montagu. 
 
 On the morning of November 1 7, a little party of family 
 friends had assembled at the house of Richard Clarke, Esq., 
 known as the " Cooke House," near the King's Chapel, 
 on School Street, to welcome young Jonathan Clarke, who 
 had just arrived from London. All at once the inmates of 
 the dwelling were startled by a violent beating at the door, 
 accompanied with shouts and the blowing of horns, creating 
 considerable alarm. The ladies were hastily bestowed in 
 places of safety, while the gentlemen secured the avenues 
 of the lower story, as well as they were able. The yard 
 and vicinity were soon filled with people. One of the 
 inmates warned them, from an upper window, to disperse, 
 but getting no other reply than a shower of stones, he dis- 
 charged a pistol. Then came a shower of missiles, which 
 broke in the lower windows, and damaged some of the 
 furniture. Influential patriots had by this time arrived, and 
 put a stop to the proceedings, and the mob quietly dispersed. 
 The consignees now called on the governor and council 
 for protection. 
 
 During the day, an arrival from London brought the 
 news that three ships, having the East India Company's tea 
 on board, had sailed for Boston, and that others had cleared 
 for Philadelphia. 
 
 A petition for a town meeting was at once presented to 
 the selectmen, representing that the teas were shortly ex- 
 pected, and that it was apprehended that the consignees might 
 now be sufficiently informed on the terms of its consignment, 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxxv 
 
 to be able to give their promised answer to the town. A 
 meeting was therefore appointed for the next day. 
 
 John Hancock was the moderator of the last town meeting, 
 in which public sentiment was legally brought to bear upon 
 the consignees. It was held on the i8th. The meeting was 
 quiet and orderly, and its business was speedily transacted. 
 
 A committee was appointed to wait on the consignees 
 for a final answer to the request of the town, that they 
 resign their appointment. This was their reply : 
 
 "Boston, November i8, 1773. 
 Sir, — In answer to the message we have this day received from the town, we 
 beg leave to say that we have not yet received any order from the East India 
 Company respecting the expected teas, but we are now further acquainted that 
 our friends in England have entered into general engagements in our behalf, 
 merely of a commercial nature, which puts it out of our power to comply with 
 the request of the town. 
 
 We are, sir, your most humble servants, 
 
 Richard Clarke & Sons, 
 Benj. Faneuil, Jr., for self and 
 
 Joshua Winslow, Esq., 
 Elisha Hutchinson, for my 
 Brother and self." 
 
 Immediately on receiving this answer, the meeting, without 
 vote or comment, dissolved. " This sudden dissolution 
 struck more terror into the consignees," says Hutchinson, 
 " than the most minatory resolves ; " and but for his efforts, 
 they would have followed the example of those of Phila- 
 delphia, who had resigned six weeks before. 
 
 Next day (November 19), the consignees, in a petition to 
 the governor and council, asked leave to resign themselves, 
 and the property committed to their care, to his Excellency 
 and their Honors, as guardians and protectors of the people, 
 and that means might be devised for the landing and secur- 
 
 i 
 
XXXVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 ing the teas, until the petitioners could safely dispose of 
 them, or could receive directions from their constituents. 
 Their action was the cause of much comment in the news- 
 papers, and debate in the council. It was urged in oppo- 
 sition to the scheme, that it was no part of the legitimate 
 functions of this body to act as trustees and storekeepers 
 for certain factors of the East India Company. 
 
 In a letter to a friend, dated November 24, Hutchinson 
 thus expresses his views of the situation. He says : 
 
 " When I saw the inhabitants of the town of Boston, assembled under color 
 of law, and heard of the open declaration that we are now in a state of nature, 
 and that we have a right to take up arms ; and when in a town meeting, as I 
 am informed, a call to arms was received with clapping and general applause : 
 when a tumultuous assembly of people can, from time to time, attack the persons 
 and the property of the king's subjects ; and when assemblies are tolerated from 
 night to night, in the public town hall ; to counsel and determine upon further 
 unlawful measures, and dark proposals and resolutions are made and agreed to 
 there ; when the infection is industriously spreading and the neighboring towns 
 not only join their committees with the committee of Boston, but are assembled 
 in town meetings to approve of the doings of the town of Boston ; and, above 
 all, when upon repeated summoning of the Council, they put off any advice to 
 me from time to time, and I am obliged to consent to it, because all the voices 
 there, as far as they declare their minds, I have reason to fear, would rather 
 confirm than discourage the people in their irregular proceedings, — under all these 
 circumstances, I think it time to deliberate whether his majesty's service does 
 not call me to retire to the castle, where I may, with safety to my person, more 
 freely give my sense of the criminality of these proceedings than whilst I am in 
 the hands of the people, some of whom, and those most active, don't scruple to 
 declare their designs agrainst me." 
 
 And he concludes this doleful story with the question, 
 " What am I in duty bound to do ? " His position was cer- 
 tainly a very uncomfortable one. 
 
 Frequent conferences with the consignees were held by 
 the selectmen of Boston. " Though we labored night and 
 day in the affair, all our efforts could not produce an agree- 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxxvii 
 
 ment between them and the town." So wrote John ScoUay/ 
 chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who also informs us, 
 in a letter written December 23, that there was a way by 
 which the consignees might have avoided trouble. " Had 
 they," writes he, " on the terms of first application to them, 
 offered to have stored the tea, subject to the inspection of a 
 committee of gentlemen, till they could write their pFincipals, 
 and until that time (agreed that) no duty should be paid, — 
 which no doubt the customs officers would have consented 
 to, — I am persuaded the town would have closed with 
 
 them." 
 
 The selectmen told the consignees plainly that nothing 
 less than sending the tea back to England would satisfy the 
 people. Some of their Tory friends also urged them to 
 arrange matters in this way, but they would only agree 
 (Nov. 27) that nothing should be done in a clandestine way; 
 that the vessels should come up to the wharves, and that 
 when they received the orders that accompanied the teas, 
 they would hand in proposals to the selectmen, to be laid 
 before the town. They meant only to gain time. They 
 were determined to make the issue with the popular leaders 
 
 1 The Scollays were an old Scotch one of Scollay's daughters. Col. William 
 family. A John Scollay, the first men- ScoUay, apothecary and druggist, son of 
 tion of whom is found here, in 1692 John, resided at first on or near the 
 leased the Winnisimmet ferry for one spot where the Museum stands, and his 
 year. John, whose name is conspicuous garden extended back to Court Square, 
 in the early Revolutionary records of He was associated with Charles Bulfinch 
 Boston, was a merchant, and was chair- and others, in the improvement of Frank- 
 man of the Board of Selectmen, from lin Place, now Franklin Street, where 
 1774 to 1790. His portrait, by Copley, they erected the first block of buildings 
 represents a portly, florid man, with a in Boston. Col. William was commander 
 powdered wig, seated, his hand resting of the Independent Company of Cadets, 
 on a ledp-er. Thomas Melvill married 
 
XXXVIII IxNTRODUCTION. 
 
 on this question. They were backed by the governor and 
 the influential Tories, and no doubt believed that they could 
 carry their point. 
 
 On Monday, the 2 2d, the committees of correspondence 
 of Dorchester, Brookline, Roxbury and Cambridge, met the 
 Boston committee at the selectmen's chamber, Faneuil 
 Hall. 
 
 They resolved unanimously to use their joint influence to 
 prevent the landing and sale of the teas ; prepared a letter 
 to be sent to the other towns, representing that they were 
 reduced to the dilemma, either to sit down in quiet, under 
 this and every burden that might be put upon them, or to 
 rise up in resistance, as became freemen ; to impress the 
 absolute necessity of making immediate and effectual oppo- 
 sition to the detestable measure, and soliciting their advice 
 and co-operation. Charlestown was " so zealous in the 
 cause," that its committee was added to the others. This 
 body continued to hold daily conferences, " like a little 
 senate," says Hutchinson, 
 
 The "Gazette" of November 22, said: "Americans! defeat 
 this last effort of a most pernicious, expiring faction, and 
 you may sit under your own vines and fig trees, and none 
 shall, hereafter, dare to make you afraid." 
 
 On the 26th, the men of Cambridge assembled, and after 
 adopting the Philadelphia resolves, " very unanimously" voted, 
 " That as Boston was struggling for the liberties of their 
 country, they could no longer stand idle spectators, but were 
 ready, on the shortest notice, to join with it, and other 
 towns, in any measure that might be thought proper, to 
 deliver themselves and posterity from slavery." 
 
 On Sunday, the 28th, the ship " Dartmouth," Captain Hall, 
 
(From the original, in the possession ^ Geor(,e H Allan, Boston.) 
 
 I/OOO. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XLI 
 
 owned by the Quaker, Francis Rotch, ^ arrived in Boston 
 harbor, with one hundred and fourteen chests of tea, and 
 anchored below the castle. As the news spread, there was 
 great excitement. Despite the rigid New England ob- 
 servance of the Sabbath, the selectmen immediately met, 
 
 ^^J^^Tc^ 
 
 1 Francis Rotch, a Quaker merchant, 
 part owner of the " Dartmouth " and 
 the "Beaver," was born in Nantucket, 
 Mass., 30th September, 1750, and died 
 in New Bedford, in May, 1822. Joseph, 
 his father, the founder of a family of 
 eminent merchants, was born in Salis- 
 bury, England, in 1 704, and died in New 
 Bedford, 24th November, 1784. In early 
 life he settled in Nantucket, and rose 
 from poverty to affluence by his indus- 
 try, energy and enterprise, gaining, at 
 the same time, universal esteem for his 
 integrity. These characteristics he trans- 
 mitted to his sons, William, Joseph and 
 Francis, —especially to William, whose 
 commercial transactions were of the 
 most extensive character. All were 
 largely concerned in the whale fisheries 
 of Nantucket, of which they may almost 
 be said to have been the founders. 
 Francis was in England for a short time 
 in 1773, but had returned home before 
 his tea ships arrived. This affair was 
 a very troublesome one for a young man 
 of twenty-three to manage, as there was 
 a tremendous pressure brought to bear 
 upon him by Samuel Adams, and other 
 influential patriots, to return the teas to 
 England. He yielded temporarily to 
 this pressure, promising the meeting of 
 6 
 
 November 30th, that the tea should go 
 back; but, probably after consultation 
 with his counsel, Sampson Salter Blowers 
 and John Adams, decided to withdraw 
 his promise. Rotch pleaded that a com- 
 pliance would ruin him, and as he could 
 not obtain a pass for his ships, they 
 would either have been sunk by the 
 British batteries, or captured and con- 
 fiscated under the revenue laws. He 
 succeeded eventually in escaping loss 
 in the affair, as the East India Company 
 paid him the freight due on the cargoes 
 of teas. His ship, the " Bedford," if. 
 said to have been the first to display the 
 American flag on the Thames, after the 
 war. The family settled in New Bedford, 
 in 1768. He married his cousin, Nancy 
 Rotch, who, at the time of her death, 
 24th April, 1867, was nine-two years of 
 age. The accompanying portrait is 
 copied from a silhouette, by Miers, pro- 
 flle painter, in Strand, London, ap- 
 parently about 1795. It is very delicately 
 painted, on a hard plaster surface. The 
 features are well marked, and the lace 
 ruffle at the bosom, and the queue, are 
 exceedingly well done. It is now in the 
 possession of Mr. George H. Allan, who 
 received it from his uncle, A. A. Rotch. 
 
XLii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and remained in session until nine o'clock in the evening, 
 in the expectation of receiving the promised proposal of the 
 consignees. These gentlemen were not to be found, and on 
 the next day, bidding a final adieu to Boston, they took up 
 their quarters at the castle. 
 
 Hutchinson advised the consignees to order the vessels, 
 when they arrived, to anchor below the castle, that if it 
 should appear unsafe to land the tea, they might go to sea 
 again, and when the first ship arrived she anchored there 
 accordingly, but when the master came up to town, Mr. 
 Adams and others, a committee of the town, ordered him 
 at his peril to bring the ship up to land the other goods, 
 but to suffer no tea to be taken out. 
 
 The committee of correspondence, who also held a session 
 that day, seeing that time was precious, and that the tea 
 once entered it would be out of the power of the consignees 
 to send it back, obtained the promise of the owner not to 
 enter his ship till Tuesday, and authorized Samuel Adams 
 to summon the committees and townspeople of the vicinity 
 to a mass meeting, in Boston, on the next morning. The 
 invitation read as follows : 
 
 " A part of the tea shipped by the East India Company is now arrived in this 
 harbor, and we look upon ourselves bound to give you the earliest intimation of 
 it, and we desire that you favor us with your company at Faneuil Hall, at nine 
 o'clock to-morrow forenoon, there to give us your advice what steps are to be 
 immediately taken, in order effectually to prevent the impending evil, and we 
 request you to urge your friends in the town, to which you belong, to be in readi- 
 ness to exert themselves in the most resolute manner, to assist this town in its 
 efforts for saving this oppressed country." 
 
 The journals of Monday announced that the " Dartmouth" 
 had anchored off Long Wharf, and that other ships with the 
 poisonous herb might soon be here. They also contained 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XLIII 
 
 a call for a public meeting, as announced in the following 
 handbill, already printed and distributed throughout the 
 town : 
 
 " Friends ! Brethren ! Countrymen ! That worst of plagues, the detested tea, 
 shipped for this port by the East India Company, is now arrived in this harbor; 
 the hour of destruction or manly opposition to the machinations of tyranny stares 
 you in the face; every friend to his country, to himself, and posterity, is now 
 called upon to meet at Faneuil Hall, at nine o'clock this day, (at which time the 
 bells will ring,) to make a united and successful resistance to this last, worst and 
 most destructive measure of administration. 
 
 Boston, November 29, 1773." 
 
 At nine o'clock the bells were rung, and the people, to 
 the number of at least five thousand, thronged in and around 
 Faneuil Hall. This edifice, then about half as large as now, 
 was entirely inadequate to hold the concourse that had 
 gathered there. Jonathan Williams,^ a citizen of character 
 and wealth, was chosen moderator. The selectmen were 
 John Scollay, John Hancock, Timothy Newell, Thomas 
 Newhall, Samuel Austin, Oliver Wendell,' and John Pitts. 
 The patriotic and efficient town clerk, William Cooper,^ 
 
 ^Jonathan Williams, a distinguished 
 merchant and patriot, captain of the 
 Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
 pany, in 1 751; died March 27, 1788. 
 Jonathan, his father, was a member of 
 the Artillery Company in 1711. 
 
 2Judge Oliver Wendell, son of Hon. 
 Jacob Wendell, was born in Boston 
 5th March, 1733; died, 15th January, 
 1818. Harvard College, 1753. His 
 
 daughter, Sarah, married Rev. Abiel 
 Holmes, the father of the poet, Oliver 
 Wendell Holmes. 
 
 "WilUam Cooper, son of Rev. William, 
 and brother of Rev. Samuel, of the 
 Brattle Street Church, and forty-nine 
 years town clerk of Boston ; died 
 November 28, 1809; aged 89. The 
 brothers were both active patriots of 
 the Revolution. 
 
XLiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 was also present. Samuel Adams, Dr. Warren, Hancock, 
 Dr. Young and Molineux took the lead in the debate. 
 The resolution offered by Adams, "that the tea should not 
 be landed ; that it should be sent back in the same bottom 
 to the place whence it came, at all events, and that no duty- 
 should be paid on it," was unanimously adopted. On hearing 
 of this vote the consignees withdrew to Castle William. 
 For the better accommodation of the people, the meeting 
 then adjourned to the Old South Meeting House. 
 
 The speeches made at the Old South have not been pre- 
 served. Some were violent, others were calm, advising the 
 people by all means to abstain from violence, but the men 
 in whom they placed confidence were unanimous upon the 
 question of sending back the tea. Dr. Young held that the 
 only way to get rid of it was to throw it overboard. Here 
 we find the first suggestion of its ultimate fate. Both 
 Whigs and Tories united in the action of the meeting. To 
 give the consignees time to make the expected proposals, 
 the meeting adjourned till three o'clock. 
 
 Of this assembly Hutchinson says: "Although it consisted 
 principally of the lower ranks of the people, and even jour- 
 neymen tradesmen were brought to increase the number, 
 and the rabble were not excluded, yet there were divers 
 gentlemen of good fortune among them." With regard to 
 the speeches he observes : " Nothing can be more inflam- 
 matory than those made on this occasion ; Adams was never 
 in greater glory." And of the consignees he says : " They 
 apprehended they should be seized, and may be, tarred and 
 feathered and carted, — an American torture, — in order to 
 compel them to a compliance. The friends of old Mr. 
 Clarke, whose constitution being hurt by the repeated attacks 
 
INTRODUCTION. xlv 
 
 made upon him, retired into the country, pressed his sons 
 and the other consignees to a full compliance." 
 
 A visitor from Rhode Island who attended the meeting, 
 speaking of its regular and sensible conduct, said he should 
 have thought himself rather in the British senate than in 
 the promiscuous assembly of the people of a remote colony. 
 At the afternoon meeting in the Old South, it was re- 
 solved, upon the motion of Samuel Adams, " that the tea in 
 Captain Hall's ship must go back in the same bottom." 
 The owner and the captain were informed that the entry of 
 the tea, or the landing of it, would be at their peril. The 
 ship was ordered to be moored at Griffins' wharf, and a watch 
 of twenty-five men was appointed for the security of vessel 
 and cargo, with Captain Edward Proctor as captain that 
 night. It was also voted that the governor's call on the 
 justices to meet that afternoon, to suppress attempted riots, 
 was a reflection on the people. 
 
 Upon Hancock's representation that the consignees desired 
 further time to meet and consult, the meeting consented, 
 " out of great tenderness to them," and adjourned until next 
 day. This meeting also voted that six persons "who are 
 used to horses be in readiness to give an alarm in the 
 country towns, when necessary." They were William Rogers, 
 Jeremiah Belknap, Stephen Hall, Nathaniel Cobbett, and 
 Thomas Gooding, and Benjamin Wood, of Charlestown. 
 
 The guard for the tea ships, which consisted of from 
 twenty-four to thirty-four men, was kept up until December i6. 
 It was armed with muskets and bayonets, and proceeded 
 with military regularity, — indeed it was composed in part of 
 the military of the town, — and every half hour during the 
 nicrht regularly passed the word "all's well," like sentinels 
 
XLYI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in a garrison. It was on duty nineteen days and twenty- 
 three hours. If molested by day the bells of the town were 
 to be rung, if at night they were to be tolled. We have 
 the names of those comprising the watch on November 29 
 and 30. They are : 
 
 For November 29. Captain, Edward Proctor. 
 
 Henry Bass. 
 Foster Condy. 
 John Lovell. 
 John Winthrop. 
 John Greenleaf. 
 Benjamin Alley. 
 Joshua Pico. 
 James Henderson. 
 Josiah Wheeler. 
 Joseph Edwards. 
 Jonathan Stodder. 
 Stephen Bruce. 
 
 Paul Revere. 
 Moses Grant. 
 Joseph Lovering. 
 Dr. Elisha Story. 
 Thomas Chase. 
 Benjamin Edes. 
 Joseph Pierce, Jr. 
 Captain Riordan. 
 John Crane. 
 John McFadden. 
 Thomas Knox, Jr. 
 Robert Hitchborn. 
 
 November 30. Captain, Ezekiel Cheever.^ 
 
 Thomas Urann. 
 William Dickman. 
 Samuel Peck. 
 Thomas Bolley. 
 John Rice. 
 Joseph Froude. 
 Obadiah Curtis. 
 George Ray. 
 Benjamin Ingerson. 
 Adam CoUson. 
 Daniel Hewes. 
 
 Joseph Eayres. 
 WiUiam Sutton. 
 Ebenezer Ayres. 
 William Elberson. 
 Benjamin Stevens. 
 James Brewer. 
 Rufus Bant. 
 William Clap. 
 Nicholas Pierce. 
 Thomas Tileston. 
 Richard Hunnewell. 
 
 -gy^^-^ej^^^^^ 
 
 ^ Ezekiel Cheever, the great grandson 
 of the famous schoolmaster of that name, 
 in the early days of New England, was 
 
 born in Charlestown, Mass., in May, 
 1720. He was by trade a sugar-baker 
 (confectioner), and from 1752 to 1755 
 
Ma-jo :r &-r.i<f=9 JO S EPH "WA^^^REI^T 
 
 Siam ac ih.c Sattle of BxinKcr s Hill J^xnt^ y ^77J 
 
 ( Copied from the Boston print of 1782, // being froiii tlic London print previoui to this date.) 
 
 " May our land be a land of liberty, the seat of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed, a name, a jiraise in 
 the whole earth." — Joseph Warren. 
 March 5, 1772. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xlix 
 
 Hancock and Henry Knox were members of this volunteer 
 guard. Volunteers were, after the first night, requested to 
 leave their names at the printing-office of Edes and Gill; 
 the duty of providing it having devolved upon the com- 
 mittee of correspondence. 
 
 Obadiah Curtis, born in Roxbury, Mass., in 1724; died in Newton, Mass., 
 November 11, 181 1. He was a wheelwright by trade, and his wife, Martha, kept 
 an English goods store, at the corner of Rawson's Lane, (now Bromfield Street,) 
 and Newbury (now Washington) Street, and accumulated a handsome estate. Be- 
 coming obnoxious to the British authorities, Mr. Curtis removed with his family 
 to Providence, remaining there until after the evacuation of Boston. A person 
 who saw him at this time thus describes his appearance : " He was habited 
 according to the fashion of gentlemen of those days, — in a three-cornered hat, 
 a club wig, a long coat of ample dimensions, that appeared to have been made 
 with reference to future growth, breeches with large buckles, and shoes fastened in 
 the same manner." 
 
 James Henderson was a painter, in Boston, at the beginning of this century. 
 
 Daniel Hewes, a mason by trade, resided on Purchase Street, where he died 
 July 9, 1821 ; aged •j'j. He was a brother of George Roljert Twelves Hewes. 
 
 Robert Hitchborn was a cooper, on Anne Street, in 1789. 
 
 Thomas Knox, Jr., a branch pilot, died in Charlestown, Mass., in April, 181 7; 
 aged 75. He joined the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew in 1764. In 1789 his 
 residence was on Friend Street. 
 
 Joseph Lovering was a tallow chandler. He lived on the corner of HoUis and 
 Tremont Streets, opposite Crane and the Bradlees. Joseph Lovering, Jr., held 
 the light by which Crane and others disguised themselves in Crane's carpenter's 
 shop, on the evening of December 16. Lovering was a prominent member of the 
 Charitable Mechanic Association, was many years a selectman and a fireward 
 under the old town government of Boston, and was also a member of the first 
 Board of Aldermen, under Mayor Phillips. He followed his father's business, 
 and was some years a partner in the firm of J. Lovering & Sons. 
 
 was a selectman of Charlestown. Re- of the war. His brother, David, also a 
 
 moving to Boston he joined the Sons of prominent Son of Liberty, was appointed 
 
 Liberty, and was active in the ante- moderator of the Old South meeting of 
 
 revolutionary movements of the town, December 14, but declined. Ezekiel was 
 
 and prominent in its public meetings. a member of the Committee tliat waited 
 
 He was appointed commissary of artillery on the consignees and requested their 
 
 in the army before Boston, May 17, 1775. resignation. 
 He died a few years after the conclusion 
 
L INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Joshua Pico, a cooper, on Sheaffe Street, residing on Clarke Street : died in 
 January, 1807. 
 
 Joseph Pierce, Jr., was a merchant, at 58 Cornhill, in 1799. 
 
 Nicholas Pierce was a bricklayer, on Back (Salem) Street, in 1800. 
 
 John Rice was deputy-collector at Boston, 1789. 
 
 Benjamin Stevens was a tailor, at 33 Marlboro' Street, in 1789. 
 
 Jonathan Stodder was a member of St. Andrew's Lodge of Freemasons, in 1779. 
 
 Thomas Tileston, born September 21, 1735, was a carpenter on Purchase Street, 
 in 1789. His father, Onesiphorous Tileston, also a housewright and a man of 
 wealth, was captain of the Artillery Company in 1762. 
 
 John Winthrop resided in Cambridge Street, and died February 12, 1800; 
 aged 53. 
 
 The power and influence of the Boston committee of 
 correspondence, which played so important a part in the tea 
 affair, can best be estimated by a glance at the list of 
 names of its members. They were, Samuel Adams, James 
 Otis, Joseph Warren, William Molineux, Dr. Benjamin 
 Church, William Dennie, W^illiam and Joseph Greenleaf, 
 Dr. Thomas Young, William Powell, Nathaniel Appleton, 
 Oliver Wendell, Josiah Ouincy, Jr., John Sweetser, Richard 
 Boynton, John Bradford, William Mackay, Nathaniel Barber. 
 Caleb Davis, Alexander Hill, and Robert Pierpont. 
 
 After the dissolution of the meeting of November 29, 
 the committee met, and called on the committees from 
 other towns to join them on all necessary occasions. Be- 
 sides sending accounts of these events to all the towns, they 
 also wrote to the committees of Rhode Island, New Hamp- 
 shire, New York and Philadelphia, explaining their course, 
 acting, as they said, " in the faith that harmony and con- 
 currence in action uniformly and firmly maintained, must 
 finally conduct them to the end of their wishes, namely, a 
 full enjoyment of constitutional liberty." They received 
 cheering replies and encouraging assurances from all quarters. 
 
 At the meeting next morning, a letter to John Scollay 
 
INTRODUCTION. " 
 
 from the consignees, containing their long-delayed proposals, 
 was read They expressed sorrow that they could not re- 
 turn satisfactory answers to the two messages of the town, 
 as it was utterly out of their power to send the teas back 
 but said they were willing to store them until they could 
 communicate with their constituents, and receive their fur- 
 ther orders respecting them. This letter irritated the meet- 
 ing and it declined to take action upon it. 
 
 Before taking final leave of these obstinate gentlemen, I 
 make a few citations from the recently published voume of 
 " The Diary and Letters of Thomas Hutchinson. Writing 
 to his son at the castle on November 30, Hutchinson says : 
 "The gentlemen (consignees), except your uncle Clarke, all 
 went to the castle yesterday. I hope they will not comply 
 with such a monstrous demand." Hancock and Adams, he 
 says, were two of the guard of the tea ship^ 
 
 Thomas Hutchinson, Jr., to his brother Elisha : 
 
 "Castle William, December 14, i773- 
 T imacnne vou are anxious to know what the poor banished com- 
 
 • * • ■ ■ rC\t the castle Our retreat here was sudden, but our enemies 
 
 :rarc:l°« b arr/e rfbTin . v.^ co^ place, driven fron^ou, families 
 Td business, with the months of January and Febmary ,us - f^ 
 
 PS -Our situation is rendered more agreeable by the polite recep 
 met wi'th from Col. Leslie, and the other gentlemen o£ the army. 
 
 And on January 9, I774. he writes; 
 
 „.. =l,all not return to town without making concessions. 
 " The Bostonians say we shall not return lu orovided 
 
 \^:::t s: nt- -t:zrT^:^^ -z :. .%. am 
 
 in hopes the issue will be well. 
 7 
 
Lir INTRODUCTION. 
 
 And again, on January 21, dated Milton: 
 
 " I wrote you some time ago I was in hopes our liarassment was drawing to 
 a close, and that we should leave the castle last week. Mr. Faneuil and myself 
 coming off caused a supposition that we intended for Boston, which was the cause 
 of Saturday's notification which I sent you.i Mr. Faneuil is since returned to 
 the castle, and I am really more confined than if I was there, as I keep pretty 
 close to my home. Mr. Jonathan Clarke sails in a few days for England, of 
 which I am very glad, as it may prevent misapprehension of our conduct on that 
 side of the water. 
 
 A proclamation from the governor was brought in to the 
 meeting by Sheriff Greenleaf, which he begged leave of 
 the moderator to read. Objection was made, but at the 
 suggestion of Samuel Adams the meeting consented to 
 hear it. The governor charged that the meeting of the 
 previous day " openly violated, defied and set at naught the 
 good and wholesome laws of the Province, and as great 
 numbers were again assembled for like purposes, I warn," 
 he said, " exhort and require you, and each of you, thus 
 unlawfully assembled, forthwith to disperse, and to surcease 
 all further unlawful proceedings at your peril." The read- 
 ing was received with general and continued hisses, and a 
 vote that the meeting would not disperse. Mr. Copley, the 
 son-in-law of Mr. Clarke, inquired whether the meeting 
 
 1 Probably the following handbill is of Boston ! I therefore give you this 
 
 referred to : early notice that you may hold your- 
 
 " Brethren and Fellow Citizens ! selves in readiness on the shortest 
 
 You may depend that those odious warning, to give them such a reception 
 
 miscreants and detestable tools to minis- as such vile ingrates deserve. 
 
 try and government, the Tea Consign- (Signed), Joyce, Junior, 
 
 EES, (those traitors to their country — chairman of the Com,nittee /or 
 
 butchers — who have done and are doing Tarring and Feathering. 
 
 everything to murder and destroy all that g^^ If any person shall be so hardy 
 
 shall stand in the way of their private as to tear this down, he may expect 
 
 interest,) are determined to come (from my severest resentment. 
 the castle) and reside again in the town J., Jun." 
 
INTRODUCTION. liii 
 
 would hear the Messrs. Clarke, and whether they would be 
 safe while coming to and returning from the meeting, and 
 whether two hours would be allowed him in which to con- 
 sult with them. The request of Copley, who was sincerely 
 desirous of effecting a peaceful solution of the difficulty, was 
 granted, and the meeting then adjourned until two o'clock. 
 
 The proceedings of this afternoon briefly stated were, the 
 promise of Rotch, the owner, and Hall, the captain of the 
 " Dartmouth," and the owners of the two other vessels ex- 
 pected with teas, that that article should not be landed, but 
 should go back in the same ships, and the apology of Mr. 
 Copley for the time he had taken, he having been obliged 
 to go to the castle, where the consignees decided that it 
 would be inexpedient for them to attend the meeting, but 
 added to their former proposal that the tea should be sub- 
 mitted to the inspection of a committee, and also saying 
 that as they had not been active in introducing the tea, 
 they should do nothing to obstruct the people in returning it. 
 
 This was voted unsatisfactory. Resolves were then passed 
 to the effect that all who imported tea were enemies to the 
 country ; that its landing and sale should be prevented, and 
 that the tea should be returned to the place whence it came. 
 And the meeting also voted to send these resolves to every 
 seaport in the colonies and to England. The committee of 
 correspondence was charged to make provision for the con- 
 tinuation of the watch, and " the brethren from the country" 
 were thanked for their " countenance and union," and desired 
 to afford their assistance on notice being given, and it was 
 also declared to be " the determination of this body to 
 carry their votes and resolves into execution at the risk 
 of life and property." 
 
Liv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Speaking of this meeting, Hutchinson says : " A more 
 determined spirit was conspicuous in this body than in any 
 of the former assemblies of the people. It was composed 
 of the lowest as well, and probably in as great proportion, 
 as of the superior ranks and orders, and all had an equal 
 voice. No eccentric or irregular motions were suffered to 
 take place. All seemed to have been the plan of a few, it 
 may be of a single person." 
 
 And in a private letter, dated December i, Hutchinson 
 writes : 
 
 " While the rabble was together in one place, I was in another, not far dis- 
 tant, with his majesty's council, urging them to join with me in some measure to 
 break up this unlawful assembly, but to no purpose. I hope the consignees will 
 continue firm, and should not have the least doubt of it if it was not for the 
 solicitation of the friends of Mr. Clarke. If they go the lengths they threaten, 
 I shall be obliged to retire to the castle, as I cannot otherwise make any exer- 
 tions in support of the king's authority." 
 
 The committee of correspondence omitted no step that 
 prudence or caution could suggest to carry out the determ- 
 ination of the town. A letter from Philadelphia, just then 
 received, said : " Our tea consignees have all resigned, and 
 you need not fear, the tea will not be landed here nor at 
 New York. All that we fear is that you will shrink at 
 Boston. May God give you virtue enough to save the 
 liberties of your country ! " 
 
 A second and a third vessel soon arrived, and the select- 
 men gave peremptory orders, to prevent clandestine landing 
 of the tea, and directed them to be anchored by the side of 
 the " Dartmouth," at Griffin's Wharf. One guard answered 
 for the three vessels. As the time drew near for the land- 
 ing or return of the tea, the excitement of the community 
 increased. " Where the present disorder will end," wrote 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 LV 
 
 Hutchinson, " I cannot make a probable conjecture the 
 town is as furious as in the time of the stamp act^ The 
 flame is kindled," so wrote the wife of John Adams, and 
 like lightning, it catches from soul to soul. . . • My 
 heart beats a' every whistle I hear, and I dare not express 
 
 '"'xwTntrdi after her arrival in the port a vessel was 
 liable to'seizure for the non-payment of duties on articles 
 imported in her, nor on landmg a portion of her cargo, 
 3d she be legally cleared. On official adv.ce from the 
 governor to Colonel Leslie, commander of the castle, and 
 idXl Montagu, the latter ordered the sh.ps of war 
 ^Active" and "King Fisher," to guard the passages to A 
 sea and permit no unauthorized vessels to pass. the 
 pat'riots" said Hutchinson, "now found themselves in a web 
 of nextricable difficulties." " But where there is a will 
 Ire is a way," and the patriots had more resources than 
 the governor dreamed of. ^^ ^,. ^^^ summoned 
 
 Rotch the owner of the Uaitmouui, w , , , 
 
 pledge, to »o<l hi. vesKl mi le. I.«t » Lo„do,j_ M. 
 '„pl£d .h.. .. ™ o.. oi hi. p..« .. J« ". ^; - 
 
 -rjo;°s'!ii:-^r"p:i"<B->-" 
 3rr,rJ,S;,pird'£t.,?rhVdr™; 
 
LVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ination to nullify the tea act, and of the declination ot 
 the consignees in the latter place. 
 
 The "Gazette," of December 13, editorially says: "The 
 minds of the public are greatly irritated at the delay of Mr. 
 Rotch, to take the necessary steps towards complying with 
 their peremptory requisition." On this day an important 
 session of the' committee f)f the five towns already named 
 took place at Faneuil llcill. "No Inisiness transacted matter 
 of record," is the brief but suggestive entry as to its doings. 
 
 Dorchester, in legal town meeting, declared that, "should 
 this country be so unhap|)y as to see a day of trial for the 
 recovery of its rights by a last and solemn appeal to Him 
 who gave them, they should not be behind the bravest of our 
 patriotic brethren." Marblehead affirmed that the proceed- 
 ings of the brave citizens of Boston, and of other towns, in 
 opposition tf) the landing of the tea, were rational, generous 
 and just; that they were highly honored for their noble 
 firmness in su];|>ort of American liberty, and that the men 
 of the town were ready with their lives to assist their breth- 
 ren in opposing all measures tending to enslave the country." 
 Under date of December 3, the people of Roxbury voted 
 that they were in duty bound to join with Boston, and other 
 sister towns, to preserve inviolate the liberties handed down 
 by their ancestors. Next day the men of Charlestown de- 
 clared themselves ready to risk their lives and fortunes. 
 Newbury|>()rt, Maiden, Lexington, Leicester, Fitchburg, 
 Gloucester, and other towns, also preferred their aid when 
 needed. 
 
 The " Gazette," under date of Salem, December 7, has the 
 following: " \>y what we can learn from private intelligence, 
 as well as the j)ublic i)roceedings of a number of principal 
 
INTRODUCTION. Lvn 
 
 towns contiguous to the capital, the people, if opposed in 
 their proceedings with respect to the tea, are determined 
 upon hazarding a brush, therefore those who are wilHng to 
 hear a part in it in preserving the rights of this country, 
 would do well to get suitably prepared." This looked like 
 business. 
 
 On the morning of December 14, the following handbill 
 appeared in Boston : 
 
 Friends ! Brethren ! Countrymen ! The perfidious act of your reckless ene- 
 mies to render ineffectual the late resolves of the body of the people, demands 
 your assembling at the Old South Meeting House, precisely at ten o'clock this 
 day, at which time tlic lu-lls will ring." 
 
 The meeting thus called was largely attended. Samuel 
 Phillips Savage,' of Weston, was chosen moderator. Bruce, 
 the master of the " Eleanor," promised to ask for a clear- 
 ance for London, when all his goods were landed, except 
 the tea, but said that, if refused, "he was loth to stand the 
 shot of thirty-two pounders." Rotch, accompanied by Samuel 
 Adams, Benjamin Kent, and eight others, applied to the 
 collector of the port for a clearance, and reported, on his 
 return, that the collector desired to consult with the comp- 
 troller, and promised an answer on the following morning. 
 The meeting then adjourned until Thursday. 
 
 Next day Rotch, with the Committee, proceeded to the 
 Custom House. Harrison, the Collector, and Comptroller 
 
 1 A merchant and a iormcr selectman lion, and from Nov. 2, 1775» t'll '"^ 
 
 of Boston, member of tlie Provincial death, a Judge of the Court of Common 
 
 Congress, President of tlic Massaclui- Pleas for Middlesex County. He died 
 
 setts" ISoanl of War during the Rcvolu at Weston in Pccember, 1797; ^g^^'l 7')- 
 
Lviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Hallowell, were both present. The owner said that he was 
 required and compelled at his peril by the meeting to make 
 the demand for the clearance of his vessel for London, with 
 the tea on board, and one of the committee stated that 
 they were present only as witnesses. The Collector unequiv- 
 ocally and finally refused to grant his ship a clearance until 
 it should be discharged of the teas. The result was reported 
 to the meeting on the following morning. 
 
 The eventful Thursday, December i6, 1773, a day ever 
 memorable in the annals of the town, witnessed the largest 
 gathering yet seen at the Old South Meeeting House. 
 / Nearly seven thousand persons constituted the assembly. 
 Business was laid aside, and notwithstanding the rain, at 
 least two thousand people flocked in from the country for 
 twenty miles around. This time there was no need of 
 handbills — there were none. No effort was required to 
 bring together the multitude that quietly but anxiously 
 awaited the outcome of the meeting. The gravity of the 
 situation was universally felt. Immediate action was neces- 
 sary, as the twenty days allowed for clearance terminated 
 that night. Then the revenue ofBcials could take possession, 
 and under cover of the naval force land the tea, and opposi- 
 tion to this would have caused bloody work. The patriots 
 would gladly have avoided the issue, but it was forced upon 
 them, and they could not recede with honor. 
 
 The committee having reported the failure of its appli- 
 cation for a clearance, Rotch was directed to enter a protest 
 at the Custom House, and to apply to the governor for a 
 pass to proceed on this day with his vessel on his voyage 
 for London. He replied that it was impracticable to comply 
 
INTRODUCTION. "X 
 
 with this requirement. He was then reminded of his prom- 
 ise and on being asked if he would now direct the 
 "Dartmouth" to sail, replied that he would not. The 
 meeting, after directing him to use all possible dispatch in 
 making his protest and procuring his pass, adjourned until 
 
 three o'clock. . 
 
 At the afternoon meeting, information was given that 
 several towns had agreed not to use tea. A vote was taken 
 to the effect that its use was improper and pernicious, and 
 that it would be well for all the towns to appoint com- 
 mittees of inspection "to prevent this accursed tea from 
 coming among them. "Shall we abide by our former 
 resolution with respect to the not suffering the tea to be 
 landed?" was now the question. Samuel Adams, Ur. 
 Thomas Young and Josiah Quincy, Jr./ an ardent young 
 patriot devotedly attached to the liberties of his country 
 were the principal speakers. Only a fragment of the speech 
 of Quincy remains. Counselling moderation, and in a 
 spirit of prophecy, he said: 
 
 -It is not Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors within these walls that must 
 It i^not Mr. [.^^^ of this day will call forth the events which will 
 
 :^ :;:v:^teJ^iStLsary for o^ -:na7e:::^irrSiS 
 r'' m :r ^r ^Lr i^::-" trt;:rtr::etd :z of the pri. for 
 
 combined against us; we must be ^^-^ to that ^^^e mv^ y ^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 revenge which actuates our enemies, public ^^^^ J^^'^'^^^^^^ ^^e sharpest con- 
 to ho;e that we shall end this controversy ^^ f '^^^^ J^^l'u s popuLr accla- 
 flicts; to flatter ourselves that P^V^l^^ resolves popular h^^^^^^ 
 mations, and popular vapor will vanquish our foes. Let us 
 
 • • 1 T^ 1 ^ 5n T77 1 and a lawyer, and in conjunction with John 
 
 his native land, April 26, I77S- He was "Boston Massacre. 
 S 
 
Lx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Let us look to the end. Let us weigh and consider before we advance to those 
 measures which must bring on the most trying and terrific struggle this country 
 ever saw." 
 
 But the time for weighing and considering the business 
 in hand had passed. Time pressed and decisive action 
 alone remained. " Now that the hand is at the plough," it 
 was said, " there must be no looking back." 
 
 At half-past four it was unanimously voted that the tea 
 should not be landed. An effort was now made to dissolve 
 the' meeting, but it was continued at the request of some of 
 those present from the country, who wished to hear the 
 result of Rotch's application to the governor. 
 
 It was an unusual time of the year to be at a country 
 seat, but Governor Hutchinson was found at his Milton 
 residence by Rotch, who renewed his request for a pass. 
 Questioned by the governor as to the intentions of the 
 people, Rotch replied that they only intended to force the 
 tea back to England, but that there might be some who 
 desired that the vessel might go down the harbor and be 
 brought to by a shot from the castle, that it might be said 
 that the people had done everything in their power to send 
 the tea back. " Catching at this straw, with the instinct of 
 a drowning man," Hutchinson offered Rotch a letter to 
 Admiral Montagu, commending ship and goods to his pro- 
 tection, if Rotch would agree to have his ship haul out 
 into the stream, but he replied that none were willing to 
 assist him in doing this, and that the attempt would subject 
 him to the ill will of the people, Hutchinson then sternly 
 repeated his refusal of a pass,^ as it would have been " a 
 direct countenancing and encouraging the violation of the 
 
 1 Lord Mahon, a candid British historian, thinks this concession unwisely denied. 
 
"Who knows how tea will mingle with salt water?" 
 •6> '773- 
 
 — John Rowe. Old South Church, Boston, Dec. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 LXIIl 
 
 acts of trade." Thus closed the last opportunity for con- 
 cession. 
 
 It is only fair to say that the performance of what he 
 honestly believed to be his duty was as vi-tal a consideration 
 with Thomas Hutchinson, the royal governor, as opposition 
 to measures which he believed to be hostile to the liberties 
 of his country was to Samuel Adams, the popular leader. 
 We can at this day well afford to mete out this tardy justice 
 to a man whose motives and conduct have been so bitterly 
 and unscrupulously vilified and maligned as have been those 
 of Thomas Hutchinson. 
 
 When Rotch returned and told the result of his applica- 
 tion, it was nearly six o'clock. Darkness had set^ in, and 
 the Old South, dimly lighted with candles, was still filled 
 with an anxious and impatient multitude. "Who knows," 
 
 said John Rowe, 
 
 "how tea will mingle 
 
 w 
 
 ith salt water? 
 
 ijohn Rowe, a prominent merchant 
 and patriotic citizen of Boston, died 
 February 17, 1787; aged 72 years. He 
 was many years a Selectman, Overseer 
 of the Poor, and representative to the 
 General Court, and was chairman of 
 the committee chosen June 16, 1779^ to 
 fix the prices of merchandise, and to 
 bring to punishment all offenders against 
 the act against monopoly and forestall- 
 ing. He was a member of the First 
 Lodge of Freemasons, Boston, in 1740: 
 
 master of the same Lodge in 1749, and 
 fifth Provincial Grand Master in 1768. 
 When, in 1766, Rowe was proposed for 
 representative, Samuel Adams artfully 
 suggested another, by asking — with his 
 eyes on Mr. Hancock's house — " Ls 
 there not another John that may do 
 better ? " The hint took, and the wealth 
 and influence of Hancock were secured 
 on the side of liberty. Rowe's mansion,— 
 subsequently that of Judge Prescott, 
 father of the historian, —stood on the 
 
Lxiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The people hurrahed vehemently, and the cry arose, " A 
 mob ! a mob ! " A call to order restored quiet. Dr. Young 
 then addressed the meeting, saying that Rotch was a good 
 man, who had done all in his power to gratify the people, 
 and charged them to do no hurt to his person or property. 
 
 To the final question then put to him, whether he would 
 send his vessel back with the tea in her, under the present 
 circumstances, he replied, that he could not, as he " appre- 
 hended that a compliance would prove his ruin." He also 
 admitted that if called upon by the proper persons, he 
 should attempt to land the tea for his own security. 
 
 Adams then arose and uttered the fateful words, " This 
 meeting can do nothing more to save the country." This 
 was doubtless the preconcerted signal for action, and it was 
 answered by the men who sounded the war-whoop at the 
 church door. The cry was re-echoed from the gallery, where 
 a voice cried out, " Boston harbor a tea-pot to-night ; hurrah 
 for Griffin's wharf ! " and the " Mohawks " passed on to cut 
 the Gordian knot with their hatchets. 
 
 Silence was again commanded, when the people, after 
 " manifesting a most exemplary patience and caution in the 
 methods they had pursued to preserve the property of the 
 East India Company, and to return it safe and untouched 
 to its owners," perceiving that at every step they had been 
 thwarted by the consignees and their coadjutors, then dis- 
 solved the meeting, giving three cheers as they dispersed. 
 
 Meanwhile a number of persons, variously estimated at 
 from twenty to eighty, (their number increasing as they 
 
 spot lately occupied by Dr. Robbins' friend of his country, but the wharf alone 
 church, in Bedford Street. A wharf and retains the title. Since 1856, Rowe Street 
 street once bore the name of this true has been absorbed in Chauncy Street. 
 
INTRODUCTION. Lxv 
 
 advanced,) some of them disguised as Indians, and armed 
 with hatchets or axes, hurried to Griffin's (now Liverpool) 
 wharf, boarded the ships, and, warning their crews and the 
 customs officers to keep out of the way, in less than three 
 hours time had broken and emptied into the dock three 
 hundred and forty-two chests of tea, valued at ^18,000. The 
 deed was not that of a lawless mob, but the deliberate and 
 well-considered act of intelligent, as well as determined, 
 men. So careful were they not to destroy or injure private 
 property, that they even replaced a padlock they had 
 broken. There was no noise nor confusion. They 
 worked so quietly and systematically that those on shore 
 could distinctly hear the strokes of the hatchets. As soon 
 as the people learned what was going forward, they made 
 their way to the scene of operations, covering the wharves 
 in the vicinity, whence they looked on in silence during the 
 performance. The night was clear, the moon shone brilliantly, 
 no one was harmed, and the town was never more quiet. 
 Next day, the Dorchester shore was lined with tea, carried 
 thither by the wind and tide. The serious spirit in which 
 this deed was regarded by the leaders, is illustrated by the 
 act of one who, after assisting his apprentice to disguise 
 himself, dropped upon his knees and prayed fervently for 
 his safety, and the success of the enterprise. 
 
 Among the spectators of the scene were Dr. John Prince, 
 of Salem; John Andrews, and Dr. Hugh Williamson, who 
 afterwards underwent an examination respecting the affair 
 before the British House of Commons. 
 
 Where is now the wide Atlantic Avenue, the old footpath 
 under Fort Hill, known as Flounder Lane, and afterwards 
 as Broad Street, wound around the margin of the water. 
 
Lxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Sea Street was its continuation to Wheeler's Point (the foot 
 of Summer Street). Opposite where Hutchinson (now Pearl) 
 Street entered Flounder Lane, was Griffin's Wharf. The 
 laying out of Broad Street and Atlantic Avenue, and the 
 consequent widening and filling in, have resulted in obliter- 
 ating Griffin's Wharf,^ although in Liverpool wharf it has a 
 legitimate successor. The old dock logs were folind near 
 the centre of the avenue. The coal office of the Messrs. 
 Chapin now occupies the site rendered memorable by the 
 exploit of the Boston tea party. 
 
 The destruction of the tea is said to have been planned 
 in the " Long Room," over Edes & Gills' printing-office, on 
 the easterly corner of Franklin Avenue and Court Street, 
 where the " Daily Advertiser" building recently stood. In 
 their back office some of the party it is said were disguised. 
 
 Among the members of the " Long Room Club," as those 
 who usually met here were styled, were Samuel Adams, 
 Hancock, Warren, Otis, Church, Samuel Dexter, Dr. Samuel 
 Cooper, and his brother, William Cooper, Thomas Dawes, 
 Samuel Phillips Savage, Royal Tyler, Paul Revere, Thomas 
 Fleet, John Winthrop, William Molineux, and Thomas 
 Melvill. 
 
 A similar claim is also made for the " Green Dragon " 
 tavern, then known as the " Freemasons' Arms," which stood 
 near the northerly corner of Union and Hanover Streets, 
 where the Masonic Lodore of St. Andrew held its meetino^s. 
 The honor belongs equally to both. In both, the consulta- 
 tions of the popular leaders were undoubtedly held and 
 their plans laid. Prominent members of this Lodge, who 
 were also active " Sons of Liberty," and members of the tea 
 
INTRODUCTION. lxvii 
 
 party were, Paul Revere, Edward Proctor, Thomas Chase, 
 Adam Collson, Samuel Peck and Thomas Urann. Its later 
 members, also identified with the tea party, were Samuel 
 Gore, Daniel Ingersoll, Henry Purkitt, Amos Lincoln, James 
 Swan, Robert Davis, Abraham Hunt, Eliphalet Newell and 
 Nathaniel Willis. Other prominent Free Masons active in 
 the tea affair were Dr. Warren and John Rowe. The tradi- 
 tion of the Lodge is, that the preliminaries of the affair 
 were arranged here, and that the execution of them was 
 committed mainly to the North End Caucus, with the co- 
 operation of the more daring of the "Sons of Liberty." 
 The committee of safety also met here. The record book 
 of the lodge, under date of November 30, 1773, says: 
 
 "Lodge met and adjourned. N. B. — The consignees of the tea took the 
 brethren's time." 
 
 And on the eventful i6th of December: 
 
 " The Lodge met and closed on account of the few members in attendance. 
 Adjourned until to-morrow evening.'" 
 
 Three different parties, one or two of whom were dis- 
 guised, had been prepared beforehand for this event, by the 
 leaders. Certain it is that there were several squads in 
 different parts of the town, who disguised themselves at 
 their own or their neighbors' houses, and who then rendez- 
 voused at points previously designated, before going to the 
 wharf. Quite an Indian village was improvised at the 
 junction (5 Hollis and Tremont Streets. John Crane, Joseph 
 Lovering, and the Bradlees occupied opposite corners of this 
 locality, ^he house and carpenter shop of Crane adjoinmg 
 the refidence of the famous Dr. Mather Byles. Captam 
 Thomas Bolter and Samuel Fenno, also of the tea party, 
 were near neighbors of Crane, and like him, were carpenters. 
 
Lxvni INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Josepli Lovering, Jr., related that he held the light for Crane 
 and some of his neighbors, to disguise themselves, in Crane's 
 shop. The four brothers Bradlee, and a brother-in-law, were 
 prepared for the occasion at their house opposite. 
 
 Perhaps the best contemporaneous account of the affair 
 is the following, from the " Massachusetts Gazette," of 
 December 23 : 
 
 " Just before the dissolution of the meeting," says the ' Gazette,' a number of 
 brave and resolute men, dressed in the Indian manner, approached near the door 
 of the assembly, and gave a war-whoop, which rang through the house, and was 
 answered by some in the galleries, but silence was commanded, and a peaceal)le 
 deportment enjoined until the dissolution. The Indians, as they were then called, 
 repaired to the wharf, where the ships lay that had the tea on board, and were 
 followed by hundreds of people, to see the event of the transactions of those who 
 made so grotesque an appearance. The Indians immediately repaired on board 
 Captain Hall's ship, where they hoisted out the chests of tea, and when on deck 
 stove them and emptied the tea overboard. Having cleared this ship, they pro- 
 ceeded to Captain Bruce's, and then to Captain Coffin's brig. They applied them- 
 selves so dexterously to the destruction of this commodity, that in the space of 
 three hours they broke up three hundred and forty-two chests, which was the 
 whole number in these vessels, and discharged their contents into the dock. 
 When the tide rose it floated the broken chests and the tea insomuch that the 
 surface of the water was filled therewith a considerable way from the south part 
 of the town to Dorchester Neck, and lodged on the shores. There was the 
 greatest care taken to prevent the tea from being purloined by the populace ; one 
 or two being detected in endeavoring to pocket a small c[uantity were stripped of 
 their acquisitions and very roughly handled. It is worthy of remark that although 
 a considerable quantity of goods were still remaining on board the vessel, no 
 injury was sustained. Such attention to private property was observed, that a 
 small padlock belonging to the captain of one of the ships being broke, another 
 was procured and sent to him. The town was very quiet during the whole even- 
 ing and the night following. Those who were from the country went home with 
 a merry heart, and the next day joy appeared in almost every countenance, some 
 on account of the destruction of the tea, others on account of the quietness with 
 which it was effected. One of the Monday's papers says the masters and owners 
 are well pleased that their ships are thus cleared," 
 
INTRODUCTION. lxix 
 
 Another Boston paper says : 
 
 " The people 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 throw 
 the tea over the side. . . . 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." 
 
 From the "Evening Post" of Monday, December 20, 1773: 
 
 '' Previous to the dissolution, a number of persons, supposed to be the aborig- 
 inal natives, from their complexion, approaching the door of the assembly, gave 
 the war-whoop, which was answered by a few in the galleries of the house, where 
 the crowded assembly was convened. Silence was commanded, and prudent and 
 peaceable deportment again enjoined. The savages repaired to the ships which 
 contained the pestilential tea, and had begun their ravages previous to the dis- 
 solution of the meeting." 
 
 Extract from the log-book of the " Dartmouth : " 
 
 "Thursday, December i6. -This twenty-four hours rainy weather, terminating 
 this day. Between six and seven o'clock this evening, came down to the wharf a 
 body of about one thousand people, among them were a number dressed and 
 whooping like Indians. They came on board the ship, and after warning myself 
 and the custom-house officers to get out of the way, they undid the hatches and 
 went down the hold, where was eighty whole, and thirty-four half chests, of tea, 
 which they hoisted upon deck, and cut the chests to pieces, and hove the tea all 
 overboard, where it was damaged and lost." 
 
 John Andrews, an eye-witness, in a letter to a friend relates 
 particulars not elsewhere mentioned. While drinking tea at 
 his house he heard " prodigious shouts," and went to the 
 Old South Meeting House to ascertain the cause : 
 
 " The house was so crowded," he says, " that I could get no further than the 
 porch, when I found the moderator was just declaring the meeting to be dissolved, 
 which caused another general shout out-doors and in, and three cheers. What 
 with that and the consequent noise of breaking up the meeting, you'd thought 
 
 9 
 
Lxx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the inhabitants of the infernal regions had broke loose. For my part, I went 
 contentedly home and finished my tea, but was soon informed what was going 
 forward. Not crediting it without ocular demonstration, I went and was satisfied. 
 They mustered, I'm told, upon Fort Hill, to the number of about two hundred, 
 and proceeded, two by two, to Griffin's wharf, where Hall, Bruce and Coffin lay. 
 . . . The latter arrived at the wharf only the day before, and was freighted 
 with a large quantity of other goods, which they took the greatest care not to 
 injure in the least, and before nine o'clock in the evening every chest on board 
 the three vessels was knocked to pieces and flung over the sides. They say the 
 actors were Indians from Narragansett ; whether they were or not, to a transient 
 observer they appeared as such, being clothed in blankets, with their heads 
 mutfied, and copper-colored countenances, being each armed with a hatchet or axe, 
 or pair of pistols, nor was their dialect different from what I conceive these 
 geniuses to speak, as their jargon was unintelligible to all but themselves. Not 
 the least insult was offered to any person save one Captain Connor, a letter of 
 horses in this place, not many years since removed from dear Ireland, who had 
 ript up the lining of his coat and waistcoat under the arms, and watching his 
 opportunity, had nearly filled them with tea, but being detected, was handled pretty 
 rouglily. They not only stripped him of his clothes, but gave him a coat of mud, 
 with a severe bruising into the bargain, and nothing but their utter aversion to 
 making any disturbance prevented his being tarred and feathered." 
 
 Many interesting details are supplied by the reminiscences 
 of the actors themselves, long afterwards. In the " Recol- 
 lections of a Bostonian," published in the " Centinel," in 
 1821-22, the writer says he spent the night but one before 
 the destruction of the tea as one of the guard detached 
 from the new grenadier corps, in company with Gen. Knox, 
 then one of its officers, on board one of the tea ships. He 
 heard John Rowe suggest to the meeting in the Old South, 
 " Who knows how tea will mingle with salt water ? " a sug- 
 gestion received with great applause. He further states 
 that when the answer of the governor was reported to the 
 meeting — 
 
 " An Indian yell was heard from the street. Mr. Samuel Adams cried out 
 that it was a trick of their enemies to disturb the meeting, and requested the 
 people to keep their places, but the people rushed out and accompanied the 
 
INTRODUCTION. lxxi 
 
 Indians to the ships. The number of persons disguised as Indians is variously 
 stated -none put it lower than sixty, nor higher than eighty. The destruct.on 
 was effected by them, and some young men who volunteered. One of the latter 
 collected the tea which fell into the shoes of himself and compamons, and pu 
 it in a phial and sealed it up, -now in his possession ... The hail ot 
 council is said to have been in the back room ^^ ^des' prmtmg-office, at the 
 corner of the alley leading to Brattle Street Church, from Court Street. 
 
 (\n 1827, Joshua Wyeth, of Cincinnati, related the follow- 
 inV particulars of the affair to Rev. Timothy Flint. Wyeth, 
 then sixteen years old, was a journeyman blacksmith in the 
 employ of Watson and Gridley. He says : 
 
 f '• Our numbers were between twenty-eight and thirty. Of my associates I only 
 re^member the names of Frothingham, Mead, Martin and Grant. Many of them 
 we"e apprentices and journeymen, not a few, as was the case with myself hving 
 th Torv masters had but a few hours warning of what was mtended to be 
 
 : ne We fil talked of firing the ships, but feared the fire would commumcate 
 to the t^n. We then proposed sinking them, but dropped that project hrough 
 
 ea that we should alarm the town before we could get through wi h it. We 
 had observed that very few persons remained on board the ships and we finally 
 
 oncS that we co/ld take possession of them -d discharge the t^ 
 harbor without danger or opposition. One of the ships laid a the wharf, the 
 others a little way out in the stream, with their warps made fast to the whart. 
 -To preven discovery, we agreed to wear ragged clothes and disfigure ourselves, 
 less nlto remble' Indian's as much as possible, , smearing our faces with grease 
 and lam^p black or soot, and should not have known -ch other except by ou 
 vnires Our most intimate friends among the spectators had not th least knowi 
 Idle of us We surely resembled devils from the bottomless F^ -^^er than 
 
 ropes, d&suiiiig eoing to unload the tea, 
 
 we intended to do. Our leader old him that '^^J^^^/ ^ Some of our 
 
 and ordered him and the crew below. They 'n^tantly ^^'eyea .^ 
 
 r 
 
Lxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 for discharging this ship went on board the others, warped them to the wharf, 
 when the same ceremonies were repeated. We were merry, in an undertone, at 
 the idea of making so large a cup of tea for the fishes, but were as still as the 
 nature of the case would admit, using no more words than were absolutely neces- 
 sary. We stirred bnskly in the business from the moment we left our dressing- 
 room. I never worked harder in my life. While we were unloading, the people 
 collected in great numbers about the wharf to see what was going on. They 
 crowded around us so as to be much in our way. Our sentries were not arm.ed, 
 and could not stop any who insisted on passing. They were particul^ly charged 
 to give us notice in case any known Tory came down to the wharf. "jyThere was 
 much talk about this business next morning. We pretended to be as zealous to 
 find out the perpetrators as the rest, and w^e all so close and loyal, that the 
 whole affair rema-ned in Egyptian darkness." ^ 
 
 In 1835, a small volume appeared, entitled " Traits of the 
 Tea Party," with a memoir of G. R. T. Hewes. From it 
 we glean the following incidents. 
 
 Mr. Hewes thinks that among the speakers at the meet- 
 ing on the j afternoon of December 16, was John Hancock, 
 who said t'hat " the matter must be settled before twelve 
 o'clock tha.t night." Hewes positively affirms that he recog- 
 nized Hancock, who worked by his side in the destruction 
 of the tea, not only by his ruffles, which were accidentally 
 exposed, and by his figure and gait, but by his voice and 
 features, i|iotwithstanding his paint, and the loosened club of 
 hair behi^^d. In this he was undoubtedly mistaken. Neither 
 Hancock, Adams nor Warren were among the disguised 
 Indians. There were enough who were competent for the 
 business without them. 
 
 Just before the meeting dissolved, some one in the gal- 
 leries (iVIr. Pierce thinks it was Adam CoUson) cried out 
 with a loud voice, "Boston harbor a tea-pot to-night! Hur- 
 rah for Griffin's wharf ! " This is probably the disorder 
 checked by the chairman, and which was in response to the 
 
INTRODUCTION. i.xxin 
 
 war-whoops outside. Three cheers were given by the meet- 
 ing as it broke up. 
 
 The disguise of the Indians was hastily prepared. Many 
 of them arrayed themselves in a store on Fort Hill. The 
 original number of one of the parties was fifteen or twenty. 
 Many others joined in the act of breaking up the boxes, 
 who disguised themselves as best they could, and some, 
 chiefly extempore volunteers, were not disguised at all. 
 Hewes himself, while the crowd rushed down Milk Street, 
 made his way to a blacksmith's shop, on Boylston's wharf, 
 where he hastily begrimmed his face with a soo^-Me prepa- 
 ration, thence to the house of an acquaintance near Griffin's, 
 where he got a blanket, which he wrapped around his person. 
 
 When he reached the wharf, there were many there, but 
 no crowd. The moon shone brightly. From one hundred 
 to one hundred and fifty were engaged. The whole were 
 divided into three equal divisions, with a captain and boat- 
 swain for each. Hewes's whistling talent — a matter of public 
 notoriety — procured him the position of boatswain in the 
 party, under Captain Lendall Pitts, which boarded the brig. 
 Many were fantastically arrayed in old frocks, red woolen 
 caps or gowns, and all manner of like habiliments. 
 
 One of Pitts's first official acts was to send a message to 
 the mate, who was in his cabin, for the use of a few lights 
 and the brig's keys, so that as little damage as possible 
 might be done to the vessel. The keys were handed over 
 without a word, and he also provided candles. The three 
 parties finished their separate tasks nearly at the same time, 
 and without unnecessary delay. A number of sailors and 
 others had joined them from time to time, and aided them 
 in hoistino: the chests from the hold. 
 
 / 
 
Lxxiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Collecting on the wharf, which was now covered with 
 spectators, a fresh inspection was instituted, and all the tea 
 men were ordered to take off their shoes and empty them, 
 which was supposed to be done. Pitts, who was a military 
 man, and a prominent Son of Liberty, was appointed com- 
 mander-in-chief ; the company was formed in rank and file 
 by his directions, with the aid of Barber, Proctor, and some 
 others, and " shouldering arms," — such as they had, toma- 
 hawks included, — they marched up the wharf, to what is 
 now the east end of Pearl Street, back into town, and then 
 separated and went quietly home. 
 
 All was done in plain sight of the British squadron, which 
 lay less than a quarter of a mile distant. Admiral Montagu 
 witnessed most of the affair from a more convenient point — 
 the house of a Tory, named Coffin, on Atkinson Street, near 
 the head of the wharf. Raising the window as they came 
 along, he said, " Well, boys, you have had a fine, pleasant 
 evening for your Indian caper, haven't you .f* But mind, 
 you have got to pay the fiddler yet ! " 
 
 •' Oh, never mind ! " shouted Pitts, " never mind, squire ! 
 Just come out here, if you please, and we'll settle the bill 
 in two minutes." This caused a shout, the fife struck up 
 a lively air, the admiral put the window down in a hurry, 
 and the company marched on. 
 
 When Hewes reached home he told his wife the story. 
 " Well, George," said she, " Did you bring me home a lot 
 of it .'' " The only tea known to have been brought that 
 night from the wharf was in the shoes of Thomas Melvill. 
 A sample gathered on the Dorchester shore by Dr. Thad- 
 deus M. Harris, is now preserved in the cabinet of the 
 Antiquarian Society, at Worcester. 
 
O UIl 
 
 
 DIAGRAM SHOWING THE ROUTE TAKEN FROM THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH 
 TO THE WHARF. CSee doited lines.) 
 
INTRODUCTION lxxvii 
 
 One O'Connor, an Irishman, formeriy a fellow apprentice 
 with Hewes, attempted to secrete some of the tea. Hewes 
 noticed a suspicious movement of his hands along the lining 
 of his coat, and informed Pitts. Catching him by the skirts 
 of his coat, he pulled him back as he was trying to escape, 
 and he was quickly relieved of his cargo, as well as the 
 apparel which contained it, and a few kicks were applied to 
 hasten his retreat. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 17th, a long windrow of tea, 
 " about as big as you ever saw of hay," was seen extending 
 from the wharves down to the castle. A party of volun- 
 teers soon turned out in boats, and stirred it up in the 
 "pot" pretty effectually 
 
 Those who undertook to preserve any of the poisonous 
 herb were sharply looked after by the patriots. A Boston 
 paper of January 3, 1774, says: 
 
 " Whereas, it was reported that one Withington, of Dorchester, had taken up 
 and partly disposed of a chest of the East India Company's tea, a number of the 
 Cape or Narragansett Indians went to the house of Captain Ebenezer Withington, 
 and his brother PhiUip, last Friday evening, and thoroughly searched their houses, 
 without offering the least offence to any one. Finding no tea, they proceeded to 
 the house of old Mr. Ebenezer Withington, at a place called Sodom, below Dor- 
 chester Meeting House, where they found part of a half-chest, which had floated, 
 and was cast up on Dorchester Point. This they seized and brought to Boston 
 Common, where they committed it to the flames." 
 
 Benjamin Simpson, a bricklayer's apprentice, says : 
 
 " After the meeting in the Old South was over, there was a cry in the gallery 
 of 'every man to his tent.' We repaired to the wharf. I went on board both 
 ships, but saw no person belonging to them. In a few minutes a number of 
 men came on the wharf, (with the Indian pow-wow,) went on board the ships, 
 then lying at the side of the wharf, the water in the dock not more than two 
 feet deep. They began to throw the tea into the water, which went off with the 
 
Lxxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tide till the tea grounded. We soon, found there was tea on board the brig also. 
 A demand being made of it, the captain told us the whole of his cargo was on 
 board ; that the tea was directly under the hatches, which he would open if we 
 would not damage anything but the tea, which was agreed to. The hatches 
 were then opened, a man sent down to show us the tea, which we hoisted out, 
 stove the chests and threw tea and all overboard. Those on board the ships 
 did the same. I was on board the ships when the tea was so high by the side 
 of them as to fall in, which was shovelled down more than once. We on board 
 the brig were not disguised. I was then nineteen years old; I am now (1830) 
 seventy-five." 
 
 Peter, the son of Benjamin Edes, the printer, in a letter 
 to his grandson, Benjamin C. Edes, written in 1836, says of 
 the tea party : 
 
 " I know but little about it, as I was not admitted into their presence, for 
 fear, I suppose, of their being known. ... I recollect perfectly well that in 
 the afternoon preceding the evening of the destruction of the tea, a number of gen- 
 tlemen met in the parlor of my father's house, — how many I cannot say. As I 
 said before, I was not admitted into their presence; my station was in another 
 room, to make punch for them, in the bowl* which is now in your possession, and 
 which I filled several times. They remained in the house till dark, — I suppose 
 to disguise themselves like Indians, — when they left the house, and proceeded to 
 the wharves where the vessels lay. Before they reached there they were joined 
 by hundreds. I thought I would take a walk to the wharves as a spectator, 
 where was collected, I may say, as many as two thousand persons. The Indians 
 worked smartly. Some were in the hold immediately after the hatches were 
 broken open, fixing the ropes to the tea-chests, others were breaking open the 
 chests, and others stood ready with hatchets to cut off the bindings of the chests 
 and cast them overboard. I remained till I was tired, and fearing some disturb- 
 ance might occur, went home, leaving the Indians working like good, industrious 
 fellows. This is all I know about it." 
 
 The account given by General Ebenezer Stevens to his 
 son, Horatio Gates Stevens, is as follows : 
 
 " I went from the Old South Meeting House just after dark. The party was 
 about seventy or eighty. At the head of the wharf we met the detachment of 
 
 * This punch bowl is now in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 LXXIX 
 
 our company (Paddock's Artillery) on guard, who joined us. I commenced with 
 a party on board the vessel of which Hodgdon^ was mate, (the 'Dartmouth') and 
 as he knew me, I left that vessel with some of my comrades and went aboard 
 another vessel, which lay at the opposite side of the wharf. Numbers of others 
 took our places on board Hodgdon's vessel. We commenced handing the boxes 
 of tea on deck, and first began breaking them with axes, but found much diffi- 
 culty, owing to the boxes of tea being covered with canvas, — the mode that 
 the article was then imported in. I think that all the tea was destroyed in about 
 two hours. We were careful to prevent any being taken away. None of the 
 party were painted as Indians, nor, that I know of, disguised, excepting that 
 some of them stopped at a paint shop on the way, and daubed their faces with 
 paint." 
 
 Robert Sessions, of South Wilbraham, (now Hampden) 
 Mass., another actor in the scene, says: 
 
 " I was living in Boston at the time, in the family of a Mr. Davis, a lumber 
 merchant, as a common laborer. On that eventful evening, when Mr. Davis 
 came in from the town meeting, I asked him what was to be done with the tea. 
 'They are now throwing it overboard,' he replied. Receiving permission, I went 
 immediately to the spot. Everything was as light as day, by the means of lamps 
 and torches ; a pin might be seen lying on the wharf. I went on board where 
 they were at work, and took hold with my own hands. I was not one of those 
 appointed to destroy the tea, and who disguised themselves as Indians, l)ut was 
 a volunteer; the disguised men being largely men of family and position in 
 Boston, while I was a young man, whose home and relations were in Connecticut. 
 The appointed and disguised party proving too small for the quick work neces- 
 sary, other young men, similarly circumstanced with myself, joined them m their 
 labors. The che^sts were drawn up by a tackle, — one man bringing them forward, 
 another putting a rope around them, and others hoisting them to the deck and 
 
 1 Alexander Hodgdon, mate of the 
 " Dartmouth," was subsequently (1787-92) 
 Treasurer of the State of Massachusetts. 
 .Stevens was at that time courting his 
 
 sister (they were afterwards married), 
 and was naturally desirous not to com- 
 promise himself or his friend. 
 
Lxxx INTRODUCTION 
 
 carrying them to tl^e vessel's side. The chests were then opened, the tea 
 emptied over the side, and the chests thrown overboard. Perfect regularity j)re- 
 vailed during the whole transaction. Although there were many people on the 
 wharf, entire silence prevailed, — no clamor, no talking. Nothing was meddled 
 with but the teas on board. After having emptied the whole, the deck was swept 
 clean, and everything put in its proper place. An officer on board was requested 
 to come up from the cabin and see that no damage was done except to the tea. 
 At about the close of the scene, a man was discovered making his way through 
 the crowd with his pockets filled with tea. He was immediately laid hold of, and 
 his coat skirts torn off, with their pockets, and thrown into the dock with the 
 rest of the tea. I was obliged to leave the town at once, as it was of course 
 known that I was concerned in the affair." 
 
 William Tudor, then a law student in the office of John 
 Adams, and acquainted with some of the members of the 
 tea party, gives in his " Life of James Otis," the following 
 account of it : 
 
 /^."' A band of eighteen or twenty young men (no one of whom was in any dis- 
 guise), who had been prepared for the event, went by the Meeting House giving 
 a shout. It was echoed by some within ; others exclaimed, ' the Mohawks are 
 come ! ; ' the assembly broke up and a part of it followed this body of young 
 men to Griffin's wharf. Three different parties, composed of trust-worthy persons, 
 many of whom were in after life among the most respectable citizens of the town, 
 had been prepared, in conformity to the secret resolves of the political leaders, 
 to act as circumstances should require. They were seventy or eighty in all, and 
 when every attempt to have the tea returned had failed, it was immediately made 
 known to them, and they proceeded at once to throw the obnoxious merchandise 
 into the water. One, if not two of these parties, wore a kind of Indian disguise, f 
 Two of these persons, in passing over Fort Hill to the scene of operations, met 
 a British officer who, on observing them, naturally enough drew his sword. As 
 they approached, one of the Indians drew a pistol, and said to the officer, ' The 
 path is wide enough for us all ; we have nothing to do with you, and intend you 
 no harm ; if you keep your own way peaceably, we shall keep ours." 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 HeJnry Purkitt, Samuel Sprague and John Hooten, (all 
 living in 1835,) were apprentices of about the same age. 
 Purltitt and Dolbear were apprentices with Peck, the cooper, 
 in Essex Street. While at their work they heard a loud 
 
INTRODUCTION. lxxxi 
 
 whistle, which startled them, and which they followed till it 
 brought them to the wharf. Their part of the play was on 
 the flats, by the side of one of the vessels, — for it was 
 nearly low tide, — and with other boys, by direction of the 
 commander, to break up more thoroughly the fragments of 
 chests and masses of tea thrown over in too great haste. 
 They found their return upon deck much facilitated by the 
 immense pile which had accumulated beneath and around 
 them The commander acted as an interpreter for those 
 persons, — apparently five or six aboard each vessel, — who 
 especially assumed the Indian guise. These were no doubt 
 among the principal directors of the whole affair. ihey 
 affected to issue their orders from time to time m an Indian 
 iaro-on the interpreter communicating what the chiefs said; 
 attended to the procuring of keys and lights, the raising of 
 the derricks, trampling the tea into the mud, sweeping the 
 decks at the close of the scene, calling up the mate to ( 
 report whether everything (except, of course, the tea) was left| 
 
 as they found it, etc. r. i , 
 
 Purkitt and Dolbear went home early. Peck, who was 
 believed to be one of the chiefs, came in rather softly, at 
 one o'clock in the morning. The boys noticed soiiie indi- 
 cations of red paint behind his ears, next day. The only 
 tools they used were staves, which they made before starting. 
 
 David Kinnison, the last survivor of the tea party died 
 at Chicago in 1852, at the great age of one hundred and 
 fifteen He was one of seventeen inhabitants of Lebanon 
 Maine who had associated themselves together as a political 
 club and who had determined, at all hazards, to _ destroy the 
 tea whether assisted or not. Some of them repairing to Bos- 
 
Lxxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ton, joined the j^arty, and twenty-four, disguised as Indians, 
 hastened on board the ships, twelve armed with muskets and 
 bayonets, the rest with tomahawks and clubs. They expected 
 to have a fight, not doubting that an effort would be made 
 for their arrest, and agreed at the outset to stand by each 
 other to the last. They also pledged themselves not to re- 
 veal the names of the party. Owing to the great age of 
 Kinnison, when this relation was made to Mr. Lossing, it is 
 possibly in some particulars erroneous, and is given only as 
 a piece of original evidence, and simply for what it is worth. 
 With a British squadron and British troops so near at 
 , hand, it seems strange that the })arty was not interrupted. 
 The probable reason is, that something far more serious 
 was expected on any attempt to land the tea, and that the 
 authorities, the owners of the ships, the consignees of the tea, 
 and all others concerned, were glad to be thus extricated from 
 a serious dilemma. They, however, could not be called upon 
 to interfere, except by the civil authorities, in case of a riot. 
 Governor Hutchinson says " the tea could have been 
 secured in the town in no other way than by landing 
 marines from the men-of-war, or bringing to town the regi- 
 ment which was at the castle, to remove the guards from 
 the ships and to take their places." This would have brought 
 on a greater convulsion than there was any danger of in 1770, 
 and it would not have been possible, when two regiments were 
 forced out of the town, for so small a body of troops to have 
 kept possession of the place. He did not suppose such a 
 measure would be approved of in England, nor was he sure 
 of support from any one person in authority. There was 
 not a justice of peace, sheriff, constable or peace officer in 
 the province who would venture to take cognizance of any 
 
IN TROIUICTION l.xxxiil 
 
 breach of law against the general beiil of the |)eo])le. So 
 many of the actors were universally known that a ijroclania- 
 tion with a reward for discovery, would have been ridiculed. 
 Hutchinson submitted the consideration of the affair to the 
 council, and that body promised to give it attention, but 
 nothing came of it. " Of the thousands concerned in the 
 transaction," wrote General Gage to the historian Cha iners, 
 •',„■ who were spectators of it, only one witness could be 
 procured to give testimony against them, and that one con- 
 ditionally that the delinciuents should be tried in England. 
 So far as is known, only a single iJerson was arrested, — a 
 Mr Eckley, and he was never brought to trial. 
 
 A fourth tea-ship, destined for Hoston, was wrecked on 
 Cane Cod The few chests of tea saved from her cargo 
 were, by the governor's order, ,>laced in the castle. Twenty- 
 ei<dit chests, brought a little later by another vessel from 
 I oud.Hi, on the joint account of Uoston merchants, were 
 destroyed by a disguised party, on March 7, '774. ^^^ 
 people of Charlcstown destroyed, in the market place, all he 
 tea they could find in the town, laying the owners its value. 
 Other towns did the same. 
 
 An account of the transaction, drawn up by the Boston 
 committee, w.as carried by I'aul '^^-re to New York and 
 Philadelphia. When the news reached New Yo U, vast 
 nmiibers of the people collected. I'hey were in high spiri^, 
 „„o aiul all declaring that the ships w, h tea on boaid, 
 desi>rned for that port, should on arrival be sen b.ack, 01 
 tl "tea destroyed. They highly extolled the Hostomans 
 or what the people h.ad done, an.l immediately forwarded 
 Z news to fhiladelphia. When Revere, on his return 
 b ou.ht word that Governor Tryon had engaged to send 
 
Lxxxiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the New York tea-ships back, all the bells in Boston were 
 rung next morning. 
 
 Extract from a letter to the Sons of Liberty, in New York, 
 dated Boston, December 17, 1773: 
 
 " 'J'hc bearer is chosen by the committee from a number of j^entlemen, who 
 volunteercfl to carry you this intelligence. We are in a perfect jubilee. Not a 
 Tory in the whole community can find the least fault with our proceedings. . . . 
 The spirit of the people throughout the country is to be described by no terms 
 in my power. Their conduct last night surprised the admiral and English gentle- 
 men, who observed that these were not a mob of disorderly rabble, (as they have 
 been reported,) but men of sense, coolness and intrepidity." 
 
 The tea shipped to South Carolina (two hundred and 
 fifty-seven chests) arrived on the second of December. So 
 strenuous was the opposition to its being landed, that the 
 consignees were persuaded to resign. Though the collector, 
 after the twentieth day, seized the dutiable article, as no 
 one would sell it or pay the duty, it perished in the damp 
 cellars where it was stored. 
 
 On December 25, news reached Philadelphia that its tea- 
 ship was at Chester. The Delaware ]jilots had been warned, 
 by printed handbills, not to conduct any tea-ships into the 
 harbor, as they were only sent for the purpose of enslaving 
 and poisoning the Americans. Four miles below the town 
 it came to anchor. On the 27th, news of what had occurred 
 in ])Oston having arrived, fiva thousand men collected in 
 town meeting at an hour's notice. At their suggestion, the 
 consignee, who came as passenger, resigned, and the captain 
 agreed to take his shi]:) and cargo back to London the very 
 next day. 
 
 The ship " Nancy," Captain Lockyer, destined for New 
 York, having been blown off the coast, refitted at Antigua, 
 and proceeding thence to New York, arrived there April 18, 
 
I N'l'KODUCnON. i.xxxv 
 
 1774. Some of the committee went on Ijoard and prevented 
 her coming up to the city, but the cai)tain was allowed to 
 procure some necessary stores, and then, by the advice of 
 the consignees, returned to l.ondon without breaking bulk. 
 A ([nantity of tea — private property — was imported from 
 London, and an application from the consignee to have it 
 returned to England was refused by the custom-house officers. 
 A number of "Mohawks" then took charge of the business, 
 and emptied the whole of it into the sea. 
 
 A few days later. Captain Chambers, master of the ship 
 "London," trading to New York, who had on a fonner 
 occasion received the thanks of her citizens for refusing 
 to bring the l^ast Lidia Company's tea, was detected in 
 introducing eighteen boxes of fine tea, curiously concealed 
 between blankets, etc., which he intended to smuggle, but 
 the people having discovered it, immediately threw it into 
 the sea, and the captain, to escape the wrath of the people, 
 took refuge in Captain Lockyer's vessel, and sailed for 
 
 England. 
 
 Opposition to the obnoxious tea duty had by im means 
 subsided, when, in October, .77b ^1^^' brigantme "Peggy 
 Stewart" approached Annapolis, Maryland, with a cargo ot 
 tea on board. At once there was a great commotion 
 Terror seized the owners. They applied to Charles Carroll 
 for advice He told them there was but one way to save 
 their persons and property from swift destruction, and that 
 was to burn their vessel and cargo instantly, and m sight of 
 the people. It was done, and the flames did for Annapolis 
 what the "Mohawks" had done for Hoston. 
 
 "This," said Hutchinson, referring to the action of Hoston, 
 
Lxxxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " was the boldest stroke that had been struck in America." 
 Writing to Sir Francis Bernard, he spoke of it as "an 
 unfortunate event, and what every. body supposed impossible 
 after so many men of property had made part of the meet- 
 ings, and were in danger of being liable for the value of it. 
 It would have given me a much more painful reflection," he 
 continued, " if I had saved it by any concession to a lawless 
 and highly criminal assembly of men, to whose proceedings 
 the loss must be consequently attributed, and the probability 
 is that it was a part of their plan from the beginning." 
 
 " We do console ourselves," wrote John Scollay, chairman 
 of the Selectmen of Boston, and prominent in the affair, 
 " that we have acted constitutionally." 
 
 " The most magnificent movement of all," wrote John 
 Adams in his diary. " There is a dignity, a majesty, a 
 solemnity in this last effort of the patriots that I greatly 
 admire. This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, 
 so firm, so intrepid and inflexible, and it must have so 
 important consequences, and so lasting, that I cannot but 
 consider it as an epoch in history. The question is whether 
 the destruction of the tea was necessary ? I apprehend it 
 was absolutely and indispensably so. . . . To let it be 
 landed would be giving up the principle of taxation by 
 Parliamentary authority, against which the continent has 
 struggled for ten years. . . . But, it will be said, it might 
 have been left in the care of a committee of the town, or 
 in Castle William. To this many objections may be urged." 
 
 The historian Ramsay says : " If the American position 
 was right in relation to taxation, the destruction of the tea 
 was warranted by the great law of self-preservation. For 
 it was not possible for them by any other means within 
 
INTRODUCTION. lxxxvii 
 
 the compass of probability to discharge the duty they owed 
 to their country." 
 
 " I cannot but express my admiration of the conduct of 
 this people," writes an ' Impartial Observer' in the " Boston 
 Evening Post" of December 20, 1773. . . . "I shall 
 return home doubly fortified in my resolution to prevent 
 that deprecated calamity, the landing the tea in Rhode 
 Island, and console myself with the happier assurance that 
 my brethren have not less resolution than their neighbors." 
 
 " It became," says Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, " a simple 
 question, which should go under, British tea or American 
 liberty.? That volunteer band of Liberty Boys performed 
 their work ' better than they knew,' averting contingencies 
 which must have caused immediate bloodshed, and ac- 
 complishing results of the greatest importance to the Ameri- 
 can cause." 
 
 Wm. C. Rives, in his Life of James Madison, says : " This 
 memorable occurrence was undoubtedly, in the immediate 
 sequence of the events which it produced, the proximate 
 cause of the American Revolution." 
 
 A Tory pamphleteer of the time gives us the Loyalist view 
 of the affair. He says : " Now the crime of the Bostonians 
 was a compound of the grossest injury and insult. It was 
 an act of the highest insolence towards government, such as 
 mildness itself cannot overlook or forgive. The injustice of 
 the deed was also most atrocious, as it was the destruction 
 of property to a vast amount, when it was known that the 
 nation was obliged in honor to protect it." 
 
 We subjoin some of the comments of candid British 
 writers respecting the affair. Mr. Massey says : " The 
 question of taxation was virtually settled by this signal 
 
Lxxxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 failure to enforce the law, or rather by the absence of any 
 attempt to protect the property of merchants who had made 
 their ventures by the express authority, if not at the instance 
 of the British Qrovernment." 
 
 While speaking of the destruction of the tea as the " crown- 
 ing outrage," Lecky says, " It will probably strike the reader 
 that every argument which shewed that the tea duty was 
 not a grievance, was equally powerful to show that it was 
 perfectly useless as a means of obtaining a revenue. It 
 would be difficult indeed to fiiTcl a more curious instance of 
 legislative incapacity than the whole transaction displayed." 
 
 Hear Carlyle : 
 
 "Thursday, December i6, 1773. What a contention is going on far over seas 
 at Boston, New England. The case is well known and still memorable to man- 
 kind. British parliament, after nine years of the saddest haggling, and baffling 
 to and fro under constitutional stress of weather, and such east winds and west 
 winds of parliamentary eloquence as seldom were, has made up its mind that 
 America shall pay duty on their teas before infusing them, and America, Boston 
 more especially, is tacitly determined that it will not, and that to avoid mistakes 
 the teas shall never be landed at all. . . . 
 
 " Rotch's report done, the chairman (an Adams ' American Cato,' subsequently 
 so called,) dissolves the sorrowful seven thousand, with these words, ' The meet- 
 ing declares it can do nothing more to save the country," we '11 naturally go home 
 then and weep. Hark however ! almost on the instant, in front of the Old South 
 Meeting House, a terrific war-whoop, and about fifty Mohawk Indians, with whom 
 Adams seems to be acquainted, and speaks without interpreter : Aha ! 
 
 " And sure enough, before the stroke of seven these fifty painted Mohawks 
 are forward without noise to Griffin's wharf, have put sentries all round them, 
 and in a great silence of the neighborhood, are busy in three gangs upon the 
 dormant tea ships, opening their chests and punctually shaking them out into the 
 sea. Listening from the distance you could hear distinctly the ripping open of 
 the chests and no other sound. About ten p. M. all was finished, . . . the 
 Mohawks gone like a dream, and Boston sleeping more silently even than usual." 
 
 In England, the news of the destruction of the tea at 
 Boston was received with astonishment, not unmixed with 
 anger. Men of all parties were swept into the hostile 
 
INTRODUCTION. lxxxix 
 
 current. Coercive measures were at once brought forward in 
 parliament. In the debates that ensued, a member said, 
 " The town of Boston ought to be knocked about their ears 
 and destroyed." Moderate and judicious men made a gallant 
 stand against the bill shutting up the port of Boston, but 
 the current was irresistible, and the measure, with others of 
 like character, passed by overwhelming votes. Burke, on 
 the question of the repeal of the tea tax, made one of his 
 noblest efforts. Colonel Barre told the House that if they 
 would keep their hands out of the pockets of the Americans 
 they would be obedient subjects. Johnstone, formerly 
 governor of Florida, who had before predicted to the East 
 India Company, that exporting tea on their own account 
 was absurd and would end in loss, now predicted that the 
 Port Bill would, if passed, be productive of a general con- 
 federacy to resist the power of Britain, and end in a general 
 revolt. His utterances were prophetic indeed. These 
 measures did unite the colonies, and produced a general 
 revolt ending in American independence. 
 
 Accounts vary greatly as to the number and appearance 
 of the tea party. The original body which arrived so 
 opportunely at the door of the " Old South," and which may 
 have included Molineux, Revere, and the more prominent 
 leaders, was probably not numerous. They, however, had 
 passed the word, and trusty coadjutors were not long in 
 following them. Colonel Tudor and Colonel Stevens say 
 they were not disguised, but all other accounts state that 
 they were in the Indian dress, or something resembling it. 
 
 The historian, Gordon, places their number at seventeen, 
 "though judged to be many more as they ran across Fort 
 Hill." " Our number was between twenty-eight and thirty," 
 
xc INTRODUCTION. 
 
 says Wyeth, one of the party. Hutchinson says about fifty, 
 and many have since adopted his statement. Tudor, in his 
 " Life of Otis," says seventy or eighty. Colonel Ebenezer 
 Stevens agrees with him. " None put the number lower 
 than sixty, nor higher than eighty," is the recollection of 
 " a Bostonian," fifty years after the event. John Andrews 
 was told that they mustered on Fort Hill to the number of 
 about two hundred. " From one hundred to one hundred 
 and fifty being more or less actively engaged" thought 
 Hewes, one of the actors. " Two or three hundred dressed 
 like Indians," wrote Dr. Cooper to Dr. Franklin. 
 
 These varying estimates may be accounted for in this 
 way. Those who report the smaller number either repeated 
 what they were told, or saw only one of the parties on its 
 way to the ships, while the others speak of the entire body 
 after its separate parts had united at the wharf. Some may 
 mean only such of the party as were in Indian dress. If 
 we place the number on board the ships at fifty or sixty, 
 and estimate those at work by the sides of the vessels 
 at sixty or seventy, we shall probably not be far out of the 
 way, the whole number then aggregating from one hundred 
 and ten to one hundred and thirty. The names of more 
 than one hundred of these have been preserved. 
 
 Who were these men ? " Depend upon it," said John 
 Adams to Hezekiah Niles in 1819, " These were no ordi- 
 nary Mohawks. The profound secrecy in which they have 
 held their names, and the total abstinence of plunder, are 
 proofs of the character of the men." But two of the recog- 
 nized leaders of the people were there, — Dr. Young and 
 Thomas Molineux. Most of them were mechanics and 
 apprentices, but they were mechanics of the stamp of 
 
INTRODUCTION. xci 
 
 Revere, Howard, Wheeler, Crane and Peck, men who could 
 restrain and keep in due subordination the more fiery and 
 dangerous element, always present in popular demonstrations. 
 That element was not wholly absent on this occasion, for 
 Mackintosh, the leader in the Stamp Act riots, was present 
 with " his chickens," as he called them, and active in 
 destroying the tea. There were also professional men, like 
 Dr. Young and Dr. Story, and merchants, such as Molineux, 
 Proctor, Melvill, Palmer, May, Pitts and Davis, men of 
 high character and standing, so that all classes were fairly 
 represented. As might be expected, those appointed for the 
 work, and who were in Indian dress, were largely men of 
 family and position in Boston. 
 
 A writer in the American Magazine of History attempts 
 to discredit the statement that the party were in Indian 
 dress, intimating that it was an afterthought, intended to 
 deceive the authorities, and lead them to the belief that the 
 diso-uise was too complete to allow of identification for arrest 
 or punishment. Cavils like this are superfluous in view of 
 the abundant testimony to the contrary. The sworn protest 
 of Captain Bruce, of the "Eleanor," one of the tea-ships, 
 given on a subsequent page in this volume, is of itself 
 sufficient evidence upon this point. The number of those 
 who, prepared as they were, on the spur of the moment, 
 really bore any very great resemblance to Indians, was no 
 doubt small. A large number of the actors hastily assumed 
 such disguises as were nearest at hand. 
 
 No doubt the principals in this transaction pledged one 
 another to keep their connection with it a profound secret, 
 and they did so, but the young apprentices and volunteers, 
 who, without premeditation, joined the party on its way to 
 
xcii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the wharf, were under no such restraint, and we can only 
 wonder that they made no revelation concerning an event of 
 such importance. It was not until a very late period 
 of their lives that any of them opened their lips publicly 
 about it, and when more than half a century had elapsed 
 since it occurred. 
 
 The names of fifty-eight of these men, given below, are 
 taken from Thatcher's " Traits of the Tea Party," published 
 in 1835, while nine or ten of them were yet living, the 
 source whence all later lists have been derived. Possibly 
 this list is identical with that mentioned as having once 
 been in the possession of Peter, the son of Benjamin Edes, 
 the printer. Of this list it is safe to say that, while far from 
 being complete, it is correct as far as it goes. The names 
 that follow the list of 1835, have been gleaned from a great 
 variety of sources, principally family tradition. 
 
 " List of the tea party, furnished in 1835, by an aged 
 Bostonian, well acquainted with the subject, of the persons 
 generally supposed, within his knowledge, to have been 
 more or less actively engaged." Those starred were then 
 living : 
 
 *George R. T. Hewes. Nathaniel Green. 
 
 Joseph Shed. *Benj. Simpson. 
 
 John Crane. Joseph Eayres. 
 
 Josiah Wheeler, Joseph Lee. 
 
 Thomas Urann. William Molineux. 
 
 Adam Collson. Paul Revere. 
 
 S. Coolidge. John Spurr. 
 
 Joseph Payson. Thomas Moore. 
 
 James Brewer. Samuel Howard. 
 
 Thomas Bolter. Matthew Loring. 
 
 Edward Proctor. Thomas Spear. 
 
 Samuel Sloper. Daniel Ingoldson. 
 
 Thomas Gerrish. Richard Hunnewell. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XCIII 
 
 *John Hooton. 
 *Jonathan Hunnewell. 
 
 Thomas Chase. 
 
 Thomas Melvill. 
 *Henn' Purkitt. 
 
 Edward C. Howe. 
 
 Ebenezer Stevens. 
 
 Nicholas Campbell. 
 
 John Russell. 
 
 Thomas Porter. 
 
 William Hendley. 
 
 Benjamin Rice. 
 
 Samuel Gore. 
 
 Nathaniel Frothingham. 
 
 Moses Grant. 
 *Peter Slater. 
 
 James Starr. 
 Abraham Tower. 
 *William Pierce. 
 William Russell. 
 T. Gammell. 
 
 Mcintosh. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Young. 
 Joshua Wyeth. 
 Edward Dolbear. 
 
 Martin. 
 
 Samuel Peck. 
 Lendall Pitts. 
 
 *Samuel Sprague. 
 
 Benjamin Clarke. 
 
 Richard Hunnewell, Jr 
 *John Prince. 
 
 Additional names of the tea party, derived principally 
 from family tradition : 
 
 Nathaniel Barber. 
 Samuel Barnard. 
 Henry Bass. 
 Edward Bates. 
 Nathaniel Bradlee. 
 David Bradlee. 
 Josiah Bradlee. 
 Thomas Bradlee. 
 Seth Ingersoll Brown. 
 Sephen Bruce. 
 Benjamin Burton. 
 George Carleton. 
 Gilbert Colesworthy. 
 John Cochran. 
 Gershom Collier. 
 James Foster Condy. 
 Samuel Cooper. 
 Thomas Dana, Jr. 
 Robert Davis. 
 Joseph Eaton. 
 Eckley. 
 
 William Etheridge. 
 Samuel Fenno. 
 Samuel Foster 
 John Fulton. 
 Samuel Hammond. 
 John Hicks. 
 Samuel Hobbs. 
 Thomas Hunstable. 
 Abraham Hunt. 
 David Kinnison. 
 Amos Lincoln. 
 Thomas Machin. 
 Archibald Macneil. 
 John May. 
 
 Mead. 
 
 Anthony Morse. 
 EHphalet Newell. 
 Joseph Pearse Palmer. 
 Jonathan Parker. 
 John Peters. 
 Samuel Pitts. 
 
XCIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Henry Prentiss. 
 John Randall. 
 Joseph Roby. 
 Phineas Stearns. 
 Robert Sessions. 
 Elisha Story. 
 James Swan. 
 
 John Truman. 
 Isaac Williams. 
 David Williams. 
 Jeremiah Williams. 
 Thomas Williams. 
 Nathaniel WiUis. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Boston Tea Party. 
 
 Major NATHANIEL BARBER, 
 
 A prominent merchant and patriot of Boston, was one of 
 the famous " Whig Club " of ante-revolutionary days, in 
 which were James Otis, Dr. Church, Dr. Warren and other 
 leaders of the popular party. In it Civil Rights and the 
 British Constitution were standing topics for discussion. 
 He was one of the committee of correspondence, from its 
 creation in 1772, and afterwards of the committee of safety, 
 and was naval officer of the port of Boston in 1784. He 
 joined St. Andrew's Lodge of Freemasons in 1780, and 
 died at his house, in Bear Lane, (Richmond Street,) Octo- 
 ber 13, 1787; aged 59. Before the Revolution he kept an 
 insurance office in Fish (now North) Street. 
 
 SAMUEL BARNARD, 
 
 A major in the Revolutionary army, was born in Water- 
 town, Mass., June 19, 1737; died August 8, 1782. 
 
xcvi INTRODUCTION, 
 
 HENRY BASS, 
 
 A prominent " Son of Liberty," a merchant on Orange 
 Street, residing in Rawson's Lane, (Bromfield Street,) died 
 June 5, 1813; aged 74. He was the first volunteer on 
 the roll of the guard of the tea-ship, November 29, 1773. 
 Drake ("Old Landmarks of Boston,") says Samuel Adams 
 and Major Melvill often passed a convivial evening, and 
 ate a Sunday dinner, at his house. 
 
 Captain THOMAS BOLTER, 
 
 A housewright, residing on Nassau (now Tremont) Street, 
 died in August, 181 1; aged 76. Mary, his widow, died 
 May 30, 1 81 3; aged 76. 
 
 DAVID, THOMAS, NATHANIEL, and JOSIAH 
 
 BRADLEE, 
 
 Were brothers, who lived in the house yet standing, on the 
 southerly corner of HoUis and Tremont Streets. Their 
 sister, Sarah, assisted her husband, John Fulton, and her 
 brothers, to disguise themselves, having made preparations 
 for the emergency a day or two beforehand, and afterwards 
 followed them to the wharf, and saw the tea thrown into 
 the dock. Soon returninor, she had hot water in readiness 
 
^^^^^--^^^^^^^..^W- 
 
 'Owe no man anything. Be true to tliyself, to thy country, and to thy God." 
 
 — C. D. Bradlee, Blackstone Square, Bostc 
 
INTRODUCTION. xcvii 
 
 for them when they arrived, and assisted in removing the 
 paint from their faces. As the story goes, before they 
 could change their clothes, a British officer looked in to see 
 if the young men were at home, having a suspicion that 
 they were in the tea business. He found them in bed, and 
 to all appearance asleep, they having slipped into bed with- 
 out removing their "toggery," and feigning sleep. The 
 officer departed satisfied. Mrs. Fulton helped to dress the 
 wounds of the soldiers who were in the battle of Bunker 
 Hill. She died in Medford, Mass., in 1836, and is the 
 authority for the above statement. Of the brothers,— 
 David, was born November 24, 1742; died March 10, 1811. 
 
 ^yfL^J /y^^<^'^^^'^ 
 
 Thomas, born December 4, 1744; died Oct.—, 1805. 
 
 Nathaniel, born February 16, 1746; died May 8, 181 3. 
 
 Josiah, born March 24, 1754; died October 2, 1798. 
 
 The old house, built by Nathaniel, in 1771, is now the 
 residence of his grandson, Nathaniel Bradlee Doggett, to 
 whose son, Samuel Bradlee Doggett, I am indebted for 
 the above facts. 
 
 JAMES BREWER, 
 
 Pump and blockmaker, in Summer Street, died in April, 
 1805. He took an active part in the early movements of 
 the Revolution; was one of the volunteer guard on the 
 "Dartmouth," November 30, i773> and prominent in the 
 destruction of her cargo, and was also one of the young 
 men who removed at noon-day, and while it was under 
 guard, the cannon from the gun-house on West Street, 
 
xcviir INTRODUCTION. 
 
 which afterwards found its way to Washington's camp. 
 Some of the tea party met at his house, and were assisted 
 in preparing themselves by his wife and daughter, who 
 blackened their faces with burnt cork. He was a 
 
 confidential messenger between Governor Hancock and 
 Washington, and was afterwards a prisoner of war, having 
 been taken in a privateer, in 1781. He was an early 
 member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Associa- 
 tion, and was also a member of the Massachusetts Lodge 
 of Freemasons in 1792. His son, Thomas, a member of 
 the City Council of Boston in 1825-26, died June 4, 1859 ; 
 aged 78. 
 
 SETH INGERSOLL BROWN 
 
 Was born in Cambridge, Mass., March 13, 1750. He was 
 the son of William Brown, born in 1683. Mr. Brown's 
 trade was that of a house carpenter. In the lower part of 
 his shop, in Charlestown, was stored the ammunition after- 
 wards used in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was in full 
 sympathy with the cause of liberty ; was one of the 
 "Mohawks" on the memorable i6th of December, and on 
 that occasion was masked and painted, and bore a club. 
 He used to relate to his daughters, that on returning home 
 from the scene of destruction, he had to fight his way 
 through the excited crowd, with his back to the houses, to 
 avoid discovery. They kept his connection with the affair 
 a profound secret many years, and when it was spoken of 
 in their old age, excused their silence regarding it on the 
 ground that they thought it was a disgrace, like a riot or a 
 mob, and ought not to be told. At Bunker Hill he was 
 
INTRODUCTION. xcix 
 
 wounded in the leg, and also received an injury to his eye. 
 He said he should never forget the cry that went up during 
 the battle, of " No ammunition ! no ammunition ! " Mr. 
 Brown served as an assistant commissary during the siege 
 of Boston, and continued with the army until the war 
 closed He was paid off in worthless Continental money — 
 there was no other — and it is related that his spunky little 
 wife, indignant at the poor reward of such sacrifices as her 
 husband had made, on receiving it from him, threw it all 
 into the fire. She is described as short, stout and hand- 
 some, with long, straight, black hair, that fell almost to her 
 
 After the war, Mr. Brown, with impaired health and eye- 
 sight kept a tavern successively in Charlestown, Cambridge, 
 Newton Corner, the Punch Bowl in Roxbury, and finally 
 the Sun tavern, in Wing's Lane, (Elm Street,) Boston. He 
 died in Charlestown, Mass., March 9> 1809, leaving several 
 children by his second wife, Sarah Godding, of Cambridge. 
 Three of his daughters, Cynthia, Harriet and Angelme — 
 lived to be over eighty, - retained their memories and then- 
 mental faculties to the last, and preserved many interesting 
 reminiscences of their father's revolutionary career. Mr. 
 Brown was a good singer, and they recall this verse of a 
 song, having reference to the battle of Bunker Hill : 
 
 » We marched down to Charlestown ferry, 
 And there we had our battle ; 
 The shot it flew like pepper and salt 
 And made the old town rattle." 
 
 The name of Seth IngersoU Brown is recorded on the 
 monument, in Hope Cemetery, Worcester, Mass., erected m 
 
'^ INTRODUCTION. 
 
 1870, to the memory of Captain Peter Slater, and his asso- 
 ciates of the Boston tea party. He is buried in the Gran- 
 ary burymg-ground. 
 
 Of Mr Browns descendants, known in public life, may be 
 mentioned Rev. John W. Hanson, D.D., of Chicago, 111 ■ 
 Rev. Warren HCudworth, D.D., formerly of East Lton i 
 Harnet H. Robmson, who married William S. Robinson, 
 ( Warnngton, ) journalist, and clerk of the Massachusetts 
 .w"'!) "^^^J^eP^j^entatives from ,86. to 1873, and their 
 elder daughter, Harnet R. Shattuck. 
 
 "Though none of his descendants will continue to bear 
 h.s name, -the male branch being extinct in the third 
 generation, writes his grand-daughter, Mrs. H. H Robinson 
 "some of them have inherited his spirit of resistance to laws' 
 that compel them -his only surviving representatives, -•• to 
 submit to taxation without representation." To this ladv 
 
 derived '"'"''"''' ^°' *' '"'"'"'''' ^™'" "^^'"^ *'' "°''« '^ 
 Some lines, written in 1 773, by Susannah Clarke, " War- 
 s'niHt°r t ^'■''" §;;^"dmothers sister, serve to manifest the 
 sp nt that pervaded the country when non-tea drinking was 
 held to be a religious duty by American women: 
 
 " We 'll lay hold of card and wheel. 
 And join our hands to turn and reel ; 
 We '11 turn the tea all in the sea. 
 And all to lieep our liberty. 
 
 W'e'll put on home-spun garbs. 
 And make tea of our garden herbs ; 
 When we are dry we'll drink small beer, 
 And FREEDOM shall our spirits cheer." 
 
INTRODUCTION. ci 
 
 STEPHEN BRUCE 
 
 Was a merchant, doing business at -28 State Street, and was 
 one of the volunteer guard on the " Dartmouth." He was 
 the first inspector of beef and pork, appointed^ by the 
 State of Massachusetts, and was a man of sound judgment 
 and inflexible integrity. He became a member of the 
 Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew in 1779, and master m 1782. 
 He died July 26, 1801. 
 
 Colonel BENJAMIN BURTON 
 
 Was born in the old Burton House, Thomaston, Maine, 
 December 9, 1749, and died in Warren, Maine, May 23, 
 1835. Happening to be in Boston on a visit on the 
 memorable i6th of December, 1773, he went with the 
 crowd to the Old South Meeting House, and at the close of 
 the meeting, heard the cry "Tea party! tea party!" Jommg 
 the party that boarded the tea-ships, he labored with all his 
 might in throwing the tea into the water. It being about 
 low tide, the tea rested on the bottom, and >^ when the 
 tide rose it floated, and was lodged by the surf along the 
 shore. He was subsequently an oflicer in the Revolu- 
 tionary army ; was present at the surrender of Burgoyne, 
 and himself fell into the hands of the enemy, in February, 
 1 78 1, sharing in the imprisonment of General Peleg Wads- 
 worth, at Castine, and in the daring escape of that oflicer. 
 After the war, he was eight years a magistrate, and was 
 often a member of the legislature. 
 
cii INTRODUCTION 
 
 NICHOLAS CAMPBELL 
 
 A native of the Island of Malta, died in Warren, R. I., 
 July 23, 1829; aged ninety-seven. He came to this country 
 just previous to the Revolution, during a great part of which 
 he was employed in the marine service, and by many deeds 
 of noble daring, aided the cause of liberty, and evinced 
 his attachment to his adopted country. He had been a 
 resident of Warren fifty-four years. 
 
 THOMAS CHASE, 
 
 One of the most active of the " Sons of Liberty," was a 
 distiller, near the famous Liberty Tree, at the junction of 
 Orange, Essex and Newbury Streets. In the office of Chase 
 & Speakman the meetings of the committee of the "Sons" 
 were held, of one of which John Adams has left an ac- 
 count. Chase was one of those who prepared and sus- 
 pended the effigies of Bute and Oliver from Liberty Tree, 
 on August 14, 1765. He was one of the volunteer guard 
 on the "Dartmouth," on the night of November 29, 1773; 
 was a member of the " Anti-Stamp Fire Society," formed 
 soon after the passage of the Stamp Act, in 1765, and 
 joined St. Andrew's Lodge of Freemasons in 1769. 
 
 '^£u,^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. cm 
 
 BENJAMIN CLARKE 
 
 Was a cooper, in Ship Street, and in 1807 resided in Prince 
 Street. He became a member of the Massachusetts Chari- 
 table Mechanic Association in 1801 ; of the Ancient and 
 Honorable Artillery Company in 1806, and died in 1840. 
 
 JOHN COCHRAN, 
 
 Born in East Boston, in 1750; died in Belfast, Maine, 
 October 30, 1839. The monument there erected to his 
 memory bears the following inscription : " He was one 
 of the memorable tea party at Boston, December 16, 1773." 
 His only surviving son, of the same name, now (1884) resides 
 at Belfast, at the age of eighty-three 
 
 GILBERT COLESWORTHY, 
 
 Born in Boston, December 23, 1744^ removed to Nantucket, 
 Mass., and died there in 18 18. 
 
 GERSHOM COLLIER, 
 
 Of Chesterfield, Mass., died about the year 1825. 
 13 
 
CIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ADAM COLLSON 
 
 Was a leather dresser, near the " Great Trees," on Essex 
 Street, as we learn by his advertisement soon after the pas- 
 sage of the Stamp Act, in which he says: "Understanding 
 that many worthy tradesmen had agreed to wear nothing 
 but leather for their working habits, 'he offers' to dress 
 all sorts of skins suitable for that purpose." Collson was 
 one of the volunteer guard on the "Dartmouth" on the 
 night of November 30, 1773, and was said to be the per- 
 son who, at the close of t-lie meeting of December i6th, 
 at the Old South, shouted from the gallery, " Boston harbor 
 a tea-pot to-night ! " He became a member of St. Andrew's 
 Lodge of Freemasons in 1 763, and at the time of his death, 
 February 16, 1798, aged sixty, resided at 59 Marlboro' 
 (Washington) Street. He was a member of the " Long 
 Room" Club. 
 
 JAMES FOSTER CONDY, 
 
 A bookseller in Boston before the Revolution, doing busi- 
 ness in Union Street, " opposite the cornfields," died in 
 Haverhill, Mass., July 12, 1809. 
 
 SAMUEL COOPER 
 
 Was born in Boston, in 1755, and was living in George- 
 town, D.C., in 1838. He was commissioned second lieu- 
 tenant in Crane's artillery regiment, February i, 1777; 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 cv 
 
 T ,fl^ Miv T778' lieutenant and adjutant in 
 ?;rT"L tspS; o/%t and pea. ashes in New 
 York city and county, from 1808 to .830. Adjutant-Gen- 
 S Sanfuel Cooper, of the United States a™y^ a erw„ds 
 a general in the Confederate army, who d.ed in 1877, was 
 his son. 
 
 JOHN CRANE, 
 
 Colonel of the Massachusetts regiment of artillery in the 
 Cont nental line of the Revolutionary army was ^orn ,n 
 Milton, Mass., 7th December, I744, and d.ed m Wh.tmg 
 Maine 2.st August, .805. His education was scanty In 
 'r'wh n oni; fifteen years of age, his ffrer, Ab.jah was 
 lofted as a soldier in the French war. John offered to go 
 
 tiTfathers stead, and was laughed at on account oh 
 vouth Nevertheless, the boy went and proved himself a 
 
 lave lad, saving the life of a lame f;''--lj-3™'^°2t 
 fallen when pursued by a party of Indians, a St. John s 
 He came to Boston in early life, married, and established 
 htself in business as a house carpenter.-his house an 
 shoo bein- in Tremont Street, opposite Holhs. He assistcc 
 tafor'paddock in setting out ^e elm tj^s o„ the T^..ont 
 
 Street -"j^.^ ^./^in^l Ue ISlL transplanted 
 trtZ: nZ^y enough, in one of his ardent 
 rpeiint, he at once identified himself with he ac ive 
 Sons of I iberty. One of the famous tea party his career 
 cle near teinl permanently ended by ''- ^ /^;;-;-^- 
 used in hoisting out the tea, which, falling upon h.m. 
 
cvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 knocked him senseless. His comrades, supposing him killed, 
 bore him to a neighboring carpenter's shop, and secreted 
 the body under a pile of shavings. They afterwards took 
 him to his home, where good nursing and a strong consti- 
 tution, soon brought him round. The late Colonel Joseph 
 Lovering, who lived opposite to Crane, used to relate that 
 he held the light on that memorable evening, while Crane, 
 and other young men, his neighbors, disguised themselves 
 for the occasion. House building and other branches of 
 industry having been paralyzed by the " Boston Port Bill," 
 Crane, with his partner, Ebenezer Stevens, (also one of the 
 tea party,) went to Providence, R.I., where they followed 
 their business with success, until the war broke out. Both 
 had been members of Paddock's artillery company, a corps 
 famous for having furnished a large number of valuable 
 officers to that arm of the service in the Revolutionary army, 
 among whom may be named John Crane, Ebenezer Stevens, 
 William Perkins, Henry Burbeck, John Lillie, and David 
 Bryant. Crane had been commissioned by Governor Wan- 
 ton, captain-lieutenant of the train of artillery of the colony 
 of Rhode Island, December 12, 1774, (barely one year after 
 the destruction of the tea,) and immediately after receiving 
 the news of the battle of Lexington, he was made captain 
 of the train attached to the Rhode Island " Army of Observa- 
 tion," commanded by General Nathaniel Greene. Crane's 
 command, '* all well accoutred, with four excellent field-pieces 
 marched, in the latter part of May, to join the American 
 army near Boston. They made a very military appearance, 
 and are, without exception, as complete a body of men as 
 any in the king's dominions." Stevens was a lieutenant in 
 this company. Possessing a remarkably keen vision. Crane 
 
INTRODUCTION. cvn 
 
 was exceedingly skilful as an artillerist, a talent he had 
 frequent opportunities to display during the siege of Boston. 
 Early in the morning of July 8, 1775, Majors Tupper and 
 Crane, with a number of volunteers, attacked the British 
 advance guard at Brown's House, on Boston Neck, (near the 
 corner of Newton Street and Blackstone Square.) routed 
 them, and burned two houses. This was regarded as a 
 brave and well-executed affair, and is noteworthy as being 
 the only hostile encounter that has ever taken place in the 
 old limits of Boston. During the siege he was stationed at 
 the Roxbury line, and was engaged in several skirmishes on 
 the islands in the harbor. Commissioned major of Knox's 
 regiment, January i, 1776, he accompanied the army to New 
 York, and while cannonading a British frigate which was 
 passing his batteries at Corlaers Hook, was severely wounded 
 by a cannon ball, which carried off a part of his foot, dis- 
 abling him for several months, and finally causing his death — 
 the wound having closed. He raised in Massachusetts, in 
 1777, the 3d regiment of Continental artillery, which he 
 commanded till the war ended, when he was brevetted a 
 brigadier-general, (October 10, 1783,) his commission as 
 colonel dating from January i, 1777. This corps, officered 
 chiefly from those who had been trained under Paddock, 
 Gridley and Knox, was not exceeded in discipline, valor, 
 and usefulness by any in the service. It was principally 
 employed with the main army, and was an essential auxiliary 
 in the most important operations. Portions of it were also 
 with Sullivan in the Rhode Island campaign, with Gates at 
 Saratoga, and in the heroic defence of Red Bank, on the 
 Delaware. After the peace. Crane formed a partnership 
 with Colonel Lemuel Trescott, in the lumber business, in 
 
cviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Passamaquoddy, Maine, in which they were unsuccessful. 
 The connection was soon dissolved, and Crane finally settled 
 in Whiting, Washington County, Maine, where he had a 
 grant of two hundred acres of land, for his Revolutionary 
 services, from the legislature of Massachusetts. Colonel 
 Crane was five feet eight inches in height, stout and thick 
 set. He possessed great energy, resolution and courage, 
 and at critical moments was perfectly cool. In 1790, he 
 was commissioned judge of the Court of Common Pleas, by 
 Governor Hancock. While at the lines on Boston Neck, 
 Crane aimed a ball at a house near his own, belonging to 
 Rev. Dr. Byles, the Tory, but succeeded only in knocking 
 the ridge pole from his own dwelling. He became a Free- 
 mason in 1 78 1, joining an army lodge at West Point, and 
 was also a member of the Massachusetts Society of the 
 Cincinnati. Colonel Crane, in 1767, married Mehitabel 
 Wheeler, believed to have been a sister of Captain Josiah 
 Wheeler, a member of the tea party. His three daughters 
 married three sons of Colonel John Allan, who, with his 
 Indian allies, rendered valuable service to the patriot cause 
 in protecting throughout the Revolutionary war, the exposed 
 north-eastern frontier. William Allan, who married Alice 
 Crane, was the grandfather of George H. Allan, of Boston, 
 from whom many of the above facts have been derived, 
 and who has made extensive collections relative to the Allan 
 and Crane families. 
 
INTRODUCTION. cix 
 
 Major ROBERT DAVIS. 
 
 Merchant, importer of groceries, wines and liquors, did busi- 
 ness at No. I Cornhill, and resided in Orange Street. He 
 was the son of Joshua and Sarah (Pierpont) Davis, and was 
 born 24th January, 1747. He was a Son of Liberty, and 
 as an officer in Crafts's artillery regiment, took part in the 
 expulsion of the British fleet from Boston harbor, ultimately 
 attaining the rank of major. Member of the Ancient and 
 Honorable Artillery Company in 1786. His brothers, Caleb 
 and Amasa, were also prominent Revolutionary characters, — 
 the latter having been forty years quartermaster-general of 
 Massachusetts. Robert Davis became a member of St. 
 Andrew's Lodge of Freemasons in 1777, and died in 
 November, 1798. His daughter, Clarissa, widow of William 
 Ely, was living in Hartford in 1873, ^^ the age of eighty- 
 two. 
 
 EDWARD DOLBEAR 
 
 Was a fellow-apprentice, and afterwards a partner with 
 Henry Purkitt, in the business of a cooper, in South Street, 
 His residence was near Dr. Eliot's Meeting House, where 
 he died, in April, 1796. 
 
 Captain JOSEPH EATON 
 
 Was an eccentric and excitable, but patriotic citizen, a 
 hatter by trade. He claimed to have hauled down the 
 first British colors at the outset of the Revolution, and to 
 
ex INTRODUCTION. 
 
 have loaded a cannon in State Street to prevent the regulars 
 from landing, in 1774. He was a member of the Ancient 
 and Honorable Artillery Company ; was an ardent democrat, 
 and late in life wore a cocked hat, and styled himself 
 " general." 
 
 JOSEPH EAYRES 
 
 Was one of the volunteer guard on the "Dartmouth" on 
 the night of November 30, 1773. He was a housewright 
 in Essex Street, in 1789. 
 
 ECKLEY, 
 
 A barber, was informed against for his participation in the 
 destruction of the tea, and committed to prison. The 
 Sons of Liberty supported him while in confinement, and 
 also provided for his family. He was finally liberated, and 
 the person who informed against him was tarred and 
 feathered, and paraded through the town with labels on his 
 breast and back bearing his name, and the word "informer" 
 in laree letters. 
 
 iD^ 
 
 WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, 
 
 Who was a mason, while engaged in throwing the tea over- 
 board, was recognized by his apprentice, Samuel Sprague. 
 
 SAMUEL FENNO, 
 
 A housewright, was born in Boston, in 1745, and died in 
 1806. He lived in a large wooden house on Tremont 
 
introduction; cxi 
 
 Street, near Hollis Street, and was a near neighbor of 
 Crane, Lovering and the Bradlees. He was a man of 
 unusual reticence, but noted for courage and patriotism. 
 From 1773 till his death, he kept a vow never to drink tea. 
 In 1797 he married Mary, the sister of Joseph Hiller, the 
 first collector of the port of Salem, and was the father of 
 Captain John Fenno, a pioneer in the China trade. 
 
 Captain SAMUEL FOSTER, 
 
 Of Roxbury, was a sergeant in Captain Moses Whiting's 
 minute company, at Lexington, and as a captain in Greaton's 
 regiment, served at Ticonderoga, and in other campaigns of 
 the Revolutionary war. 
 
 NATHANIEL FROTHINGHAM, 
 
 A coachmaker, at No. 5 West Street, died January 22, 1825; 
 aged seventy-nine. 
 
 JOHN GAMMELL 
 
 Was of Scotch descent, his father bearing the same name, 
 having come to Boston about the year 1740. The son was 
 born in Boston, in 1749, and died there in 1827. His 
 trade was that of a carpenter, in which capacity he served 
 
 14 
 
cxir TNTRODUCTTON. 
 
 seven years in the construction department of the Revolu- 
 tionary army. He was a participant in the Stamp Act 
 riots, and in the destruction of the tea, and in his later 
 years used to describe the latter affair, with great minute- 
 ness, in the presence of his family, and on the anniversary 
 of the day would act over again the part he then performed. 
 He married Margaret Urann, by whom he had fifteen 
 children. As the initials J and T were in old times inter- 
 changeable, there is no doubt but this is the person men- 
 tioned in the list of 1835. 
 
 Communicated by Prof. Wm. Gammell, of Brown University, and Rev. Sereno 
 Dwight Gammell, of Wellington, O., grandsons of John Gammell. 
 
 SAMUEL CxORK, 
 
 Born in Boston, February 6, 1751; died November 16, 1831. 
 Captain John Gore, his father, a lieutenant in the Ancient 
 and Honorable Artillery Company, in 1753, had, by industry, 
 acquired considerable wealth. Being a Tory, he left Boston 
 with the British army in 1776, but afterwards returned. 
 Samuel followed his father's trade, that of a painter, in 
 Court Street, at the corner of Gore's Alley, (Brattle Street,) 
 but, unlike him, was an ardent patriot. He was one of the 
 party of young men who, at noon-day, and under the eyes 
 of the British guard, carried off and secreted the cannon 
 from the gun-house that stood opposite the mall at the 
 corner of West Street. His companions in this daring feat 
 were Nathaniel Balch, James Brewer, Moses Grant, Jeremiah 
 
 Gridley and Whiston. Mr. Gore was one of those 
 
 who established the glass-works in Essex Street, a specula- 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 CXIII 
 
 tion by which he unfortunately lost all the accumulations 
 of many years of untiring industry. He was a member of 
 the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew, in 1778, and was the 
 first treasurer of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic 
 Association. Governor Christopher Gore was a younger 
 brother. He was a man of superior intelligence, kindness 
 of heart, and courtesy of manner. 
 
 MOSES GRANT, 
 
 Son of Samuel, and father of Deacon Moses Grant, was 
 born in Boston, March 13, 1743; died December 22, 1817. 
 He was an upholsterer, on Union Street, and his son, Moses, 
 was a partner with him until his death. He was an ardent 
 patriot ; was one of the volunteer guard on the " Dart- 
 mouth," on the night of November 29, 1773; was one of 
 those who seized and carried off the cannon from the gun- 
 house, on West Street, and one of the renowned " tea 
 party." Member of the company of cadets, and a deacon of 
 Brattle Street church. 
 
cxrv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 NATHANIEL GREENE 
 
 Was in 1789 register of deeds, at 42 Cornhill. He was an 
 ardent Son of Liberty, and was present at the public cele- 
 bration in Dorchester, where three hundred of them gathered, 
 August 14, 1769. 
 
 SAMUEL HAMMOND, 
 
 One of the tea party, died at Wadsborough, Vt., January 4, 
 1842; aged ninety-three. In 1774, he began a settlement 
 near Otter Creek, N.Y., but the hostility of the Indians 
 drove him to Vermont, and he fixed his residence at Wads- 
 borough. He was an industrious farmer, and an active 
 patriot. 
 
 WILLIAM HENDLEY, 
 
 A Revolutionary pensioner, formerly of Roxbury, died at 
 Waldoborough, Me., in February, 1830; aged eighty-two. 
 He was a mason, on Newbury Street, Boston, in 1796. 
 
 GEORGE ROBERT TWELVES HEWES, 
 
 Born in Boston, September 5, 1742, died at Richfield, Otsego 
 County, N.Y., November 5, 1840, at the great age of ninety- 
 eight. His education was scanty ; farming, fishing, and 
 shoemaking being his chief occupations. Excitable and 
 
IN'I'RODUCTION. cxv 
 
 patriotic, he took part in numerous ante-Revolutionary 
 disturbances in Boston, and engaged in the naval, and 
 afterwards in the military, service of his country during the 
 war. His residence was at the Bulls Head, an old house 
 that stood on the north-east corner of Congress and Water 
 Streets. The most detailed account we have of the destruc- 
 tion of the tea in Boston, was given by him, in "Traits of 
 the Tea Party," by B. B. Thatcher, published in New York, 
 in 1835. An oil portrait of Hewes is in the possession of 
 his o-randson, Mr. Henry Hewes, of West Medford, Mass. 
 
 JOHN HICKS, 
 
 Born in Cambridge, May 23, 1725, was one of the earliest 
 martyrs to the cause of American liberty, having been killed 
 by the British on their retreat from Lexington, April 19. 
 1775- ]o^^^^y ^^s so^' ^^^ ^ printer, and became in 1773, a 
 partner with Nathaniel Mills, in the publication of the 
 " Post Boy," a Tory sheet. 
 
 SAMUEL HOBBS, 
 
 Born in Lincoln, Mass., in 1750, died at Sturbridge, Mass., 
 in May, 1823. While in the employ of Simeon Pratt, a 
 tanner, of Roxbury, he aided in throwing the tea overboard, 
 and afterwards said that chests of Bohea, weighing three 
 hundred and sixty pounds, were rather heavy to lift. He 
 settled in Sturbridge, as a farmer, also carrying on his trade 
 of tanner and currier. By his wife, Lucy Munroe, of 
 Lexington, he had four children. 
 
cxvi INTRODUCTION 
 
 JOHN HOOTON, 
 
 An apprentice, while at work on the tea, saw a person who 
 looked like a countryman, coming up with a small boat to 
 the ship's side, evidently intending to secure a cargo for his 
 own use. He, and three or four other " North Enders," as 
 full of spirit as himself, being directed to dislodge the inter- 
 loper, jumped over and beat the canoe from under him " in 
 the twinkling of an eye." Hooton was an oarmaker, at 
 Hooton's wharf. Fish vStreet, in 1789. In 1806, he was a 
 wood-wharfinger, on North Street, residing in Prince Street. 
 In 1838, his residence was in Chelsea, Mass. 
 
 SAMUEL HOWARD, 
 
 A Boston shipwright, resided at the " Mansion House," as 
 it was called, which stood on the site of the Mariner's 
 Church, North Square. He died here in January, 1797, at 
 the age of forty-five, and was buried in Copp's Hill. His 
 wife, Anna Lillie, the sister of Major John Lillie, of the 
 Revolutionary army, died in North Andover, in 1804. Two 
 of our well-known fellow citizens, Henry Lillie Pierce and 
 Edward L. Pierce, are grandsons of Major Lillie. Theophi- 
 lus Lillie, the Tory trader, who was mobbed during the tea 
 excitement, was Major Lillie's uncle. Caroline, the youngest 
 child of Samuel and Anna Lillie Howard, born October 3, 
 1794, married Rev. Samuel Oilman, D.D., of Charleston, S.C. 
 She is still living, at the age of ninety, and resides at 
 Tiverton, R.I., with a daus^hter Mrs. Bowen. 
 
GEORGE ROBERT TWELVES HUGHES. 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxix 
 
 EDWARD C. HOWE, 
 
 Ropemaker, died in September, 182 1, aged seventy-nine. 
 E. C. Howe & Son (Joseph) dissolved partnership August i, 
 1800. Howe's rope-walk was one of seven, on the west side 
 of Pearl Street, all of which were burnt in July, 1794. 
 
 JONATHAN HUNNEWELL, 
 
 The son of Richard, followed his father's trade, of a mason. 
 He was born in Boston, May 19, 1759; died in April, 1842. 
 He was several times a selectman of Boston, and member 
 of both branches of the legislature; was connected with 
 many benevolent institutions, and was for nine years presi- 
 dent of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association. 
 He was one of the principal agents in the establishment of 
 the glass-works, in Boston and Chelmsford, and its failure, 
 in 1822, made him a poor man. For many years he had 
 a country residence at Newton, which was the seat of a gen- 
 erous hospitality. The latter part of his life was passed in 
 seclusion, at Roxbury, where, in 1800, he married the 
 widow Theoda Davis. Jonathan, his brother, and Richard, 
 his father, were also in the tea party. 
 
 RICHARD HUNNEWELL. 
 
 A mason, member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic 
 Association, died in October, 1805. He resided in Essex 
 Street; was an active Son of Liberty, and was one of the 
 volunteer ^uard on the "Dartmouth," on the night of 
 
 fc>' 
 
cxx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 November 30, 1773. His two sons, fourteen and sixteen 
 years of age, were with him at the throwing overboard of 
 the tea. 
 
 THOMAS HUNSTABLE 
 
 Was born in 1753. He lived for many years on Brighton 
 Street, and was a Freemason. 
 
 Colonel ABRAHAM HUNT 
 
 Was born in Braintree, Mass., June 2, 1748; died Decem- 
 ber 5, 1793. He was apprenticed, in 1763, to Edmund 
 Quincy, who kept a wine-store, and was afterwards connected 
 with him in the trade. In 1789, his place of business 
 was in Middle (Hanover) Street, and his residence on 
 Federal Street. He served as lieutenant and adjutant at 
 the siege of Boston ; was in the Ticonderoga campaign, 
 remaining some years in the service, which he quitted with 
 the rank of captain. June 24, 1781, he was agent for the 
 privateer " Buccaneer," Captain Hoysted Hacker. For a 
 time he was inspector of the ports of Boston and Charles- 
 town. In 1777, he became a member of St. Andrew's 
 Lodge of Freemasons. October 15, 1771, he married Mary 
 St. Leger. His orderly books for June and July, 1775, are 
 in the possession of his grandson, Urann, Esq. 
 
 DANIEL INGERSOLL, 
 
 Housewright, formerly of Boston, died in Keene, N. H., 
 October 17, 1829, aged seventy-nine. He was a member of 
 St, Andrew's Lodge, in 1782. 
 
INTRODUCTION, 
 
 DAVID KINNISON, 
 
 The last of the tea party, bom in Old Kingston, near 
 Portsmouth, Maine, November 17, 1736; died in Chicago, 
 February 24, 1852; aged one hundred and fifteen years. Up 
 to the Revolution he was a farmer, at Lebanon, whence, with 
 a few comrades, members of a political club, he went to 
 Boston, with the express purpose of destroying the tea. He 
 was in active service during the war, participating in many 
 battles, and was a prisoner among the Indians at its close. 
 He was a farmer, at Wells, Maine, when the war of 181 2 
 broke out, and was in the battles at Sackett's Harbor and 
 Williamsburg, and in the latter was badly wounded in the 
 hand, by a grape-shot. He afterwards lived at Lyme, and 
 at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and in July, 1845, went to 
 Chicago. At Lyme, while felling a tree, he was struck 
 down by a limb, which fractured his skull, broke his collar 
 bone, and two of his ribs. While engaged in discharging 
 a cannon, at a training at Sackett's Harbor, both legs were 
 broken and badly shattered. Up to 1848 he had always 
 made something by his labor, and was the father of twenty- 
 two children. He learned to read when past sixty. A 
 daughter, who survived in 1848, was made acquainted in 
 that year with her father's existence, by the publication of 
 Mr. Lossing's " Field Book of the Revolution." Hastening 
 to him, she smoothed the patriarch's pillow in his passage 
 to the grave. 
 
 15 
 
cxxtv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 JOSEPH LEE, 
 
 Merchant, on Long Wharf, afterwards at 9 Doane Street, 
 was a member of Massachusetts Lodge of Freemasons, in 
 1773, and died February 6, 1831 ; aged eighty-six. 
 
 AMOS LINCOLN, 
 
 Born in Hingham, Mass., March 17, 1753, died at Quincy, 
 Mass., January 15, 1829. He was apprenticed to a Mr. Crafts, 
 at the North End, who, on the evening of December 16, 
 1773, secretly procured for him an Indian disguise, dressed 
 him in his own chamber, — darkening his face to the re- 
 quired tint, — and then, dropping on his knees, prayed most 
 fervently that he might be protected in the enterprise in 
 which he was engaged. Joining Stark's New Hampshire 
 regiment, he was in the battle of Bunker Hill ; was after- 
 wards a captain in Craft's artillery regiment, and was at one 
 time in charge of the castle, in Boston harbor. When 
 Shays' insurrection broke out, he assisted in its suppression. 
 He was a housewright of much skill. The wood-work of 
 the State House was under his charge, and evinces the 
 grace and beauty of his workmanship. He married a 
 daughter of Paul Revere. His grandson, Frederick W. 
 Lincoln, has been mayor of Boston. He joined St. Andrew's 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxxv 
 
 Lodge of Freemasons, in 1777. Governor Levi Lincoln, 
 of Massachusetts, and Governor Enoch Lincoln, of Maine, 
 were nephews of Captain Amos Lincoln. 
 
 MATTHEW LORING 
 
 Was a cordwainer, on Devonshire Street, residing on Brattle 
 Street. He died November 7, 1829 ; aged seventy-nine. 
 
 THOMAS MACHIN 
 
 Was born in Staffordshire, England, 20th March, 1744; 
 was employed by Brindley in canal construction, and in 1772 
 came to America, and settled in Boston. He was wounded 
 at Bunker Hill, while acting as lieutenant of artillery; i8th 
 January, 1776, was commissioned second lieutenant in Col- 
 Knox's artillery regiment, and was employed from April to 
 June in that year in laying out the fortifications for the de- 
 fence of the town and harbor of Boston; from July, 1776, to 
 1 78 1, he was employed in constructing the fortifications 
 which were to render the Hudson impassable to British ves- 
 sels. In October, 1777, when Forts Montgomery and Clinton 
 were taken by the British, Captain Machin was wounded 
 by a musket-ball, which entered his breast and passed out 
 under his right shoulder. In April, 1779, he accompanied 
 Colonel Van Schaick's expedition against the Onondagas, 
 of which he kept a journal, and in June joined Sullivan's 
 expedition to the Genesee Valley, as engineer. A map of 
 this expedition, executed by him, was in the possession of 
 
cxxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 his son, Captain Thomas Machin. In the fall of 1781, he 
 aided in laying out the works of the American army, then 
 besieging Yorktown. In 1783, he began a settlement at 
 New Grange, Ulster County, and in the following year 
 erected several mills at the Great Pond, a few miles west 
 of Newburgh. March 12, 1793, he was commissioned a 
 captain, to take rank as such from 21st August, 1780. In 
 January, 1797, he removed to Montgomery County, N.Y., 
 where he practised surveying, and where he died, at his 
 residence in Charleston, a part of the old town of Mohawk, 
 3d April, 1816 ; Member of Army Lodge, West Point, 1782. 
 
 ARCHIBALD MACNEIL, 
 Died in Scituate, Mass., February i, 1840; aged ninety. 
 
 Captain MACKINTOSH 
 
 Was a tradesman of Boston, who acquired great prominence 
 in the local disturbances of the town, prior to the outbreak 
 of the Revolution, but who disappears from her history after 
 that period. He first came into notice as the leader of the 
 South End party, in the celebration of Pope Day, which 
 took place on the 5th of November, in commemoration of 
 the discovery of the gunpowder plot. In 1765, the two 
 factions of the North and South Ends harmonized, and after 
 a friendly meeting in King (now State) Street, marched to- 
 gether to Liberty Tree. The leaders, — Mackintosh of the 
 South, and Swift of the North End, — appeared in military 
 habits, with small canes resting on their left arms, having 
 music in front and flank. All the property used on such 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxxvii 
 
 occasions was afterwards burnt on Copp's Hill. Mackintosh 
 was a ringleader in the riot of August 26, 1765, when 
 Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson's house was destroyed, and 
 was arrested in King Street next day, but was immediately 
 released by the sheriff, on the demand of a number ot 
 merchants, and other persons of character and property. 
 From the Diary and Letters of Thomas Hutchinson, we 
 take the following passage: 
 
 "The Governor had summoned a council the day after the riot The sheriff 
 atteni I and upon enquiring, it appeared that one Maclcintosh a shoemaker, was 
 attenaen ^ '. destroying the Lieutenant-Governor's house and furni- 
 
 rr' A warrant as gven to the Sheriff to apprehend him by name, with divers 
 others Mackfu tsh pleared in King Street, and the sheriff took him, but soon 
 dtl a;gerirrl and ret'urned to the council chamber, where he gave an account 
 o h s fakinriim. and that Mr. Nathaniel Coffin, and several other gentlemen, 
 
 m^t: him and told him that it had been agreed ^^at the cadets an man 
 
 -::\:oXp::^ -ss Mac.nt.h w. ..ha^. - rrr™ 
 
 t:;^ r thi Z :lrri:.r Uen^ the .scha^. -e tme r^on . 
 out knowing of any previous plan. 
 
 Mackintosh was styled the " First Captain-General of Lib- 
 erty Tree" and had charge of the illuminations, hanging ot 
 effi-ies etc. Long afterward, in speaking ot the tea party, 
 hefaid "It was my chickens that did the job." My in- 
 formant', Mr. Schuler Merrill, then a boy of ten, remarks 
 that it was a mystery to him, at that time, "how chicken, 
 could hive anything' to do with a tea party!" Mackintosh 
 is described by Merrill as " of slight build, sandy complexion 
 and ner^^ous temperament." He died in extreme poverty, a 
 North Haverhill, N.H., about the year 1812, at the age ot 
 
cxxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 seventy. His unmarked grave can be pointed out by Mr. 
 Merrill, who still resides in North Haverhill, at the age of 
 eighty-two. 
 
 Colonel JOHN MAY, 
 
 Born in Boston, November 24, 1748, died July 16, 1812. 
 On the afternoon of December 16, 1773, he went in haste 
 to his home, on North Square, and said to his young wife, 
 " Nabby, let me have a beefsteak as quickly as possible." 
 While he was eating it, a rap was heard on the v/indow, 
 and he rose at once from the unfinished meal and departed. 
 He returned late, tired and uncommunicative. In the 
 morning, there was found in his shoes, and scattered upon 
 the floor, a quantity of tea. The inevitable inference from 
 these circumstances is strengthened by evidence of a very 
 different character. Near the close of Major Melvill's life, 
 he gave, while dining with a few friends, some anecdotes 
 of the tea party, and turning to Henry Knox May, the son 
 of Colonel May, he said, " Harry, there was one John there." 
 The son, who knew the family tradition, was eager to learn 
 more. " Not now, Harry," said the major, " Come and see 
 me, and I will tell you all about it." Mr. May called re- 
 peatedly upon him, but could never obtain any further 
 satisfaction respecting the object of his inquiry. Colonel 
 May was a man of great energy and courage, an ardent 
 patriot, and one not likely to be overlooked in the making- 
 up of a company of picked men for such an enterprise. 
 He was at one time colonel of the Boston regiment, and 
 was for many years a selectman, and a firewardeh of the 
 town. He made a journey of exploration to the Ohio 
 
INTRODUCTION. '^^^^^ 
 
 region in 1788 and 1789. an account of which has been 
 published. Two sons, Frederick and George Washington 
 May were skilful physicians, in Washington, D.C. He has 
 numerous grandchildren living, among them Prof. Edward 
 Tuckerman, of Amherst College, and Samuel P. Tucker- 
 man, Mus. Doc, resident in England. 
 
 I am indebted for the above facts to my friend, Jolm Joseph May, Esq., of 
 Mayfield, Dorchester. 
 
 Major THOMAS MELVILL 
 
 Was bom in Boston, January 16, .751. and died there 
 September 16, 1832. He was the grandson of Thomas 
 minister of Scoonie Parish, Fifeshire, a cadet of the Scottish 
 family of the Earls of Leven and MelviU. Allan, his 
 father left Scotland, and established himself in business in 
 Boston, in .743. Left an orphan at the age of ten, the care 
 of his education devolved upon his maternal grandmother, 
 Mrs. Mary Cargill, a relative of the celebrated surgeon, Dr. 
 Abernethy Young MelviU was graduated at Princeton 
 College, in 1769, with a view to the ministry, but impaired 
 health led him to make a visit to Scot and in . 7 • Re- 
 turning to Boston, in 1773. he established himself in bust- 
 ness in that town, just at the time when '^e tea excitemen 
 began, and being strongly in sympathy with the Sons 
 of Liberty," and a member of the Long Room Club, he 
 took an active part in the event of December 16, I773- 
 Some of the tea taken from his shoes, ^^ter his retu n 
 home, was preserved, and is now in the possession of Mrs. 
 Thomas Melvill, of Galena. Illinois. The picture here given 
 is a facsimile of the venerable relic itself. In I773. he 
 
cxxx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 received the honorary degree of Master of Arts, from Har- 
 vard College. In 1774, Melvill married Priscilla, daughter 
 of John Scollay, a prominent Boston merchant. He had 
 been selected by General Warren as one of his aids, just 
 before the fall of the latter at Bunker's Hill, and was suc- 
 cessively captain and major in Colonel Thomas Crafts's 
 regiment of artillery, raised for the defence of the State. 
 When, soon after the evacuation of the town, in March, 
 1776, the British fleet was driven from Boston harbor. 
 Captain Melvill discharged the first guns at the hostile 
 ships, from his battery, at Nantasket. He afterwards served 
 in the Rhode Island campaigns of 1777 and 1779. After 
 the war, he was naval officer of the port of Boston, in 
 1786-89, and through the influence of his friend, Samuel 
 Adams, was, in the latter year, appointed inspector under 
 the United States Government, a post which he held until 
 made naval officer, in 181 1. President Jackson removed 
 him from this office in 1829, after which period he was a 
 member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 
 From 1779 to 1825, he was one of the fire wards of Boston, 
 and on retiring from his forty-seven years' service, was made 
 the recipient of a silver pitcher as a testimonial of the 
 appreciation of his services, by his associates. Major Mel- 
 vill's long and honorable connection with the Boston Fire 
 Department began in the good old times, when the fire- 
 wards carried staves, tipped at the end with a brass flame, 
 and marshalled the bystanders into lines for passing buckets 
 of water to the scene of conflagration. One of the town 
 engines was named " Melvill," in honor of the major, whose 
 death was finally caused by over-fatigue at a fire near his 
 house. He was a Democrat, and a firm friend of Samuel 
 


INTRODUCTION. cxxxv 
 
 Adams, of whom he had a small portrait, by Copley, now at 
 Harvard University. At the time of his death, he was 
 president of the Massachusetts Charitable Society. Major 
 Melvill was a man of sound judgment and strict integrity. 
 He is still remembered by our older citizens as the last 
 to wear, in Boston, a cocked hat and small clothes — the 
 costume of the Revolution. Herman Melville, a grandson, 
 has attained popularity as an author. The front door of 
 Major Melvill's residence, which formerly stood near the 
 easterly corner of Green and Staniford Streets, now does 
 similar duty for the house at the corner of Bartlett and 
 Lambert Streets, Roxbury. The accompanying portrait is 
 from an oil painting in the possession of his grand-daughter, 
 Mrs. Samuel Downer, of Dorchester. The beautiful garden 
 at Downer Landing, Hingham, near which is her summer 
 residence, perpetuates the name of this worthy and patriotic 
 citizen of Boston. Admitted member Mass. Lodge, 1772. 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 WILLIAM MOLINEUX, 
 
 A distinguished and patriotic merchant of Boston, died 
 there October 22, 1774; aged fifty-eight. Like Revere and 
 Johonnot, he was of Huguenot ancestry. About the year 
 1760, he, with William Phillips and others, established the 
 ■' Manufactory House," on the east side of what is now 
 Hamilton Place. Here the people were taught spinning 
 16 
 
cxxxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and weaving, free of cost, and soon many were clad in 
 garments of their own manufacture. This building was put 
 to other uses, in 1768. Molineux, from the very beginning 
 of the dispute with the mother country, was an active and 
 influential Whig. He was a member of the " Long Room 
 Club," formed in 1762, and of the Sons of Liberty, in 
 1 765 ; was one of the Boston committee of correspondence, 
 from its origin, in 1772 ; one of the committee, and its 
 spokesman, appointed by the Liberty Tree meeting, Novem- 
 ber 4, to request the consignees of the tea to resign, and 
 took an active part in all the public meetings that followed. 
 Molineux and Dr. Young were the only prominent leaders 
 of the people who were known to have been actively present 
 at the destruction of the tea. Molineux was a member of 
 a committee, of which Samuel Adams was the chairman, to 
 demand the removal of the British troops from Boston. 
 John Adams relates that Molineux was obliged to march by 
 the side of the troops, to protect them from the indignation 
 of the people. With the exception of Samuel Adams, no 
 name is oftener found, in connection with the public acts 
 of the day, than that of William Molineux, and his death, a 
 few months before the war broke out, was a great loss to 
 the patriot cause. While the Boston Port Bill was under 
 discussion in the British Cabinet, Governor Hutchinson was 
 told by Lord Mansfield that the Lords of the Council had 
 their pens ready to sign the warrant for the transportation 
 to England and trial of Adams, Molineux and others, for 
 high treason, but were prevented by the doubts of the 
 Attorney and Solicitor-Generals as to the sufficiency of the 
 evidence to convict them. Molineux resided at the corner 
 of Beacon and Mount Vernon Streets, near John Hancock, 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxxxvii 
 
 where in 1760 he built a mansion-house that was considered 
 as "quite splendid" for those days. 
 
 ;^'^^r^C^L^ 
 
 THOMAS MOORE, 
 
 Son of Hugh Moore, wharfinger, on Fish Street, informs his 
 father's "good customers," in the Gazette of November 24, 
 1773, that he "carries on the business as usual, and solicits 
 their' custom." Ben. Russell speaks of seeing Moore and 
 his (Russell's) father blacking each other's faces on the i6th 
 of December, 1773. He died in August, 1813; aged sixty. 
 
 ANTHONY MORSE. 
 
 " Anthony Morse, my father, afterwards a lieutenant during 
 the Revolutionary war, and Mr. Joseph Roby, now (18 19) of 
 Hanover, N. H., were active in the destruction of the tea, 
 December 16, 1773." 
 
 — Niles' Acts and Principles of the Revolution, p. 326. 
 
 JOSEPH MOUNTFORD, 
 
 A cooper, on Prince Street, died in Pepperill, Mass., May 
 II, 1838; aged eighty-eight. 
 
 E[LIPHELET N [EWELL], 
 
 Of Charlestown, repeatedly informed Dr. Joseph Bartlett, 
 author of a historical sketch of that town, that he was one 
 
cxxxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the Indians who destroyed the tea in Boston harbor. 
 He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew, 
 in 1778. 
 
 v/LiMr^jV^co-e^ 
 
 JOSEPH PEARSE PALMER 
 
 Was the only son of General Joseph Palmer, a prominent 
 actor in the Revolutionary drama in Massachusetts, and 
 Mary, the sister of Judge Richard Cranch, who resided in 
 that part of Braintree called Germantown. Before the war 
 he dealt in West India goods and hardware, at the town 
 dock. Of his share in the tea party his widow says : " One 
 evening, about ten o'clock, hearing the gate and door open, 
 I opened the parlor door, and there stood three stout-looking 
 Indians. I screamed, and should have fainted, but recog- 
 nized my husband's voice saying, ' Don't be frightened, 
 Betty, it is I. We have only been making a little salt- 
 water tea.' His two companions were Foster Condy and 
 Stephen Bruce. Soon after this, Secretary Flucker called 
 upon my husband, and said to him, ' Joe, you are so ob- 
 noxious to the British Government, that you had better 
 leave town.' Accordingly we left town, and went to live 
 in part of my father's house, in Watertown." During the 
 war, Mr. Palmer served in Boston and in Rhode Island, first 
 as brigade major, and next as quartermaster-general. Soon 
 after his father's death, in 1788, he went to Vermont, with 
 Colonel Keith, to examine the facilities for establishing 
 themselves in some branch of the iron business. Shortly 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxxxix 
 
 after he reached Windsor he lost his Hfe, having accidentally 
 fallen from a bridge, then erecting over the Connecticut. 
 He left a numerous family. His daughter, Mary, married 
 Royal Tyler, of Vt. Member Massachusetts Lodge, 1773. 
 
 JONATHAN PARKER 
 
 Was a Roxbury farmer, a " high Son of Liberty," who safely 
 brought through the British lines on the Neck, and secreted 
 in Muddy Pond Woods, the two cannon which, by a clever 
 stratagem, had been taken from the gun-house, on Boston 
 common, at noon-day. Next day, a party of Red Coats were 
 in Roxbury searching for them in every direction, but in 
 vain. These are supposed to be the same pieces now in 
 the chamber at the top of Bunker Hill Monument. Parker 
 took the guns from the stable of the second house west 
 from the court house, on the south side of Court Street. 
 He brought a load of hay, and took home a load of stable 
 manure, the guns being in the bottom of the wagon. 
 
 JOSEPH PAYSON 
 
 Was a housewright, on Poster's wharf, in 1789, and at 
 5 Bennet Street, in 1796. He was a descendant of Edward 
 Payson, one of the first settlers of Roxbury, and his wife, 
 Mary, a sister of the Apostle Eliot, and was born in 1743. 
 
CXL INTRODUCTION, 
 
 SAMUEL PECK 
 
 Was a cooper, and in 17S9 did business at Hallowell's ship- 
 yard, near the foot of Milk Street. He was a prominent 
 Son of Liberty, also a leading and influential member of 
 the North End Caucus. He was one of the guard on the 
 "Dartmouth," on the night of November 30, 1773, and on 
 the morning following the destruction of the tea, his ap- 
 prentices noticed traces of red paint behind his ears. He 
 was thought to have been one of the leaders in the affair. 
 He joined the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew in 1756. 
 
 JOHN PETERS, 
 
 A native of Lisbon, Portugal, died in Philadelphia, April 23, 
 1832, at the great age of one hundred years, five months and 
 twenty-three days. He was able to attend to his business 
 up to the close of 1831. He came to America soon after 
 the earthquake of 1755, and settled in Boston. He was 
 one of the tea party ; was in the battles of Lexington and 
 Bunker Hill, — in which latter he lost a finger, — at Prince- 
 ton, Monmouth and Trenton. He was also at the capture 
 of Burgoyne and of Cornwallis, was again wounded, and 
 after being discharged, in 1783, resided in Philadelphia, 
 where he reared a numerous family. 
 
 WILLIAM PIERCE, 
 
 Born in Boston, December 25, 1744, died October 10, 1840. 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxLr 
 
 He served his time with John Adams, a barber, in Dock 
 Square, at the sign of the " Great Boot," and opened a shop 
 for himself in Marshall Street, some years before the Revo- 
 lution. His shop was a sort of exchange for the gossip 
 current at the North End, and was frequented by many 
 celebrated residents of that locality. He boasted of having 
 shaved Franklin, and he stated that Franklin told him that 
 he was born in the house on the corner of Union and 
 Hanover Streets, at the sign of the " Blue Ball." Hewes 
 relates that Pierce was one of those that boarded the ships 
 on December i6, 1773. He continued actively engaged in 
 his business until the year 1835, having followed his pro- 
 fession seventy-six years ! 
 
 LENDALL PITTS, 
 
 Youngest son of Hon. James Pitts, a merchant and an 
 active patriot of Boston; born in 1747, died December 31, 
 1787, and being captain of a volunteer company, was buried 
 with military honors. According to Hewes, Pitts com- 
 manded the division of the tea party that boarded the brig 
 " Beaver," and after the affair was over, formed the party in 
 military order, with the aid of Major Barber and Colonel 
 Proctor, and marched them back into town. A solemn 
 pledge, for the protection of those engaged in this affair, 
 was entered into by the committee of correspondence, — of 
 whom Lendall's brother, John Pitts, was one, — about a 
 week afterwards, when it was currently supposed that those 
 who had borne a part in that daring performance would 
 
cxLii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 be arrested, if discovered, and executed for treason. It 
 was worded as follows : 
 
 " The subscribers do engage to exert our utmost 'influence to support and 
 vindicate each other, and any person or persons who may be likely to suffer for 
 any noble efforts they may have made to save their country, by defeating the 
 operations of the British Parliament, expressly designed to extort a revenue from 
 the Colonies against their consent." 
 
 The names of four members of this family are prominently 
 associated with the tea episode at Boston. James Pitts, the 
 father, (H. U., 1731,) an eminent and wealthy merchant, who, 
 as member of the Governor's Council, thwarted the chief- 
 magistrate, Hutchinson, in his efforts to have the tea landed, 
 and who died in Dunstable, Mass., January 25, 1776; aged 
 sixty-four. His sons, — John, born in 1737, (H. U., 1757,) a 
 selectman, and on the committee to urge the consignees to 
 resign ; an active member of the committee of correspond- 
 ence, of the Provincial Congress of 1775; Speaker of the 
 House in 1778, and member of the senate in 1780-84, who 
 died at Tyngsboro', Mass., in 1815; Samuel, born in 1745, 
 an officer in the company of cadets, said also to have been 
 one of the tea party, and Lendall, the leader of the party, 
 noted above, who was clerk of the market in 1775-6, and an 
 officer in Hancock's cadets. The sons all had Huguenot 
 blood in their veins, their mother being a sister of James 
 Bowdoin. All were merchants, and active Sons of Liberty, 
 and prior to the Revolution, were in business together, 
 engaged in extensive commercial transactions. Pitts's wharf 
 was just north of Faneuil Hall Market. Pitts Street per- 
 petuates the name and fame of this noted family ; no one 
 of their descendants bearing the name now surviving in 
 Boston. The Pitts mansion, a favorite place of meeting 
 
INTRODUCTION. cxly 
 
 for the Boston patriots, occupied the ground now covered 
 by the Howard Atheneum. The accompanying portrait of 
 Lendall Pitts is taken from a painting owned by his grand- 
 son, Lendall Pitts Cazeau, of Roxbury. 
 
 For many of the above facts I am indebted to the Pitts " Memorial," by 
 Daniel Goodwin, Jr., of Chicago. 
 
 g^^ST" 
 
 THOMAS PORTER, 
 
 A merchant, formerly of Boston, died in Alexandria, Va., 
 in June, 1800. 
 
 Captain HENRY PRENTISS, 
 
 Born in Holliston, Mass., March 27, 1749, died in Medfield, 
 Mass., August 31, 182 1 ; son of Rev. Joshua, forty-five years 
 pastor of the Holliston church. Captain Prentiss served 
 during the Revolutionary war, at Cambridge, at Long Island, 
 and at Trenton. He was an Overseer of the Poor, in 
 Boston, in 1784; a member of the Ancient and Honorable 
 Artillery Company in 1 786 ; a sea captain in 1 789, and was 
 afterwards a merchant of Boston. He, with his brother 
 Appleton, was one of the first to introduce into New Eng- 
 land the art of printing calico, — producing a coarse blue 
 and red article on India cotton. Their place of business 
 was at the corner of Buttolph Street. Captain Prentiss' 
 17 
 
cxLvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 residence was in a stone house, near the head of Hanover 
 Street, the former residence of Benjamin Hallowell, Comp- 
 troller of Customs, which was ransacked at the time Gov. 
 Hutchinson's House was mobbed. Member Massachusetts 
 Lodge, 1 789. 
 
 O'^'V?!^ 
 
 Dr. JOHN PRINCE 
 
 Was pastor of the First Church, in Salem, from 1779 to his 
 death, June 3, 1836. He was a native of Boston, and was 
 a witness only of the destruction of the tea, as he informed 
 Colonel Russell, of the " Centinel," long afterward. Ad- 
 mitted member Massachusetts Lodge, nth January, 1780. 
 
 Colonel EDWARD PROCTOR, 
 
 A prominent citizen and military officer of Boston, died 
 there in November, 181 1; aged seventy-eight. He was an 
 importer of West India goods, at the sign of the " Schooner," 
 in Fish Street, at the North End, before the war, after which 
 he was in the auction business, at No. i Union Street. He 
 was an active patriot, and was placed on the committee to 
 obtain the resignation of the consignees of the tea, and 
 commanded the guard on the " Dartmouth," on the night of 
 November 29, 1773.^ In 1756, he joined the Ancient and 
 
 ^ The proclamation of the " King of writing. The original is in the pos- 
 the Mohawks," which accompanies this session of Mr. Jeremiah Colburn, of 
 notice, appears to be in Proctor's hand- Boston. 
 
■ /z^^^:^c^r^^^ ^i^*^.^>^uz^ /y'lZ^^^^TZy uj-^Cc^ ^^^c^ /Ca,^j^' 
 

INTRODUCTION. cxux 
 
 Honorable Artillery Company, of which his grandfather, 
 Edward Proctor, had been a member in 1699; was in the 
 service during the Revolutionary war, and was a member of 
 the committees of correspondence and of safety. He be- 
 came a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1765, when he 
 joined St. Andrew's Lodge; was master in 1774-76, and was 
 junior grand warden of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge in 
 1 78 1. For some years previous to his death, he was one 
 of the Overseers of the Poor, and was a fireward in 1 784-89. 
 Hannah, his widow, died October 31, 1832, aged 87. 
 
 Colonel HENRY PURKITT, 
 
 Born in Boston, March 18, 1755, died March 3, 1846. He 
 was educated at the public schools of Boston ; was after- 
 wards apprenticed to Samuel Peck, the cooper, a zealous 
 " Son of Liberty," and member of the tea party, and was 
 himself active on that occasion, in disobedience to his 
 master's orders. His reminiscences of the affair have been 
 related on a previous page. Enlisting as a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary army, he served through the war, and was 
 present at Trenton and Brandywine, and was at one time a 
 sergeant in Pulaski's Cavalry.* After the war, he carried on 
 his trade of cooper successfully, in connection with his 
 former fellow-apprentice, Dolbear, in South Street. In 1803, 
 appointed inspector-general of pickled fish, and performed 
 the duty satisfactorily for thirty-five years. Joining a com- 
 
CL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 pany of cavalry after the war, he passed through all the 
 grades, and rose to that of colonel. He was many years a 
 member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Associa- 
 tion ; became a member of St. Andrew's Royal Arch 
 Chapter of Freemasons, in 1798, and was master of St. 
 Andrew's Lodge, in 1804-5. " Uprightness and exactness 
 were prominent traits of his character, and universal love 
 and charity for all mankind were sincerely exhibited in his 
 social intercourse. He had troops of friends, but it is not 
 known that he ever had an enemy." In 1834, a number of 
 Polish refugees arrived here, after the final partition of their 
 native country. A collection for their benefit was proposed. 
 The call was nobly responded to, and among others, Purkitt 
 sent his check, as follows : 
 
 '' Pay to Count Pulaski, my commander at the battle of Brandywine, his 
 brethren, or bearer, one hundred dollars." 
 
 There is in possession of the family a full-length silhouette 
 likeness of Purkitt, and a daguerreotype. The accompanying 
 portrait is from an oil painting, in the possession of Mr, 
 Henry P. Kidder, of Boston. 
 
 
 JOHN RANDALL, 
 
 Born in Watertown, Mass., October 2, 1750; married Sarah 
 Barnard, 30th December, 1778. 
 
Better ktunvii as Colonel Fiirkitt. 
 
 " Uprishtni^ss and exactness were prominent attributes of his character, and universal love and charity for 
 all mankind were sincerely exhibited in his social intercourse. He had troops of friends, but it is not known 
 that he ever had an enemy." — Biographical Sketches St. Andreni's R.A.C. 
 
INTRODUCTION. cliii 
 
 PAUL REVERE, 
 
 Born in Boston, January i, 1735; died at his residence, in 
 Bennet Street, May 10, 1818. He was of Huguenot ances- 
 try, and learned the goldsmith's trade of his father. Articles 
 of silverware, with his engraving, are still extant in Boston. 
 He also engraved on copper, an art in which he was self- 
 instructed, producing a portrait of his friend, the Rev. 
 Jonathan Mayhew ; a picture emblematical of the Stamp 
 Act ; a caricature of the " Seventeen Rescinders," one of 
 Lord North forcing the tea down the throat of America; a 
 picture of the Massacre in King Street, and another repre- 
 senting the landing of the British troops in Boston, in 1774. 
 There were then but three engravers, besides Revere, in 
 America. In 1775, he engraved the plates, made the press, 
 and printed the bills of the paper money, which was ordered 
 by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. He was sent 
 by this Congress to Philadelphia, to obtain information re- 
 specting the manufacture of gunpowder, and on his return 
 was able, simply from having seen the process, to construct 
 a mill, which was soon in successful operation. Revere was 
 an active patriot during the whole of the struggle for Inde- 
 pendence. He was one of those who executed, as well as 
 planned, the daring scheme of destroying the tea in Boston 
 harbor, and was one of a club of young men, chiefly me- 
 chanics, who watched the movements of the British troops 
 in Boston. He acted an important part in rousing the 
 country around Boston on the morning of the memorable 
 nineteenth of April, 1775, an event worthily commemorated 
 in Longfellow's poem, — "Paul Revere's Ride." Revere had 
 
CLiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 served at Fort Edward, near Lake George, as a lieutenant 
 of artillery, in 1756, and after the evacuation of Boston, was 
 commissioned major in Crafts' artillery regiment, raised for 
 the defence of the State, in which he attained the rank of 
 lieutenant-colonel, and remained in service until the close 
 of the war, after which he resumed his business as a gold- 
 smith. He was in the unfortunate Penobscot expedition, in 
 1779. At a later period, he erected an air-furnace, in which 
 he cast brass cannon and church bells. He also erected 
 extensive works at Canton, for rolling copper and casting 
 guns, — a business still carried on there by his successors. 
 In 1795 he assisted in laying the corner stone of the State 
 House, at Boston. At the time of his death he was actively 
 connected with many benevolent and useful institutions, and 
 was the first president of the Massachusetts Charitable Me- 
 chanic Association ; member of the Masonic Lodge of St. 
 Andrew's, in 1 761, and grand master of the Grand Lodge of 
 Massachusetts, m 1794-96. 
 
 iAu4£ J/U t/^^ZJLn^ 
 
 JOSEPH ROBY 
 
 Resided in Prince Street, Boston, in 1807, but was living 
 in Hanover, N. H., in 181 7. 
 
 JOHN RUSSELL 
 
 Was by trade a mason, and died in Boston, in 1778. His 
 son, the well-known journalist, Colonel Benjamin Russell, 
 
LORD NORTH FORCING THE TEA DOWN THE THROAT OK AMERICA. 
 
Preserve union, and jiidse in all causes amicably and mildly, preferring peace." — Paul REVKKii, 1795. 
 
INTRODUCTION. clix 
 
 though only a school-boy at the time, remembered seeing, 
 through the window of the wood-house, his father and Mr. 
 Thomas Moore, his neighbor, besmearing each other's faces 
 with lampblack and red ochre. 
 
 WILLIAM RUSSELL. 
 
 William, son of Samuel, and Elizabeth Hacker Russell, 
 was born in Boston, 24th May, 1748, and died 7th March, 
 1784, in Cambridge, Mass. He was sometime usher in 
 Master GrifHths' school, on Hanover Street, below the 
 Orange Tree. On returning to his home, on Temple 
 Street, after the tea party, he took off his shoes, and care- 
 fully dusted them over the fire, in order that no tea should 
 remain, and saw every particle consumed. He afterwards 
 taught school in Newton. Joining Crafts' artillery regi- 
 ment, he served as sergeant-major and adjutant in the Rhode 
 Island campaign. He next joined a privateer, as captain's 
 clerk, was captured, and kept in Mill Prison, Plymouth, 
 England, from August, 1779, until January, 1782. Again 
 in a privateer, he was again taken, and this time suffered 
 confinement in the horrible prison-ship "Jersey," at New 
 York. These privations and sufferings occasioned his early 
 death. His son, Colonel John Russell, was a publisher and 
 journalist in Boston. He joined St. Andrew's Lodge of 
 Freemasons in 1778. 
 
CLx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ROBERT SESSIONS, 
 
 Whose interesting account of the tea party appears on page 
 Lxxix, was born in Pomfret, Conn.. March 15, 1752. and died 
 in Hampden, Mass., in 1836. His grandfather, Nathaniel, 
 was one of the earliest settlers of Pomfret, in 1704. Darius 
 Sessions, Lieutenant-Governor of Rhode Island at the open- 
 ing of the Revolution, and an active patriot, was his uncle. 
 Robert Sessions served in the Revolutionary army, attaining 
 the rank of lieutenant. In 1778, he married Anna Ruggles, 
 a descendant of the Roxbur}' family of that name ; settled in 
 Pomfret, and in 1781 removed to South Wilbraham. now 
 Hampden, Mass. The high estimation in which he was 
 held by his fellow citizens, is evident from the number of 
 ofhces of trust and responsibility in which he was placed. 
 He was for many years a justice of the peace ; town clerk 
 and treasurer twelve years ; representative in the State 
 Legislature for five years, (18 14-19,; and was almost always 
 chosen moderator of the town-meeting. His sons. William 
 y. and Sumner Sessions, are yet living, at an advanced age. 
 
 The above facts, as well ai the narrative on page LXXIX, were fiimished by 
 my friends, Mr. John A. Lewis, of Boston, and Hon. William Robert Sessions, the 
 well-known agriculturist, of Hampden Count}-, and a member of the Massachuseus 
 Senate of 1884, a grandson of Robert. 
 
 /j('^^^9/^^^6^ 
 
 JOSEPH SHED 
 
 Was born in Boston, June 17. 1732. and died there October 
 18. 181 2. He was the son of Joseph, (born October 26, 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxi 
 
 1698,) who was the son of Zachary, (born June 17, 1656,) 
 who was the son of Daniel, the original settler of that name 
 in Braintree, and afterwards at Billerica, Mass. The subject 
 of this notice was a carpenter by trade, and worked upon 
 Faneuil Hall during its rebuilding, or enlargement. He was 
 associated with Samuel Adams, and other patriots, before 
 and during the Revolutionary war, and later on was an 
 ardent Jeffersonian Democrat, — hating the very name of 
 Federalist. His residence was on Milk Street, on the spot 
 now occupied by the Equitable Life Insurance building. 
 At his residence a party of persons dressed, who were con- 
 cerned in the destruction of the tea, he being one of the 
 number. His friend, Samuel Adams, was often a visitor at 
 his house, and his grandson has the china punch-bowl from 
 which the old patriot drank, when Independence was de- 
 clared. During the latter part of his life he kept a grocery 
 store, on the spot where he lived so many years, on Milk 
 Street. He was buried in the Granary burial ground, 
 where many other patriotic citizens of Boston are also 
 interred. 
 
 Communicated by his grandson, Mr. Joseph G. Shed, of Roxbury. 
 
 BENJAMIN SIMPSON, 
 
 (Erroneously named Isaac in Thatcher's list of 1835,) whose 
 story of the tea party is told on pages lxxvii-viii, was a 
 bricklayer's apprentice. He served in the Revolutionary 
 18 
 
CLXii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 army ; removed to Saco, Maine, about 1 790, and died at 
 Biddeford, Maine, March 23, 1849. 
 
 Captain PETER SLATER 
 
 Died in Worcester, Mass., October 13, 1831 ; aged seventy- 
 two. He was apprenticed to a rope-maker, in Boston. 
 His master, apprehensive that something would take place 
 that evening relative to the tea, then in the harbor, shut 
 Peter up in his chamber. He made his escape from the 
 window ; went to a blacksmith's shop, where he found a 
 man disguised, who told him to tie a handkerchief round his 
 frock, to black his face with charcoal, and to follow him. 
 The party soon increased to twenty persons. Slater went 
 on board the brig, with five others ; two of them brought 
 the tea upon deck, two broke open the chests, and threw 
 them overboard, while he, with one other, stood with poles 
 to push them under water. Not a word was exchanged 
 between the parties from the time they left Griffins' wharf 
 till the cargo was emptied into the harbor, and they returned 
 to the wharf and dispersed. Slater served five years in the 
 Revolutionary army. A monument in Hope Cemetery, New 
 Worcester, erected by his daughter, Mrs. Howe, bears the 
 names of Slater, and many of his companions of the " tea 
 party." 
 
 Was one of the party, of whom we have no further infor- 
 mation. 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxiii 
 
 THOMAS SPEAR 
 
 Lived on Orange Street, in 1789. He was one of those 
 whom Peter Mackintosh remembered to have seen run into 
 his master's blacksmith's shop, and blacken their faces with 
 soot. 
 
 SAMUEL SPRAGUE, 
 
 The father of the poet, Charles Sprague, was born in 
 Hingham, Mass., — the home of four generations of his 
 ancestors, — December 22, 1753, and died in Boston, June 
 20, 1844. He was a mason by trade, and was athletic and 
 tall of stature. His share in the tea party he thus related 
 to his son : " That evening, while on my way to visit the 
 young woman I afterwards married, I met some lads hurry- 
 ing along towards Griffin's wharf, who told me there was 
 something going on there. I joined them, and on reaching 
 the wharf found the ' Indians' busy with the tea chests. 
 Wishing to have my share of the fun, I looked about for 
 the means of disguising myself. Spying a low building, 
 with a stove-pipe by way of chimney, I climbed the roof 
 and obtained a quantity of soot, with which I blackened 
 my face. Joining the party, I recognized among them 
 Mr. Etheridge, my master. We worked together, but 
 neither of us ever afterwards alluded to each other's share 
 in the proceedings." Sprague married Joanna Thayer, of 
 Braintree, a woman of great decision of character, Thev 
 
CLxrv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 lived in a two-story wooden house, at No. 38 Orange (now 
 Washington) Street, directly opposite Pine Street, 
 
 Colonel JOHN SPURR 
 
 Born in Dorchester, Mass., in 1748, died in Providence, R.I., 
 November i, 1822 ; after December 16, 1773, he went to 
 Providence; joined the army in 1775; was commissioned a 
 captain in a Rhode Island regiment, in 1776, major in 1777, 
 and served throughout the Revolutionary war. 
 
 JAMES STARR, 
 
 Born in New London, Conn., died in Jay, Maine, in Janu- 
 ary, 1831 ; aged ninety years and six months. He served 
 in the old French war ; afterwards settled and married in 
 Boston, and removed thence to Bridgewater. During the 
 Revolutionary war, he was taken prisoner, carried to Halifax, 
 and detained fourteen months. Placed on board a transport 
 for New York, and destined to the horrible Jersey prison- 
 ship ; after being two days at sea, the prisoners rose on the 
 ship's company, captured the vessel, and took her into 
 Marblehead. 
 
 Captain PHINEAS STEARNS, 
 
 A farmer and blacksmith of Watertown, born February 5, 
 1736, died March 27, 1798. He was a soldier at Lake 
 
INTRODUCTION. ci.xv 
 
 George in 1756, and commanded a company at Dorchester 
 Heis:hts, when the British evacuated Boston. He, with 
 Samuel Barnard and John Randall, all of Watertown, were 
 among the famous Boston tea party. He was offered a 
 colonel's commission in the army, but the care of his young 
 motherless children, and of a family of apprentices and 
 journeymen, prevented his continuing in the public service. 
 He was distinguished for his benevolent and cheerful dis- 
 position, and for strong common sense and strict integrity. 
 
 General EBENEZER STEVENS, 
 
 A distinguished artillery officer in the Revolutionary war, 
 son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Weld Stevens, of Roxbury, 
 was born in Boston, nth August, 1751, and died at his 
 residence, in Rockaway, now Astoria, N.Y., 2 2d September, 
 1823. He joined Paddock's artillery company, which was 
 composed almost entirely of mechanics, many of whom were 
 active members of the organization, which, under the name 
 of Sons of Liberty, did effective service in opposing the 
 machinations of the crown. Under its first lieutenant, Jabez 
 Hatch, (Captain Paddock being a Tory,) this company vol- 
 unteered as a watch on the " Dartmouth." The Boston 
 Port Bill drove the mechanics out of the town, and Stevens 
 went to Providence, where he became a partner with John 
 Crane, in the business of carpentering. Commissioned first 
 lieutenant of Crane's train of Rhode Island artillery, 8th May, 
 1775, he accompanied it to Boston, and served through the 
 siege ; made captain in Knox's artillery regiment, ist Janu- 
 ary, 1776; took part in the expedition to Canada; made 
 major 9th November, 1776, and in the campaign ending in 
 
CLXVi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the surrender of Burgoyne ; appointed lieutenant-colonel 3d 
 April, 1778, and soon after assigned to Colonel Lamb's 
 regiment, with which he took part in Lafayette's operations 
 in Virginia, and at Yorktown commanded the artillery alter- 
 nately with Lamb and Carrington. After the war, he was 
 a leading merchant of New York ; member of the New 
 York assembly in 1800, an alderman in 1802, and major- 
 general of the State militia during the war of 181 2. He 
 was a founder of the Tammany and the New England 
 Societies, and a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. 
 General Stevens's connection with the tea party is related 
 on a previous page. 
 
 Dr. ELISHA story, 
 
 Born in Boston, December 3, 1743, died in Marblehead, 
 Mass., August 27, 1805. His father, William Story, was 
 Register of the Court of Admiralty. His office, on the 
 north-westerly corner of State and Devonshire Streets, was 
 broken into at the time of the Stamp Act riots, on the 
 supposition that the stamps had been deposited there for 
 distribution, and all the books and papers carried into King 
 (now State) Street, and burned. Elisha Story, fully sympa- 
 thizing with the patriots of the day, joined the " Sons of 
 Liberty ; " was one of the volunteer guard on the " Dart- 
 mouth," on the night of November 29, and on the evening of 
 December 16, convened, with other disguised Sons of Liberty, 
 in an old distillery, preparatory to their "little operation" 
 in tea. He was a pupil of Master Lovell, and studied 
 medicine with Dr. Sprague. He was surgeon of Colonel 
 Little's Essex regiment, and fought as a volunteer at Lex- 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxvii 
 
 ington, and at Bunker's Hill, until obliged to remove a 
 wounded friend to Winter Hill, where he passed the night 
 in caring for the wounded. He was with Washington at 
 Long Island, White Plains and Trenton. In 1774, he 
 removed from Boston to Maiden, and in 1777, settled in 
 Marblehead, where he practiced his profession, with success, 
 until his death. In 1767, he married Ruth, daughter of 
 Major John Ruddock, by whom he had ten children. By 
 his second wife, Mehitabel, daughter of Major John Pedrick, 
 he had eleven children, the eldest of whom was Joseph, 
 afterwards Associate-Justice of the United States Supreme 
 Court. Isaac, the second son, was the father of Judge 
 Isaac, of Somerville, Mass. Dr. Story was a skilful 
 
 physician, and a man of great benevolence. " It is said 
 that he at one time led a party of men to the Boston 
 common, near where is now the Park Street gate, where 
 there was a sentinel guarding two brass field-pieces. While 
 Story overawed the sentinel, by presenting a pistol at his 
 head, and enjoined silence upon him, the others came from 
 behind and dragged away the guns, one of which was after- 
 wards placed in the Bunker Hill Monument." 
 
 Communicated by Hon. Isaac Story, of Somerville. 
 
 Colonel JAMES SWAN, 
 
 Merchant, politician, soldier and author before the age of 
 twenty-two; born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1754, died in 
 Paris, March 18, 1831. He came to Boston when very 
 young, and in 1772, when a clerk in a counting-house, 
 published "A Dissuasion to Great Britain and the Colonies 
 from the Slave-Trade to Africa." At the time of the tea 
 
CLXviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 party, in which he was an actor, his place of business was 
 next to Ellis Gray's, opposite the east end of Faneuil Hall, 
 and he boarded in Hanover Street, where he and other 
 young apprentices disguised themselves. Next morning, at 
 breakfast, the tea in their shoes, and smooches on their 
 faces, led to some mutual chaffing. He was a volunteer 
 at Bunker's Hill ; was a captain in Crafts's artillery regi- 
 ment ; afterwards secretary to the Massachusetts Board of 
 War; member of the Legislature in 1778; Adjutant-General 
 of the State, and at the close of the war was major of a 
 cavalry corps. He acquired a fortune in France through 
 government contracts, but afterwards became deeply involved, 
 through the dishonesty of a partner, and was confined in 
 St. Pelagic, a debtors' prison, in Paris, for many years, keep- 
 ing up all the while an indefatigable litigation in the French 
 courts. At the age of seventy he was, by French law, re- 
 leased. In 1777, he joined the Masonic Lodge of St. 
 Andrew. He was a man of large enterprise and benevo- 
 lence, manly in person, and dignified in manner. He owned 
 a fine estate in Dorchester, latterly the residence of his 
 daughter, Mrs. Sargent. 
 
 THOMAS URANN, 
 
 One of the volunteer guard on the " Dartmouth ; " became 
 a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew, in 1760, 
 and was master of the Lodge, in 1771-72. He was a ship- 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxix 
 
 joiner, in Batterymarch Street, near Hallowell's ship-yard. 
 In 1 784, he was surveyor of boards ; and was sealer of 
 woods, in 1787-90. By Mary, his wife, whom he married 
 in 1750, he had thirteen children, nine of whom survived 
 him. His will is dated May 7, 1791. 
 
 Captain JOSIAH WHEELER 
 
 Was a house-wright, who lived in half a double house, 
 on Orange (now Washington) Street, west side, between 
 Pleasant and Warrenton Streets. The other half was 
 occupied by Sprague, also of the tea party. On the after- 
 noon of December 16, 1773, Mrs. Wheeler became aware 
 that there was something unusual on her husband's mind. 
 It was late when he returned home that evening, but she 
 sat up for him, and as he pulled off his long boots, a 
 quantity of tea fell on the floor, revealing the cause of his 
 absence. Seeing the tea, a female neighbor, who had sat 
 up with Mrs. Wheeler to keep her company, in her hus- 
 band's absence, exclaimed, " Save it ; it will make a nice 
 mess." Taking down her broom, this patriotic woman 
 swept it all into the fire, saying, " Don't touch the cursed 
 stuff." Wheeler commanded a company of minute-men at 
 the opening of the Revolution, most of whom were skilled 
 carpenters and joiners, and by Washington's order, he super- 
 intended the erection of the forts, on Dorchester Heights. 
 He was also employed in building the State House, in 
 Boston. He died in Boston, in August, 181 7; aged seventy- 
 four. His daughter, Mrs. Carney, was living in 1873, at 
 
CLXX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Sheepscot, Maine, at the age of eighty-six. George W. 
 Wheeler, a grandson, many years City Treasurer of Wor- 
 cester, is now (1884) living in that city. Captain Wheeler 
 was one of the volunteer guard on board the " Dartmouth." 
 
 JEREMIAH WILLIAMS 
 
 Was a blacksmith, who resided in the old mansion, yet 
 standing, near Hog Bridge, in Roxbury, known as the " John 
 Curtis House." He was the brother of Colonel Joseph, a 
 distinguished citizen, and the father of Major Edward Pay- 
 son Williams, an oflficer of the Revolutionary army, who 
 died in the service. 
 
 THOMAS WILLIAMS, 
 
 Also of Roxbury, was one of the minute-men in Captain 
 Moses Whiting's company, at Lexington. He, with his 
 brother-in-law, Thomas Dana, Jr., and other Roxbury men, 
 rendezvoused at the house of his father, John Williams 
 preparatory to the tea party, and returning home, Williams 
 and Dana refused to join in sacking the house of a Tory, 
 regarding it as no part of their enterprise. In 181 2, Wil- 
 liams settled in Cazenovia, N. Y., and died in Utica, N. Y., 
 July 31, 1817; aged sixty-three. 
 
 NATHANIEL WILLIS, 
 
 Journalist, born in Boston, February 7, 1755, died near 
 Chillicothe, O., April i, 1831. After serving an apprentice- 
 ship in a printing-ofifice, in Boston, he became one of the 
 
INTRODUCTION. ci.xxi 
 
 proprietors and publishers of the " Independent Chronicle," 
 a leading political journal, from 1776 to 1784. He subse- 
 quently issued the first newspaper ever published in Ohio, 
 the " Scioto Gazette," and was for several years State printer 
 of Ohio. His son, Nathaniel, dso a journalist, was the 
 father of Nathaniel P. Willis, Richard Storrs Willis, and 
 Sarah Payson Willis, ("Fanny Fern,") afterwards Mrs. 
 Parton. Member of St. Andrew's Lodge in 1779. 
 
 JOSHUA WYETH, 
 
 Whose relation is given on a preceding page, was the son 
 of Ebenezer Wyeth, of Cambridge, and was born there in 
 October, 1758. He served in the Revolutionary army; 
 afterwards removed to the west, and was residing in Cin- 
 cinnati, in 1827. 
 
 Dr. THOMAS YOUNG, 
 
 A physician, was a conspicuous figure in the early Revolu- 
 tionary movements in Boston. He was the first president 
 of the North End Caucus, at which measures of importance 
 to the town were initiated and discussed, and delivered the 
 first oration commemorative of the Boston Massacre, March 5, 
 1 77 1, at the Manufactory House, on Tremont Street. He 
 was an original member of the Boston committee of corres- 
 pondence, whose work was so important in uniting the 
 Colonies, and was a talented and vigorous contributor to 
 the papers of the day, and to the Royal American Maga- 
 
CLXxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 zine, on medical, political and religious topics. He was a 
 popular speaker in the public meetings of the day, and to 
 him is attributed the first public suggestion of throwing the 
 tea overboard. He was John Adams's family physician, and 
 an army surgeon, in 1776, and was afterwards a resident of 
 Philadelphia. Several spirited letters from his pen may be 
 found in the " Life and Times of General John Lamb." 
 " Tea," writes Young in the " Evening Post," " is really a 
 slow poison, and has a corrosive effect upon those who 
 handle it. I have left it off since it became a political 
 poison, and have since gained in firmness of constitution. 
 My substitute is camomile flowers." 
 
 It is not long, since an eminent Englishman, visiting 
 Boston, asked the committee of the city government, who 
 attended him, to point out the place where the tea was 
 thrown overboard. He was taken to a distant wharf, known 
 by its form as the T, and popularly associated with that 
 event from the similarity of sound. Boston has appropriately 
 marked many of her historical sites ; surely the spot ren- 
 dered forever memorable by the bold deed of the Sons of 
 Liberty, on December 16, 1773, ought not longer to remain 
 unmarked. No stranger, at all familiar with American his- 
 tory, would leave unvisited the scene of an event at once 
 so unique in its character, and so important in its conse- 
 quences. The precise locality is definitely known, and a 
 tablet, suitably inscribed, or an enduring monument of some 
 kind, should be placed there without further delay. 
 
Atkinson 
 
 Ziverpool N.Whf. 
 
 ^^\ CrimmiW. 
 
 4 
 
 IbiieMnBon. St. 
 
 X 
 
 LOCATION OF GRIFFIN'S (NOW LIVERPOOL) WHARF, WHERE THE 
 TEA-SHIPS LAY 
 
 s: Ssl! !Si's?B^^* 'i^^Jr'V r'^' ^•^- ?s- -s-r ^t;; 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxxiii' 
 
 A BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. 
 
 BY DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. 
 
 No ! never such a draught was pourea 
 
 Since Hebe served with nectar 
 The bright Olympians and their Lord, 
 
 Her over-kind protector ; 
 Since Father Noah squeezed the grape 
 
 And took to such behaving, 
 As would nave shamed our grands! re ape, 
 
 Before the days of shaving ; 
 No ! ne'er was mingled such a draught, 
 
 In palace, hall, or arbor. 
 As freemen brewed, and tyrants quaffed, 
 
 That night in Boston harbor ! 
 It kept King George so long awake, 
 
 His brain at last got addled, 
 It made the nerves of Britain shake 
 
 With seven score millions saddled ; 
 Before that bitter cup was drained 
 
 Amid the roar of cannon, 
 The western war-cloud's crimson stained 
 
 The Thames, the Clyde, the Shannon; 
 Full many a six-foot grenadier 
 
 The flattened grass had measured, 
 And many a mother many a year 
 
 Her tearful memories treasured. 
 Fast spread the tempest's darkening pall, 
 
 The mighty realms were troubled. 
 The storm broke loose, but first of all 
 
 The Boston tea-pot bubbled ! 
 
 An evening party, — only that, 
 
 No formal invitation. 
 No gold-laced coat, no stiff cravat. 
 
 No feast in contemplation ; 
 No silk-robed dames, no fiddling band, 
 
 No flowers, no songs, no dancing I 
 
CLXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A tribe of red men, — axe in hand, — 
 
 Behold the guests advancing I 
 How fast the stragglers join the throng, 
 From stall and work-shop gathered; 
 The lively barber skips along 
 
 And leaves a chin half-lathcrcd ; 
 The smith has tlung his hammer down, 
 
 The horse-shoe still is glowing, 
 The truant tapster at the Crown 
 
 Has left a beer-cask flowing ; 
 The coopers' boys have dropped the adze, 
 
 And trot behind their master; 
 Up run the tarry ship-yard lads; — 
 
 The crowd is hurrying faster. 
 Out from the mill-pond's purlieus gush, 
 The streams of white-faced millers, 
 And down their slippery alleys rush 
 
 The lusty young Fort-Hillers. 
 The rope-walk lends its 'prentice crew, 
 
 The Tories seize the omen ; 
 " Ay, boys ! you'll soon have work to do 
 
 P\)r England's rebel foemen, 
 ' King Hancock,' y\dams, and their gang, 
 
 That fire the mob with treason, — 
 When these we shoot, and those we hang, 
 
 The town will come to reason." 
 On — on to where the tea-ships ride! 
 
 And now their ranks are forming, — 
 A rush and up the Dartmouth's side. 
 The Mohawk band is swarming ! 
 See the fierce natives ! what a glimpse 
 
 Of paint and fur and feather. 
 As all at once the full-grown imps 
 
 Light on the deck together ! 
 A scarf the pig-tail's secret keeps, 
 
 A blanket hides the breeches, — 
 And out the cursed cargo leaps, , 
 
 And overboard it pitches ! 
 
 O woman, at the evening board, 
 
 So gracious, sweet and ]nirring, 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxxv 
 
 So happy while the tea is poured, 
 
 So blest while spoons arc stirrina:, 
 What martyr can compare with thee ? 
 
 The mother, wife, or daughter, — 
 That night, instead of best Bohea, 
 
 Condemned to milk and water ! 
 
 Ah, little dreams the quiet dame. 
 
 Who plies with rack and spindle. 
 The patient flax, how great a flame 
 
 Yon little spark shall kindle ! 
 The lurid morning shall reveal 
 
 A fire no king can smother, 
 When British flint and Boston steel 
 
 Have clashed against each other! 
 Old charters shrivel in its track. 
 
 His worship's bench has crumbled. 
 It climbs and clasps the Union Jack, — 
 
 Its blazoned pomp is humbled. 
 The flags go down on land and sea, 
 
 Like corn before the reapers ; 
 So burned the fire that brewed the tea 
 
 That Boston served her keepers ! 
 
 The waves that wrought a country's wreck 
 
 Have rolled o'er Whig and Tory ; 
 The Mohawks on the Dartmouth's deck 
 
 Shall live in song and story. 
 The waters in the rebel bay 
 
 Have kept the tea-leaf savor; 
 Our old North-Enders in their spray 
 
 Still taste a Hyson flavor. 
 And Freedom's tea-cup still o'erflows. 
 
 With ever-fresh libations. 
 To cheat of slumber all her foes. 
 
 And cheer the wakening nations ! " 
 
CLxxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 COMMEMORATIVE VERSES. 
 
 FRAGMENT OF A RALLYING SONG OF THE TEA 
 PARTY AT THE GREEN DRAGON. 
 
 Rally Mohawks ! bring out your axes, 
 And tell King George we'll pay no taxes 
 
 On his foreign tea ; 
 His threats are vain, and vain to think 
 To force our girls and wives to drink 
 
 His vile Bohea ! 
 Then rally boys, and hasten on 
 To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon. 
 
 Our Warren's there, and bold Revere, 
 With hands to do, and words to cheer, 
 
 For liberty and laws ; 
 Our country's " braves " and firm defenders 
 Shall ne'er be left by true North-Enders 
 
 Fighting Freedom's cause ! 
 Then rally boys, and hasten on 
 To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon. 
 
 A TEA PARTY BALLAD. 
 
 Just by beauteous Boston lying 
 On the gently swelling flood ; 
 
 Without Jack or streamers flying. 
 Three ill-fated tea-ships rode. 
 
 Just as glorious Sol was setting. 
 On the wharf, a numerous crew 
 
 Sons of Freedom, fear forgetting, 
 Suddenly appeared in view. 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxxvii 
 
 Armed with chisel, axe and hammer, — 
 
 Weapons new for warlike deed ; 
 Towards the herbage-freighted vessels. 
 
 They approached with dauntless speed. 
 
 O'er their heads aloft in mid sky, 
 
 Three bright angel forms were seen ; 
 This was Hampden, — that was Sidney, 
 
 With fair Liberty between. 
 
 Soon they cried, " Your foes you'll banish, 
 
 Soon the glory shall be won ; 
 Nor shall setting Phoebus vanish. 
 
 Ere the matchless deed be done ! " 
 
 Quick as thought the ships were boarded. 
 
 Hatches burst and chests displayed; 
 Axe and hammers help afforded, — 
 
 What a glorious crash they made ! 
 
 Quick into the deep descended, 
 
 Cursed weed of China's coast ; 
 Thus at once our fears were ended, — 
 
 Freemen's rights shall ne'er be lost ! 
 
 A FAREWELL TO TEA. 
 
 (From Thomas's "Massachusetts Spy.") 
 
 Farewell, the tea-board with its equipage 
 
 Of cups and saucers, cream-bucket and sugar-tongs, 
 
 The pretty tea-chest also lately stored 
 
 With Hyson, Congo, and best Double Fine. 
 
 Full many a joyous moment have I sat by you 
 
 Hearing the girls tattle, the old maids talk scandal. 
 
 And the spruce coxcomb laugh — at maybe nothing. 
 
 No more shall I dish out the once-loved hquor. 
 
 Though now detestable ; 
 
 Because I'm taught — and I believe it true, 
 
 Its use will fasten slavish chains upon my countrj- ; 
 
 And Liberty's the goddess I would choose 
 
 To reign triumphant in America. 
 
CLxxviii INTRODUCTION 
 
 Gen. JOSEPH WARREN 
 
 And the memorable Suffolk Co2i7ity Resolves of iyy4. 
 
 The mansion where the famous Suffolk County Resolves 
 were passed, September 9, 1774, is still standing. It is 
 situated in Milton, Mass., a few doors from the Boston and 
 Milton line, on the Quincy road. It is a low, two-story 
 double house, 20 x 40 feet, with the main door in its centre, 
 and a chimney on each end. In its front there is inserted 
 a marble tablet, 14 x 28 inches, with the following inscription: 
 
 "IN THIS MANSION, 
 
 On the 9th day of Sept., 1774, at a meeting of the delegates of every town and 
 district in the County of Suffolk, the memorable Suffolk Resolves were adopted. 
 
 They were reported by Maj.-Gen. Warren, who fell in their defence in the 
 
 battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. 
 
 They were approved by the members of the Continental Congress at Carpenter's 
 Hall, Phila-, on the 17th Sept., 1774. 
 
 The Resolves to which the immortal patriot here first gave utterance, and the 
 heroic deeds of that eventful day on which he fell, led the way to American 
 Independence. 
 
 'Posterity will acknowledge that virtue which preserved them free and happy.'" 
 
 In Warren's oration, March 5, 1772, more than two years 
 before these Resolves were passed, the spirit of liberty 
 burned within his heart. Nine months after these Resolves 
 the battle took place, which finally resulted in the birth of 
 American freedom. See portrait, page xlvii. 
 
^ 
 
 4^ 
 
 oss™:n'^:;l^I'Tl>n'I''^V;!,ff T^^lnr'si'^ '^ v-re; ,,ow carefully preserved and in 
 
 indly allowed ns.o^ske.cT; it for,hL'wI;k ' "' """' B™°khne and Boston line, who has 
 
 possess! 
 k' "" 
 

 
 K^Y.^c^iytyneAy'o^ 
 
 ^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. clxxxiii 
 
 JOSEPH LOVERING.^ 
 
 Respecting Mr. Lovering's connection with the Tea Party, 
 Mr. George W. Allan, of West Canton Street, Boston, now 
 eighty-two years of age, relates that about the year 1835, 
 he frequently conversed with that gentlemen, who told him 
 that on the evening of December 16, 1773, when he was 
 fifteen years of age, he held the light in Crane's carpenter's 
 shop, while he and others, fifteen in number, disguised 
 themselves preparatory to throwing the tea into Boston har- 
 bor. He also said that some two hundred persons joined 
 them on their way to the wharf, where the tea-ships lay. 
 Mr. George H. Allan, the son of George W. Allan, received 
 a similar statement from Mr. Lovering, a short time before 
 the latter's death, which occurred June 13, 1848, at the age 
 of eighty-nine years and nine months. 
 
 Mr. Lovering appears to have been the youngest person 
 connec<"ed with this affair, of whom we have any knowledge. 
 His boyish curiosity led him to accompany the party to the 
 scene of operations at Griffin's wharf, and on the following 
 morning he was closely questioned and severely reprimanded 
 by his parents, for being out after nine o'clock at night, 
 as they were strict in their requirement that he should be 
 in bed at that hour. 
 
 His son, Mr. N. P. Lovering, now seventy-seven years of 
 age, resides in Boston, and is treasurer of the Connecticut 
 and Passumpsic River Railroad Company. To this gentle- 
 man, and to his grand-daughter, Mrs. C. D. Bradlee, Boston, 
 we are under obligation for the copy of a photograph from 
 Mr. Lovering's oil-painting of his father. 
 
 1 See ante pp. XLix., cvi. 
 
CLXxxiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
 
 Was born in Boston, 1706; died in Philadelphia, in 1790, 
 and was buried in Christ Churchyard. A small marble slab, 
 level with the ground, marks the spot. " No monumental 
 display for me," was his request as expressed in his will. 
 
 Some years before his death he wrote his own epitaph. 
 His usefulness to his country during the Revolutionary 
 period will warrant us in giving it place in our " Tea 
 Leaves : " A. o. c. 
 
 The body of 
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, PRINTER, 
 
 Like the cover of an old book, 
 
 its contents torn out, 
 
 And stript of its lettering and gilding, 
 
 Lies here, food for worms. 
 
 Yet the work itself shall not be lost. 
 
 For it will (as he believed) appear once more 
 
 in a new 
 
 and a more beautiful edition 
 
 corrected and amended 
 
 by the Author. 
 
 It is believed that Benjamin Franklin was made a Free- 
 mason in St. John's Lodge, of Philadelphia, early in the 
 year 1731. In 1734 he printed and published the first 
 Masonic book ever issued in America, being the work 
 known as "Anderson's Constitution of 1723." Copies are 
 now exceedingly rare, and readily sell for fifty dollars each. 
 One is now in the library of the Grand Lodge of Massa- 
 chusetts, in an excellent state of preservation. 
 
 Sereno D. Nickerson, 
 
 Recording Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Mass. 
 
"As a philosopher he ranks high. In his speculations he seldom lost sight of common sense, or yielded 
 up his understanding either to enthusiasm or authority." — Goodrich. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 No. I. 
 LETTER FROM MR. WILLIAM PALMER. 
 
 To the Direfloj^'s of the Eaji India Company} 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 As the A61 allowing a Drawback of the whole of 
 the cuftoms paid on tea, if exported to America, is now 
 paffed, in which there is a claufe empowering the Lords of 
 the Treafury to grant licences to the India Company, to 
 export tea, duty free, to foreign States, or America, having 
 at the time of granting fuch licences upwards of ten millions 
 of pounds in their warehoufes, and as the prefent stock of 
 
 1 The East India Company was a fa- pire in India. Its monopoly of the 
 
 mous joint stock trading corporation, China trade was abolished in 1833, and 
 
 formed in England early in the seven- the Company was then deprived of its 
 
 teenth century, to carry on commerce original character as a commercial asso- 
 
 with the East Indies. They established ciation. The Sepoy Mutiny, in 1857, 
 
 stations in various places, and in 1702, combined with other causes, induced 
 
 were newly chartered as "The United Parliament to transfer the dominion of 
 
 Company of Merchants Trading to the India to the Crown. This change was 
 
 East Indies." The executive power of effected in 1858, after strenuous opposi- 
 
 the Company was vested in a court of tion from the Company. Trading com- 
 
 twenty-four directors, each of whom panics to the East Indies were also 
 
 must own ^2000 of stock, and held chartered by Holland, France, Denmark, 
 
 office four years. This Company be- and Sweden ; that of Holland being the 
 
 came a great territorial power, and oldest, 
 laid the foundation of the British Em- 
 
I90 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 tea is not only near feventeen million, but the quantity 
 expe6led to arrive this feafon does alfo confiderably exceed 
 the ordinary demand of twelve months, and the expediency 
 of exporting tea to foreign States having been confidered, I 
 prefume to lay before this Court the following extra6ls, &c., 
 from letters relative to the confumption in America, and 
 calculation of advantages attending the exportation of tea 
 by licence, and as an affurance the fame are formed upon 
 fome experience of this trade (having not only been con- 
 cerned in a great part of the tea which has been fhipped 
 to America fmce the allowance of the drawback, in 1767; 
 but being now about to repurchafe at your enfuing fale no 
 fmall quantity of Bohea tea for the fame account,) I am 
 defirous, at my own hazard, to include in fuch purchafe, an 
 affortment of all other kinds, viz. : Congou, Souchong and 
 Hyfon, but more particularly the feveral fpecies of Singlo, 
 namely, Hyfon, Skin, Twankay and Firfl Sort, from a con- 
 vi6lion that, by degrees, the confumption of thefe fpecies, 
 alfo and particularly Singlo tea, might be introduced into 
 America, at leaft so far for the benefit of the Company, 
 as in part to relieve them from the difagreeable neceffity, 
 they will, without fome fuch vend, be fubject to, of forcing 
 that fpecies of tea to market, before it is greatly damaged 
 by age, provided you are of opinion the fame may poffibly 
 tend to the advantage of the Company ; or, fhould it be 
 the opinion of this Court, an immediate confignment fhould 
 take place, I am ready to give fuch affiftance towards carry- 
 ing the fame into execution as may be thought moft con- 
 ducive to the intereft of the Company, together with fuch 
 fecurity as the nature of the truft may require. In the 
 profecution of thefe confignments, I v/ould propofe to obtain 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. I91 
 
 a more exact computation of the actual confumption ; what 
 quantity might probably find a sale there, and the moft 
 probable means of succefs in fuch fales, whether by waiting 
 for a demand in the ordinary way, or by public fales there ; 
 conducted upon the outlines of thofe made in England, by 
 fixing a future day of payment, and by a reffriction in fell- 
 ing any future quantity for a limited time, but particularly 
 (under my mode) in what manner, and within what time 
 affurances can be given by remittances being made on 
 account of fuch fales. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, your humble servant, 
 
 Wm. Palmer. 
 London, 19th May, 1773. 
 
 Extracts from Letters, &c., to Prove the State of the 
 Tea Trade in America. 
 
 ExtraH: from a Letter from Bofion, dated 2gt/i April, I'/'ji, 
 in Anfwer to a Confignm-e^it m,ade in February, lyyi, at 
 js. id., with the zvhole drawback of £2j 18 s. jV-id. pr ce^it.: 
 
 " Were it not for the Holland tea, the vent of Englifh 
 would have anfwered your expe6lation here, but the profit 
 is immenfe upon the Holland tea, which fome fay coft but 
 i8d., and the 3d. duty here is faved. Many hundred chefls 
 have been imported. What is fhipped may go off in time, 
 without lofs, for there muft be buyers of Englifh tea ; the 
 tranfportation of the Dutch by water being attended with 
 much trouble and rifk." 
 
192 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Extrafl from a Letter from Boflon, dated nth July, ij'ji : 
 
 ' So much tea has been imported from Holland, that the 
 importers from England have been obliged to fell for little 
 or no profit. The Dutch traders, it is faid, had their firft 
 teas at i8d. pr lb., the last at 2S. ; either is much cheaper 
 than from England, and they fave the 3d. duty here. The 
 Company muff keep theirs nearer the prices in Holland. 
 The confumption is prodigious." 
 
 Extra ft from a Letter from Boflon, 2d Sepr., 177 1 : 
 
 " The confumption of Bohea tea thro' the Continent 
 increafes every year. It is difficult for us to fay how great 
 it is at prefent. We imagine there may be confumed in 
 this Province, which is perhaps a feventh part of the Con- 
 tinent, 3000 chefts in a year. We are fure nothing can 
 difcourage the running of it but the reducing the price as 
 low, or lower, than it was two or three years paft in Eng- 
 land" 
 
 ExtraH. from a Letter from Boflon, ( Meffrs. Hutchinfon,) 
 dated lotli Sepr., 1771 : 
 
 " From a more particular eftimate of the confumption 
 we are of opinion, the two towns of Boflon and Charleftown 
 confume a chefl, or about 340 pounds of tea, one day with 
 another. Thefe two towns are not more than one-eighth^ 
 perhaps not more than one-tenth, part of the Province. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 1 93 
 
 Suppofe they confume but 300 chefts in a year, and allow 
 they are but one-eighth, it will make 2400 chefts a year for 
 the whole Province. This Province is not one-eighth part 
 of the Colonies, and in the other governments, efpecially 
 New York, they confume tea in much greater proportion 
 than in this Province. In this proportion, the confumption 
 may be eflimated at 19,200 chefls per annum, or upwards 
 of fix millions of pounds. Yet at New York or Penfylvania 
 they import no teas from England, and at Rhode Ifland 
 very little. Here we find the Dutch traders continually 
 gaining ground upon us. If teas do not fall with you 
 before the fpring fhippings, we fear the Dutch will carry 
 away all the trade of the Colonies in this article." 
 
 Extraft of a Letter from Bojlon, dated nth Sepr., iy"/2 : 
 
 " We have delayed anfwering your laft enquiries relative 
 to the tea concern, in hopes of being able to form a better 
 judgment, but to no great purpofe ; the great importation 
 from Holland, principally through New York and Philadel- 
 phia, keeps down the price here, and confequently the fale 
 of teas from England. We have fet ours fo low we fhall 
 have no profit from this years adventure, yet there are 50 
 chefts ftill on hand. You afk our opinion whether the 
 difference between the Englifh and Dutch teas, if it did not 
 exceed the 3d. duty and 9 pr cent., would be fufHcient en- 
 couragement to the illicit trader? If the difference was not 
 greater we think fome of the fmugglers would be difcouraged, 
 but the greater part would not. Nothing will be effectual 
 fhort of reducing the price in England equal to the price in 
 Holland. If no other burthen than the 3d. duty in the 
 
194 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Colonies, to fave that alone would not be fufficient profit, 
 and the New Yorkers, &c., would soon break thro' their 
 folemn engagements not to import from England." 
 
 Extra^ from a Letter from Boflo7i, dated 2^th Feb., 1773, 
 in Anfwer to a calculation fent of the fuppofed price at 
 which the illicit trader can 7iow import tea into America 
 from, Holland: 
 
 " In your calculation of the profits on Dutch teas, 12 pr 
 cent, is too much to dedu6l for the rifque of illicit trade. 
 We are confident not one cheft in five hundred has been 
 feized in this Province for two or three years paft, and the 
 cuftom houfe officers feem unwilling to run any rifk to 
 make a feifure. At New York, we are told it is carted 
 about at noon day. There is fome expence in landing, 
 which we believe the importers would give five pr cent, to 
 be freed from." 
 
 Copy of a Letter from, Rotterdam, dated 12th June, IJ72 : 
 
 " I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 
 5th infi:ant, defiring information of the prefent ftate and 
 prices of tea at this market, and alfo what the freight and 
 charges are thereon to North America, to all which I 
 cheerfully give you every elucidation in my power, and with 
 the greateft pleasure, as neither you nor your friends have 
 any thought of engaging in faid trade, which, with every 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 195 
 
 other branch of fmuggHng, mud be held in abhorrence by 
 all good men. The present prices of tea are — 
 
 d. d. 
 
 Dutch Bohea's, in whole chefts, 20 @! 22 
 
 half 
 
 quarter 
 whole 
 
 22 
 
 24 
 
 24 
 
 25 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 21 
 
 22^ 
 
 28 
 
 45 
 
 . 36 
 
 65 
 
 32 
 
 55 
 
 49 
 
 50 
 
 . 48 
 
 50 
 
 52 
 
 53 
 
 60 
 
 62 
 
 90 
 
 95 
 
 Swedifh, 
 
 Danifh, 
 
 Congo, . 
 
 Souchon, 
 
 Peco, 
 
 Imperial, 
 
 Green, 
 
 Tonkay, 
 
 Heyfan Skin, 
 
 Hey fan, . 
 
 The tare on whole chefls is 84 lbs., if they weigh lefs 
 than 400 lbs., and if they weigh 400 lbs. or upwards, then 
 90 lbs. ; for the half chelts, under 200 lbs., tare 54 lbs. ; if 
 200 lbs., or upwards, then 60 lbs. ; for the quarter chefts, 
 under 100 lbs., tare, 23 lbs.; if 100 lbs., or upwards, then 
 30 lbs. The advantages on the tares are calculated at 
 7 or 8 pr cent, on the whole chefts, at 12 @ 13 pr cent, 
 on the half chefts, and at 15 @; 16 per cent, on the 
 quarter chefts. The quantity of teas on hand is not con- 
 fiderable, fo that we do not apprehend a decline ; on the 
 contrary, if any orders of the leaft importance were to 
 appear, the prices would go higher. There are now about 
 400 chefts fhipping for America, from Amflerdam, from 
 
196 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 which port the teas that go to North America from this 
 country are always fhipped, and not from this city ; they 
 are fent to Rhode Ifland, and not to Bofton, Of Green 
 teas there are hardly any left, neither fine Souchong nor 
 Congos, but ordinary, in abundance. The freight of a 
 whole cheffc of Bohea to St. Euflatius, one of the Dutch 
 West India Iflands, comes to about ']}{'&. pr cheft. It is 
 reckoned by the foot fquare, at 6s. the foot to North Amer- 
 ica. It is generally ^4 pr cheft, New York currency, but 
 the captain is not anfwerable in any cafe of feizure. 
 
 Agreeable to your defire, I fend you a pro forma invoice 
 of 6 chefts Dutch Boheas, fo as they come to ftand on board 
 if they were fhipped here ; but as the fhipping is at 
 Amfterdam, the charges may be fomewhat higher. In regard 
 to what they eftimate, the rifk that in America for running 
 in the teas I cannot inform you, this you may be better 
 able to learn from fome of your New England houfes, as 
 our underwriters will not fign againft the rifk of feizures ; 
 but I fancy the rifk is not very great, as the trade is 
 carried on for so large parcels. 
 
 Pro forma invoice of 6 chefts of Dutch Bohea tea: 
 
 lbs. 
 
 320 Tare of 4 chefts, unde r 400 
 360 at 84 lb. each, 336 
 
 370 
 
 390 do. of 2 chefts above 
 
 2270 
 516 
 
 1754 @ 24s. /2104 16 
 off I pr cent., 21 2 
 
 410 400 @ 90 lb. each 180 
 
 420 
 
 /2083 14 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 197 
 
 CHARGES. 
 
 
 
 
 Cuflom and Paffport, . 
 
 
 ^20 
 
 4S 
 
 Sleding, .... 
 
 
 I 
 
 7 
 
 /^ weigh money, . 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 Brokerage, .... 
 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 Shipping, .... 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Commiffion, 2 per cent, on ^2131 
 
 13s. 
 
 42 
 
 12 
 
 90 1 1 
 
 ^2174 5 
 
 EJlimate of the advantages attejiding the Tea trade to No7'th 
 America, if carried on from England : 
 
 Obferve ifh. In the following calculation, no more than 
 half the confumption of the Continent, as eftimated by 
 Meffrs. Hutchinfon, in their letter of the loth Sepr., 1771, 
 is affumed as the whole, as from the mode in which they 
 were under the neceffity of making their eftimate, it was 
 liable to error, and 19,200 chefls is more than has been 
 hitherto annually imported from China by all foreign com- 
 panies. 
 
 2ndly. That this calculation is formed upon Bohea tea 
 only, the fpecies of tea already confumed there ; yet it is 
 probable by degrees other fpecies might be introduced, the 
 vend of which may be more profitable to the Company. 
 9600 chefts of Bohea tea, each containing 340 lbs., makes 
 3,264,000 lbs., if fold at 2s. 6d. Boflon currency, (which is 
 4d. lower than it appears to have been even at the time it 
 
 1 In this sample invoice the amount ended when he gives a faithful trans- 
 seems extraordinary. The editor of this cript of the manuscript in his possession, 
 volume, however, considers his duty allowing the facts alone to appear. 
 
198 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 was purchafed in Holland, at 15 flivers, or under i8d. pr lb., 
 
 amounts to ^408,000 
 
 Dedu6l 25 pr cent, for exchange, . . 102,000 
 
 Sterling, . . ^306,000 
 Dedu6t 6 pr cent, for commiffion and charges, 18,360 
 
 Annual net proceeds before the American ) ^ 87 a o 
 duty is deducted, . . . . . j 
 
 Application of thofe Net proceeds to the following 
 
 To the revenue for the duty on 3,264,000, @ 3d. 
 
 To the fhip owners, for freight from England to 
 America, if according to the prefent rate of 
 15 pr chelt, ....... 
 
 To the Ihip owners for freight from China to 
 England, according to Sir Richard Hotham's 
 plan, of £2\ pr ton, of 10 hundred weight, or 
 for every 3 chefts of tea, ..... 
 
 To the purchafe at Canton, if at 15 tale pr pecul 
 would amount thus : say 3,264,000 lb., divided 
 by i33>j for each pecul, makes peculs 24,480 
 @ 15 each, is tales 367,200, which, at 6s. 8d. pr 
 tale, is flerling, ....... 
 
 Commiffion on the purchafe in China, 
 
 Charges of all forts, rated at los. pr cheft, . 
 
 To the Company for Net profit after all de- 
 du6tions whatfoever upon the mofl: reduced 
 eftimate, upwards of 30 pr cent, on the pur- ( 
 chafe, or . . . . . . . .J 
 
 purpofes : 
 /40,8oo 
 
 7,200 
 67,200 
 
 122,400 
 6,120 
 4,600 
 
 248,320 
 
 39^320 
 
 ^287,640 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 1 99 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 LETTER FROM Mr. GILBERT BARKLY. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I take the liberty to enclofe for your confideration 
 a memorial, regarding the establifhment of a branch from 
 the Eaft India houfe in one of the principal cities in North 
 America. Should the defign meet with your approbation, 
 as I am well acquainted with the teas moft faleable in that 
 country, fhall be extremely happy in giving you every in- 
 formation in my power, I have the honor to be with due 
 efteem, gentlemen. 
 
 Your moft obedt. & very humble fervant, 
 
 Gilb't Barklv. 
 Lombard Street, 
 
 26th May, 1773. 
 
 To THE Hon'ble the Court of Directors of the East 
 
 India Company. 
 
 Memorial. 
 
 The Mejnorial of Gilbert Barkly, Tnerchant, in Philadelphia, 
 ill North America, who rejided there upwards of fixteen 
 years, and who is well acquainted with the confumptio7i of 
 that country, particularly in the article of Teas, &c. 
 
 Humbly propofes. In order to put a final flop to that 
 
 desftrudlive trade of fmuoro-ling : 
 
 00 o 
 
 That the Company fliould open a chamber in one of the 
 principal, & central cities, of North America, under the 
 
200 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 dire(5lion of managers, and that an alTortment of teas from 
 England fhould be lodged in warehoufes, and fales to com- 
 mence quarterly upon the same terms & conditions as thofe 
 in London. 
 
 By this means the merchants and grocers from the 
 Southern and Northern Provinces will attend the fales and 
 purchafe according to their abilities. The goods thus 
 brought from home to them, and fold cheaper than they 
 can be fmuggled from foreigners, the buyers will be bound 
 by intereft, and think no more of running that rifk, to 
 which may be added that they have them when paid for, 
 immediately, for whereas, when commiffioned from abroad, 
 they generally wait fix months before the receipt of them. 
 
 This country is now become an object of the higheft 
 confequence, peopled by about three millions of inhabitants, 
 one third of whom, at a moderate computation, drink tea 
 twice a day, which third part, reckoning to each perfon one 
 fourth part of an ounce pr day, makes the yearly confump- 
 tion of 5,703,125 lbs. This quantity, at the medium price 
 of 2S. 6d. pr lb., amounts to ^712,890 2s. 6d. 
 
 The common people in all countries are the greatefl 
 body, few of thofe in North Briton or Ireland drink tea, 
 this is not the case in America, all the planters are the 
 real proprietors of the lands they poffefs ; by this means they 
 can afford to come at this piece of luxury, which has been 
 greatly introduced among them by the example of the 
 Dutch and German fettlers. 
 
 The great obje6l to be confidered is to bring the goods 
 to market in fuch a manner as to afford them as cheap as 
 they can be bought of foreigners. Should this be the cafe 
 the succefs of the defign is beyond a doubt. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 20I 
 
 The duty of 3d. pr lb. fome time ago laid on teas payable 
 in America, gave the colonics great umbrage, and occafioned 
 their fmuggling that article into the country from Holland, 
 France, Sweden, Lisbon, &c., St. Eustatia, in the Weft 
 Indies, &c., which, from the extent of the coaft, (experience 
 has taught) cannot be prevented by cuftom officers, or the 
 king's cruizers, and as the wifdom of Parliament reckons 
 it impolitical to take off this duty, the colonifts will per- 
 fevere in purchafmg that article in the ufual manner if the 
 above method is not adopted, and the goods brought into 
 their country and fold as cheap as they can have them 
 abroad. 
 
 The freight, &c., of teas to America would not much 
 exceed what they might coft to Holland, or any other 
 foreign company, particularly as the fliips may load back 
 with mafts, and other goods that might nigh pay the whole 
 expence, and fhould the Company think of exporting their 
 overflock of teas to Holland, or any other foreign country, 
 it is not to be expe6led that the merchants abroad would 
 buy them but with a view of profit. This, with freight, 
 commiffion, duty, &c., would far exceed the expence of fales 
 and freight to America. 
 
 If this fcheme fhould be approved of, the fooner it is 
 executed the better, as the fmugglers in America will soon 
 be laying in their fall and winter ftock of teas, unlefs they 
 are prevented by this defign, and as Spanifli dollars are the 
 current coin in that country, the Company can be furnifhed 
 with any quantity they may require towards their payment, 
 Ihould they require it. 
 
 The managers may be paid by a commiffion on the fales, 
 and at the fame time bound to obey fuch orders and 
 
202 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 dire6lions as they may receive from time to time from the 
 Hon'ble the Court of Dire6lors, and as your memorialift is 
 univerfally acquainted with the trade, and has refpectable 
 conne6lions in that country, he humbly offers himfelf as a 
 proper perfon to be one of the managers, and if required, 
 will find fecurity for the truft repofed in him. Your me- 
 morialift alfo prefumes to mention John Inglis, Esq., of the 
 city of Philadelphia, as another proper perfon, being univer- 
 fally efteemed in America, and well known in the city of 
 London, as a man of probity, fortune and refpe<5t. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 LETTER FROM Mr. BROOK WATSON, TO 
 DANIEL WIER, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 The annual confumption of teas in Nova Scotia is 
 about 20 chefts Bohea, and 3 or 4 of good Common Green. 
 Should the Company determine on fending any to that 
 Province, I pray your interefl in procuring the commiffion 
 to Watfon's & Rafhleigh's agent there, John Butler, a man 
 of long^ ftandinQf- in the Province and in the Council, and 
 
 o o 
 
 by far the fitteft perfon to be employed, for whom W. & R. 
 will be anfwerable. At Boflon I have two friends equally 
 deferving. You would do the Company fervice, and me 
 an acceptable kindnefs, by recommending them, Benjamin 
 Faneuil, Jun., & Jofhua Winflow. The confumption at 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 203 
 
 Bofton is large, fay at leaft 400 chefls Bohea & 50 of Green 
 pr annum. The freight to both thefe places I fliould be 
 glad to have if you could procure it without inconvenience 
 to yourfelf. 
 
 Yours faithfully. 
 
 Brook Watson.^ 
 
 4 June, 1773. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 A PROPOSAL FOR SENDING TEA TO 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 Received from the Honble Mr. Walpole? 
 
 As Philadelphia is the capital of one of the mod 
 populous and commercial Provinces in North America, and 
 is fituated in the center of the middle Britifli Colonies, it 
 is propofed : 
 
 That the Eafl India Company fliould, by the middle of 
 June at fartheft, fend to Philadelphia at leaft five hundred 
 chefls of black teas, one hundred half chefls of green teas, 
 
 iSir Brook Watson, a merchant of knee, and he was obhged to abandon 
 
 London, and Lord Mayor in 1796, born his chosen profession. A painting, by 
 
 in Plymouth, England, February 7, 1735, Copley, represents this scene. Watson 
 
 died October 2, 1807. Early in life he then became a merchant, and was a 
 
 entered the sea service, but, while ba- commissary to the British troops in 
 
 thing in the harbor of Havana, in 1749, Canada, in 1755 and in 175S. Visiting 
 
 a shark bit off his right leg, below the the American colonies just before the 
 
204 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 and feventy five half chefls of Congou and Souchon teas. 
 
 That they fhould confign thefe teas to a houfe of char- 
 a6ter and fortune in Philadelphia, and dire(5l the proceeds 
 thereof to be remitted hither in bills of exchange or fpecie. 
 
 That previous, however, to the teas being ihipped, fa6lors 
 fhould be appointed in Philadelphia, and the dire(5lors of 
 the Eaft India Company fhould immediately advife them of 
 their intended confignation, and direct them to engage 
 proper warehoufes for the reception thereof. 
 
 That the factors fhould be authorized to fell the teas at 
 public au6lion, (giving notice of the times of the fale in all 
 the North American newfpapers, at leaflt one month before 
 hand,) and in fuch fmall lots as will be convenient for the 
 country ftorekeepers to fupply themfelves with fuch fales. 
 
 That the factors fhould grant the purchafers the fame 
 allowance of tare, tret, difcount, &c., as are cuftomary at the 
 company's fales in this city. 
 
 That in cafe the fadlor fliould be of opinion, the fales of 
 the tea would be encreafed both in quantity and price, by 
 having occafional audlions in Boflon and New York, in the 
 manner propofed at Philadelphia ; that they fliould be at 
 liberty to fend from time to time to Bofton & New York 
 
 Revolution, he professed himself a a baronet December 5, 1803. As a 
 
 Whig, but intercepted letters showed reward for his services in America, 
 
 his true character to be that of a spy. Parliament voted his wife an annuity of 
 
 In 1782, he was commissary-general to ;^5oo for life. 
 
 his friend, Sir Guy Carleton, in Amer- ^ Hon. Thomas Walpole, merchant. 
 ica ; held the same office with the Duke banker, and member of Parliament, 
 of York, in 1793-95, and that of Commis- second son of Horatio, first Lord Wal- 
 sary-General of England, in 1 798-1806. pole, and nephew of the famous states- 
 He was a member of Parliament from man, Sir Robert Walpole, died at Chis- 
 London, in 1784-93; sheriff of London wick, March 21, 1803. He was born 
 and Middlesex in 1785, and was made October 25. 1727. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 205 
 
 as many chefts as they may think neceffary for the con- 
 fumption & coimnerce of thofe places, but that the fa6lors, 
 or one of them, fliould always attend the fales in Boflon 
 and New York. 
 
 That the Eafl India Company fliould be at the charge 
 & expence of the warehoufe rent in America, the cartage, 
 and the freight of the teas from Philadelphia to Bofton & 
 New York, and that the fa6lors fliould be allowed for re- 
 ceiving and felling the teas, colle6ling the payment thereof 
 and remitting the fame, a commiffion of 2H pr cent, on the 
 amount of the fales. 
 
 N.B. — It is fubmitted whether it would not be proper 
 for the diredors of the Eafl India Company to fend two 
 perfons to Philadelphia, who have been accuftomed to pack 
 and repack teas at the India Houfe, to the end that they 
 may be employed for that purpofe, and in dividing whole 
 chefls of black teas into half chefls, for the greater accom- 
 modation of the country fliopkeepers. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Mr. Palmer's Compliments to Mr. Wheler, encloses the 
 Outlines of a Plan upon which the Exportation of 
 Tea on behalf of the Company to America take place. 
 Mr. p. will attend the Committee whenever he is 
 desired. 
 
 plan. 
 
 Admitting that an exportation of tea to America by 
 licence takes place immediately, in order to prevent the 
 
2o6 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 colonifts from becoming purchafers at the fales of foreign 
 companies, usually made from September to November, and 
 confequently at leafl difcourage thofe companies from en- 
 creafmg their China trade, and alfo to obtain fome informa- 
 tion, though imperfe(5l, before the inveftments for the China 
 fhips of the enfuing feafon are ordered. It is propofed 
 that chefls of Bohea tea, chefls of each fpecie of Singlo tea, 
 together with a fmaller affortment of Hyfon, Souchong, & 
 Congou tea be configned to fuch a number of merchants 
 conjointly as may be thought fufificient, (for whom their 
 correfpondents in England fliall give fatisfa6tory fecurity,) 
 together with fuch perfons as fliall be thought proper for 
 that purpofe to be fent from thence. That upon the arrival 
 of fuch tea in Bofton public notice fliall be given thereof 
 through the Continent, and alfo that it is the intention of 
 the Eafl India Company, if the fales of this cargo fhould be 
 found to anfwer, to repeat fuch confignments, in order to 
 fupply that Continent with teas at leaft equal in price to 
 what they muft pay for the fame if obtained in a way of 
 illicit trade. That in order to condu6l these fales in the 
 moft advantageous manner, the parties to whom the cargoes 
 fhall be entrufted fliall a6l as one body ; that the concur- 
 rence of the majority fhall be neceffary for any a6l therein ; 
 that each party fliall be anfwerable for himfelf only, but 
 that no credit fhall be given to bills received for paying 
 without the affent of at leaft three of the perfons fo ap- 
 pointed ; that it fliall be the object of the perfon who may 
 be appointed to go with the cargo to obtain all poffible 
 information refpecSting the adtual confumption, mode of fale, 
 fpecies of tea that may be introduced, & opportunity of 
 remittances at Bofton, where it is propofed the firft confign- 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 207 
 
 ment fhall be made, as it is the only confiderable mart, 
 where tea from England is at prefent received without 
 oppofition, and having fo done he fhall vifit fuch other 
 places on the Continent as may be thought proper, but 
 particularly New York and Philadelphia, in order to obtain 
 the fame information at thofe feveral places, and learn, from 
 being on the fpot, how far the New Yorkers, &c., will hold 
 their folemn engagements, when they find the advantages 
 they will probably reap by receiving tea from England. 
 They having obtained all fuch neceffary information, he 
 fhall return to England & report the fame, from which time 
 it is prefumed there will be full employ for fuch agent 
 without any additional expence to the Company in preparing 
 fuch affortments of tea as may from time to time be re- 
 quired for this market, and can be beft fpared from the 
 neceffary demand of Great Britain & Ireland, and alfo in 
 negotiating the remittances that may from time to time be 
 received on account of this concern. 
 
 That fuch an appointment is abfolutely neceffary muft 
 appear to every one at all acquainted with the nature of 
 the tea trade, not only properly to regulate thefe invefl- 
 ments, but alfo from time to time to preferve proper affort- 
 ments of tea for the confumption of Great Britain & Ireland, 
 and indeed in this particular alone could the directors for 
 fome years paft have had fuch information, from any perfon 
 in whofe abilities & integrity they could have placed a pro- 
 per confidence, and who, from the nature of fuch trufts, 
 muft be placed above the temptation to any finifter practices 
 the Company, from the refources of the tea trade alone, 
 would probably never have been involved in their prefent 
 difificulties. 
 
 23 
 
2o8 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 LETTER FROM Messrs. GREENWOOD & 
 HIGGINSON. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 We are informed that you have come to a refoki- 
 tion to fliip tea to America, we therefore beg leave to re- 
 commend our friends, Mr. Andrew Lord, and Meffrs. Willm. 
 & George Ancrum,^ of Charles Town, in South Carolina, 
 merchants, for the confignments of fuch part as you may 
 fhip to that place. Both houfes are of the firft repute, and 
 have been long eftabliflied there, and alfo to tender to you 
 our fliip the London, Alexander Curling, Mafler, to carry 
 the fame out, who fhall be ready to fail whenever you pleafe 
 to account. 
 
 We are, your moffc humble fervants. 
 
 Greenwood & Higginson. 
 London, 4 May, 1773. 
 
 To the Hon'ble the Court of Diredlors 
 of the United Company of Merchants 
 of England, trading to the Eaft Indies. 
 
 LETTER FROM Mr. FRED'K PIGOU, Jun".. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Being informed you intend to export teas to feveral 
 different fettlements in America, to be fold there under the 
 
 1 William Ancrum, was a loyalist, in 1782, and his property was con- 
 of Charleston, S.C., He was banished fiscated. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 209 
 
 dire(5lion of agents to be appointed. I beg leave to ac- 
 quaint the Court that I have a houfe eftabhfhed in New 
 York, under the firm of Pigou & Booth, and I humbly 
 folicit the favor of that houfe having a fliare of the confign- 
 ments. 
 
 Philadelphia being alfo a port to which the Company 
 will moft likely fend teas, I beg leave to recommend Meffrs. 
 James & Drinker, of that city, to be one of your agents 
 there. 
 
 Should I be fo happy to fucceed in my requeft, I am 
 certain the greateft attention will be paid by thofe gentle- 
 men to the Company's orders, and that the Company's 
 interefl will be made their fludy in the fales and remittances. 
 I alfo beg leave to obferve that if fhips fhould be wanted 
 for this fervice, I have veffels now ready for the ports of 
 Philadelphia and New York. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 
 Your mofl; obed't & very humble ferv't, 
 
 Fred'k Pigou, Jun- 
 Mark Lane, ist June, 1773. 
 
 To the Hon'ble the Court of Dire6tors 
 of the United Eafl India Company. 
 
 LETTER FROM Mr. JONATHAN CLARKE. 
 
 London, ift July, 1773. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I intended to have made a purchafe of teas at your 
 prefent fale to have exported to America, but the candid 
 
2IO 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 intimation given by you of an intention to export them to 
 the Colonies on account of the Company, renders it difad- 
 vantageous for a fmgle houfe to engage in that article. 
 
 I now beg leave, gentlemen, to make a tender to you of 
 the fervices of a houfe in which I am a partner, Richard 
 Clarke and Sons,^ of Bofton, New England, to condu6l the 
 fale of fuch teas as you may fend to that part of America, 
 in conjunction with any other houfes you may think proper 
 to entruft with this concern ; altho' I have not the honor of 
 being perfonally known to many of you, I flatter myfelf 
 our houfe is known to the principal merchants who deal to 
 our Province, and are known to have always fulfilled our 
 engagements with pun6luality & honor, and truft I fhall pro- 
 cure you ample fecurity for our condu6ting this bufmefs, 
 agreeable to the direction, we may from time to time re- 
 ceive from you. 
 
 1 Richard, son of Francis Clarke, 
 merchant, graduated at Harvard College, 
 in 1729, and died in London, at the 
 residence of his son-in-law, John Single- 
 ton Copley, the artist, February 27, 1795. 
 He, with his sons, Richard and Jonathan, 
 constituting the firm of Richard Clarke 
 & Sons, did business in King (now 
 State) Street, and became exceedingly 
 obnoxious to the people, on their re- 
 fusal to resign their appointment as 
 factors of the East India Company's 
 tea. The residence of the Clarke's, 
 on School Street, (corner of Chapman 
 Place,) was mobbed on the evening of 
 November 17, 1773, but no serious 
 damage was done. (This incident is 
 fully detailed on a previous page.) 
 Jonathan Clarke was in London in the 
 summer of 1773, and received verbal 
 
 instructions respecting the consignment 
 of tea from the directors of the East 
 India Company. Richard Clarke arrived 
 in London December 24, 1775, after a 
 passage of twenty-one days from Boston. 
 The Clarkes were included in the Act 
 of Proscription, and their estates were 
 confiscated. Richard Clarke was a 
 nephew of Governor Hutchinson. His 
 wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of 
 Edward Winslow, of Boston. Susan, 
 his daughter, married Copley, the 
 painter, and became the mother of 
 Lord Lyndhurst. Another daughter, 
 Mary, married Judge Samuel Barrett. 
 Copley's portrait of Richard Clarke rep- 
 resents him as a man of commanding 
 presence, with features resembling, in a 
 remarkable degree, those of Washington, 
 in the Stuart portrait. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 21 1 
 
 In foliciting this favor, I beg leave to avail myfelf further 
 of the circumftance of our having for a long time been 
 concerned in the tea trade, and to greater extent than any 
 houfe in our Province, with one exception. Of the dif- 
 appointment I have met with in my intended adventure, by 
 which we are deprived of a very valuable branch of our 
 bufmefs, and on my being on the fpot to take fuch inflruc- 
 tions from you as may be requifite in difpofmg of what you 
 may fend. And give me leave to add my affurances that 
 the intereft of the Eaft India Company will always be 
 attended to by the houfe of Richard Clarke & Sons, if you 
 think fit to repofe this confidence in them. 
 
 I am, very refpe6lfully, gentlemen, 
 
 Your moft obed't & humble fervant, 
 
 Jonathan Clarke. 
 To the Hon'ble Dire6lors of the 
 Eaft India Company. 
 
 Mr. Clarke alfo enclofed two letters in his favor ; one 
 from Meffrs. Henry & Thos. Bromfield, the other from Mr. 
 Peter Contencin, merchants. 
 
 June 5th, 1773. 
 Sir: 
 
 The bearer, Mr. Barkly, is the perfon whom I took 
 the liberty of recommending to you as a perfon able and 
 qualified to give you information touching the quantity of 
 
212 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 tea that is now confumed in America, and to ferve the 
 Company in that part of the World in cafe the Dire6lors 
 {hall judge it proper to make any eftablifliment there for 
 felling tea on the Company's account, & I am, sir. 
 
 Your moft obedient and mofl humble fervant, 
 
 Grey Cooper.' 
 Received from Henry Crabb Boulton, Efq. 
 
 Hon'ble Sirs : 
 
 Being informed of your refolution to export a 
 quantity of tea to different parts of America, we take the 
 liberty of recommending our friends, Meffrs. Willing, Morris 
 & Co., to be your agents at Philadelphia, for whom we are 
 ready to be anfwerable. 
 
 We are, very refpectfully, 
 
 Your honors moft obedient, humble fervants, 
 
 Roberts, Baynes & Roberts, 
 8 June, 1773. 
 
 To the Hon'ble the Committee of Warehoufes. 
 
 1 Grey, afterwards Sir Grey Cooper, and North. He was made a Lord of 
 
 studied law at the Temple, London; the Treasury in 1783, a Privy Coun- 
 
 became an efficient supporter of the cillor in 1793, and died at Worlington, 
 
 Rockingham party, and held the office Suffolk, July 30, 1801 ; aged seventy- 
 
 of Secretary of the Treasury throughout five. He was an able speaker and 
 
 the American troubles, covering the parliamentarian, 
 administrations of Chatham, Grafton, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 213 
 
 London, 9th June, 1773. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I have underftood that you propofe fixing agents 
 in the different colonies in America, to difpose of certain 
 quantities of tea ; if fo, I am a native and merchant of 
 Virginia, and think it will be in my power to execute your 
 commands in that quarter, on terms equal, if not fuperior, 
 to any one in it. 
 
 There are fome things refpedling this bufinefs that come 
 within my knowledge, which are too prolix for a letter, but 
 if the Court chufes to notice my petition, I fhall be happy 
 and ready to give any intelligence in my power, 
 
 I am, gentlemen. 
 
 Your very obed't & hum'ble ferv't, 
 
 Benj. Harrison, Jun'-- 
 
 At Webbs, Arundel Street, Strand. 
 
 To the Hon'ble Court, &c. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Being informed that you have it in contemplation 
 to export tea to the different Provinces in North America, 
 for fale on the Company's account, I beg leave to recom- 
 mend my brother, Mr. Jonathan Browne, merchant, in Phila- 
 delphia, as an agent for any bufinefs you may have to 
 transa6f at that place, and I flatter myfelf his activity & 
 
2 14 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 knowledge of the trade of that country, acquired by a refi- 
 dence of upwards of fifteen years, will render him deferving 
 of your notice. 
 
 Any fecurity for his condu6l I am ready to give, and to 
 any amount you fhall think neceffary for the difcharge of 
 the trufl you may be pleafed to repofe in him. 
 
 I am, very refpe6lfully, gent., 
 
 Your mofl obed't & humble ferv't, 
 
 George Browne. 
 
 London, Tower Hill, nth June, 1773. 
 
 To the Committee of Warehoufes. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 As many difficulties feem at prefent to attend the 
 exportation of tea to America in large quantities, on ac- 
 count of the Company, if the expedient is approved by this 
 Court, of fending about 200 chefts of Bohea tea, and a fmall 
 affortment of other fpecies to Bofton, by way of experiment, 
 and you fliould think proper to entruft fuch cargo to the 
 care of Meffrs. Hutchinfon, merchants, there, I am ready, 
 as a fecurity, to advance upon the fame the fum fuch tea 
 fhall amount to, at the prime cofl in China & freight from 
 hence, before the fhipping thereof, provided I am permitted 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 215 
 
 to charge interefl upon fuch advance, until remittances for 
 the fame are received from America. 
 
 I am, gent., 
 
 Your humble ferv't, 
 
 Wm. Palmer. 
 De\onfhire Square, 24th June, 1773. 
 
 To the Hon'ble Court of Dire6lors, &c., &c. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The Committee of Warehoufes of the Eafl India 
 Company defire you will meet them at this houfe, on 
 Thurfday next, at twelve o'clock at noon, relative to the 
 exportation of tea to America. 
 
 I am, fir, 
 
 Your mofl humble ferv't, 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India House, 25th June, 1773. 
 
 To Brook Watson, Roberts, Baynes & Roberts, 
 
 Jonathan Clarke, Wm. Kelly, 
 
 Frede'k Pigou, Junr. Greenwood & Higginson, 
 
 Gilbert Barkly. Benjamin Harrison, 
 
 George Browne, Samuel Wharton, 
 
 Geo. Hayley & John Blackburn, Esqis. 
 
 24 
 
2l6 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The enclofed newfpapers contain the fentiments 
 of the Americans with regard to the quantity of teas con- 
 fumed in that country, and the fatal confequences attending 
 buying it from foreigners, by leading them to purchafe other 
 articles of Eaft India goods at the fame markets which 
 otherwife would not be an obje6l, and which, of courfe, 
 would be commiffioned from the mother-country. 
 
 The memorial, which I had the honor to deliver, lately 
 points out an undoubted method for gaining this trade. 
 
 The Company being the exporters, pays the Americart 
 duty of 3d. pr lb., of which they will be amply repaid by 
 the advance on their fales, and as mankind in general are 
 bound by interefl, and as the duty of about a fliillg pr lb. 
 is now taken off tea when exported, the Company can 
 afford their teas cheaper than the Americans can fmuggle 
 them from foreigners, which puts the fuccefs of the defign 
 beyond a doubt. 
 
 It may be fuggefled that the Americans have not money 
 to pay for thofe goods. The Province of Pennfylvania alone 
 fhips yearly to the Wefl Indies, Spain, Portugal & France, 
 &c., above 300,000 barrels of flour, large quantities of wheat, 
 Indian corn, iron, pork, beef, lumber, and above 15,000 hhds. 
 of flax feed to Ireland, and the other Provinces are equally 
 induflrious. The principal returns are in fllver and gold, 
 with bills of exchange, an incredible part of which will 
 center with the Company fhould the fame be executed 
 agreeable to the plan propofed, and fmuggling will be 
 effedlually aboliflied without any additional number of 
 officers and cruizers. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 217 
 
 Warehoufe rent, &c., in America, will come as cheap as 
 it is in England, and by the mode propofed for difpofmg 
 of the teas, the grocers and merchants will be quickly ferved 
 without any rifk of lofs by bad debts. I beg your forgive- 
 nefs for the freedom I have taken. I have the honor to 
 be, with due refpedl, gentlemen. 
 
 Your moft obed't & humble fervant, 
 
 Gilbert Barkly. 
 Lombard Street, 29 June, 1773. 
 
 To the chairman & deputy chairman of 
 the Eaft India Comp'y. 
 
 (See Mr. Barkly s letter in the mifcellany bundle for the 
 Pennfylvania packet of lyth May, lyys.) 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Upon my coming to town, I found a letter from 
 the clerk of the Committee of Warehoufes, defiring my 
 attendance at the Eaft India Houfe, relative to the exporta- 
 tion of teas to America. 
 
 I fliould have waited on the Committee of Warehoufes at 
 the time defired, if I had been in town, and I will attend 
 them if they wifh to fee me any day next week, which may 
 be convenient to them. I am, fir, 
 
 Your moil obedi'- humb. ferv't, 
 
 Samuel Wharton. 
 Argyle Street, June 30th, 1773 
 
 Crabb Boulton, Efqr. 
 
2l8 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 SOME THOUGHTS UPON THE EAST INDIA 
 COMPANY'S SENDING OUT TEAS TO AMERICA. 
 
 Submitted to the conjideration of Heniy Crabb Boulton, Esq., 
 Chairman of the Eafl India Company. 
 
 The ufual exports to America, confifting of callicoes, 
 muflins, and other produce of India, (tea excepted,) have been 
 feldom lefs than ^600,000 pr an., as fuch the confequence 
 of that trade, and the intereft of the merchants concerned 
 therein, ought to be well confidered before this meafure of 
 fending out teas to America fliould be adopted, left it 
 might defeat the one and prejudice the other. 
 
 The merchants are much alarmed at this ftep of the 
 Company, fearing it will prevent, in a great degree, the 
 remittances from their correfpondents by fo much or near 
 it as the fales of the teas amount to ; for it is beyond a 
 doubt, that the people in America, if they admit the teas, 
 (which I much doubt,) will be tempted to purchafe them 
 with the very money arifmg from the fales of muflins, 
 callicoes, Perfians, &c., bought of the Company inftead of 
 fending it to the merchants in England, and thereby tend 
 to encreafe the diflrefs which is already too feverely felt, for 
 want of remittances. And I fliould not be furprized at the 
 merchants forming a refolution fmiilar to that of the dealers, 
 viz., not to purchafe anything from a Company who are 
 interfering fo effentially with their trade, and ftriking at the 
 root of their interefts. I am of opinion, if a proper applica- 
 tion was made to the minifhry, aided by a petition from the 
 American merchants, it might produce a relaxation of that 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 219 
 
 difagreeable and fatal duty of 3d. pr lb., and in cafe of 
 fuccefs I could almoft promife that in the course of six 
 months there would be exported not lefs than one million 
 of pounds of tea, and further, that the ufual annual export 
 would be upon an average four millions of pounds of teas. 
 This mode would relieve the Company from its prefent 
 load, and place the correfpondence and conne6lion in its 
 ufual and natural channel. But admitting that the miniftry 
 would not comply with such a requeft, is it not too hafly a 
 refolution before anfwers are come from America if they 
 will receive the teas through the channel of the merchants, 
 and particularly when they fee the drawback is encreafed 
 from 14 to 24 pr cent, ad valorem, and thereby they are 
 enabled to introduce that article cheaper from hence than 
 from Holland. 
 
 It is well known to every gentleman converfant in trade, 
 that on account of fome difagreeable A6ls of Parliament 
 paffed here, the people of America formed a refolution, 
 which was too generally adhered to, not to import any 
 goods from hence. This refolution continued for two years. 
 However, the merchants of New York, (who are men of 
 underflanding and liberal principles,) forefeeing the fatal 
 confequences that attend England & the Provinces by a 
 continuance of dif-union with the mother-country, fummoned 
 a meeting of the principal inhabitants of the town, and then 
 came to a compromife with the people, that in cafe they 
 would agree to admit all other goods, they promifed not to 
 import any teas from England, under very fevere penalties, 
 until the A61 impofmg a duty of 3d. pr lb. was repealed, 
 and the feveral captains of fliips in the trade were enjoined 
 upon pain of forfeiting the good efteem of the inhabitants 
 
220 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 to comply therewith. The Hke refolutions were agreed to 
 in Philadelphia & South Carolina. 
 
 There is another difficulty which occurs to me in this 
 bufmefs, and that is, there is not fo much fpecie in the 
 country as would pay for the quantity faid is intended to 
 be exported. The Company fhould be very cautious who 
 they appointed to receive the produce of the fales, for 
 fhould the contra(5lor for money have that power, who are 
 the general drawers of bills, it would enable them to make 
 a monopoly of the ready fpecie, and to make exchange 
 advance 25 pr ct., to the lofs of the remitter. 
 
 Thus have I ftated the principal obje6lions to the meafure, 
 and in compliance with my promife, I fhall give you my 
 opinion relative to its introdu6tion, & the proper modes of 
 fale, admitting the Company perfevere in their refolutions 
 of exporting the teas on their own account. 
 
 A fhip fhould be hired by the Company, capable of carry- 
 ing the quantity they intend to export, and at fo much pr 
 month. She fhould call in the firft place at Bofton, and 
 there land 300 chefts, under the care of one of the Com- 
 pany's own clerks ; from thence to New York, and there 
 land 300 chefts, in the like manner as at Bofton ; from 
 thence to Philadelphia, and there land 300 chefts, as before, 
 and from thence to Carolina, and there land 100 chefts, 
 under the care of the clerk of the Company, all of which 
 may be performed in the courfe of three months from her 
 failing from hence, until her arrival at her laft deftined port, 
 provided the people in the different Provinces don't difturb 
 the voyage upon the arrival of the teas. Public notice 
 fhould be given in the papers of each Province at leaft one 
 month preceding the fale, and the following valuation prices 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 22 1 
 
 affixed for the buyers to bid upon, subje6t to the allowances, 
 as limited in your own fales : Boflon, @ 2S., lawful money, 
 pr lb. ; New York, 2s. gd., currency ; Philadelphia, 2s. 3d., 
 currency ; Charles Town, South Carolina, los. pr lb., cur- 
 rency. Thefe prices are for Boheas. The feveral clerks of 
 the Company can with eafe correfpond with each other, as 
 there is a conftant and regular communication by poft, fo 
 that if there fhould be an over quantity at one place, and 
 a deficiency at another, it may be fupplied. The clerks 
 fhould have directions to pay the proceeds of the fales to 
 fome eminent merchant at each Province, who fhould be a 
 perfon well acquainted with the article, and one who has 
 great weight with the other merchants and people, both as 
 to efteem, rank and property ; this merchant to remit the 
 money by good bills of exchange, which he muft guarantee, 
 and a fecurity given here for such a truft. 
 
 Great care fhould be had to regulate the fale by the 
 confumption of each Province, and not to be held at the 
 fame time, but to follow each other by the diftance of a 
 fortnight, fo that in cafe there fhould be more buyers at one 
 Province than the quantity will furnifh, they may have an 
 opportunity of writing or going to the next fale at another 
 Province. 
 
 I fear there may be an oppofition made by fome of the 
 Provinces upon a furmife that Government is aiding in 
 this plan, and mean to eflablifh principle and right of 
 taxation, for the purpofe of a revenue, which at prefent is 
 very obnoxious, as fuch great care fhould be had not to 
 employ either paymafler, coUedor, or any other gentleman 
 under the immediate fervice of the Crown, to receive the 
 money. 
 
222 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Garlick Hill, ift July, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 In compliance with your defire, we have refle6led 
 on the bufinefs & expence which will attend the fale of 
 and remitting for fuch teas as the Eaft India Company 
 may fliip to North America, and confidering that none but 
 gentlemen of known property, integrity and of experience 
 in trade can, with propriety and fafety to the Company, be 
 employed therein, we humbly conceive that five pr cent, 
 commiffion, and one pr cent, for truckage, warehoufe rent, 
 brokerage, and other incidental charges, making in the whole 
 fix pr cent, on the grofs fales, is as little as the bufinefs 
 can be tranfa6led for. And we further beg leave to fiiggeft 
 that no perfon ought to be employed who will not give 
 fecurity to the Company, in London, for faithfully following 
 fuch inftrucftions, as they may from time to time receive 
 from them, for remitting to the Company all monies which 
 they may receive on account of teas fold, firft dedu6ling the 
 above fix pr cent., together with fuch freight and duties as 
 they may have paid on account thereof, and intereft thereon, 
 till reimburfed, fuch remittances to be made in bills of 
 exchange, within two months after receiving the money, 
 which bills, to be drawn upon their fecurity in London, 
 payable fixty days after fight, or in fpecie, at the Company's 
 rifk and expence ; if in bills of exchange, the fecurity to be 
 obliged to accept and pay them. Should the Company 
 determine to fhip teas on their own account and rifk to 
 North America, we prefume to recommend to their fervice, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 223 
 
 Benjamin Faneuil, Junr., Efqr., & Jofhua Window, Efqr.,^ of 
 Boflon, jointly, to tranfadl their bufinefs, for whom we are 
 ready to give fecurity to the amount of ten thoufand pounds 
 for their performance of the before mentioned conditions, 
 and in like manner a fecurity of two thoufand pounds for 
 John Butler, Efqr., of Halifax, in Nova Scotia, who we alfo 
 beg leave to recommend to the Company's fervice. We 
 are, with great refpect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your obe't, hum" ferv'ts, 
 
 Watson & Rashleigh. 
 To the Hon'ble the Committee 
 of Warehoufe, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 ^Joshua Winslow, son of Joshua and 
 Elizabeth Savage Winslow, born in 
 Boston, in 1737, died there in March, 
 1775, after an illness of only three days. 
 Joshua, his father, (i 694-1 769,) third in 
 descent from Governor Edward, of Ply 
 mouth, was the son of Colonel Edward 
 Winslow, sheriff of Suffolk County. 
 In 1720, he founded a mercantile house 
 in Boston, in which his brother Isaac 
 (the Tory) was a partner, from 1736 to 
 1757, and in 1760 admitted his son, 
 Joshua, to a share of the business, he 
 himself retiring with an ample fortune, 
 in 1767. This firm carried on an ex- 
 tensive and profitable trade. With the 
 proceeds of consignments from Bristol, 
 England, vessels were built in Boston, 
 and loaded with fish for Leghorn, or 
 
 some other foreign port, return cargoes 
 being taken for Bristol. They also 
 became considerable shipowners, and 
 had one ship constantly in the London 
 trade. Their place of business was on 
 the corner of King and Broad Streets. 
 Joshua Winslow, who was one of the 
 consignees of the tea, seems to have 
 been present when they were called 
 upon by the Sons of Liberty, at Clarke's 
 warehouse, but does not afterwards 
 appear, except by proxy. He must have 
 absented himself from Boston soon after 
 that occurrence, as he did not go with 
 the other consignees to the castle. He 
 married Hannah, daughter of Commo- 
 dore Joshua Loring, and left her a 
 widow, with one son and four daughters. 
 
 25 
 
2 24 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 London, July 2, 1773. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 If it fhould be agreeable to you to confign to the 
 houfe of Richard Clarke & Sons, of Bofton, New England, 
 this fummer or fall, I would beg leave to propofe to you, 
 that I will find fecurity to the amount of two or three 
 hundred chefts, that in eight months after the fale of them 
 in America, the accounts fhall be forwarded you, and the 
 money for the net proceedings paid to your order within 
 that time, you allowing our houfe five pr cent, commiffion 
 on the fales, and one pr cent, for florage & other charges, 
 the freight and American duty to be chargeable on the teas 
 befides, & we to be free from the rifk of fire or any other 
 accident that may occur before the delivery of the tea. 
 I am, with the greateft refpect, gentlemen, 
 
 Your moft obed't, hum. fer't, 
 
 Jonathan Clarke. 
 To the Hon'ble Directors, &c., &c. 
 
 London, July 5, 1773. 
 Sirs : 
 
 The terms which I had the honor to converfe with 
 you upon, relative to the fale of teas in America, I take 
 leave to recapitulate as necefsary, to underftand each other, 
 viz. : You expe61 that the houfes here who recommend their 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 225 
 
 friends abroad, and are in confequence appointed as your 
 fa6tors to difpofe of that article, fliould flipulate that it be 
 fold agreeable to fuch orders as you may think proper to 
 give for that purpofe, and that the factors pay the cartage, 
 warehoufe rent, brokerage, and other charges incidental to 
 the fale, and remit the net proceeds in two months from 
 the laft, prompt, in good bills of exchange or bullion, for 
 the whole of which fervice they are to retain a commiffion 
 of 6 pr cent, on the grofs fales, the Company to be at the 
 rifk and expence of fliipping the tea out, to pay duty and 
 entry abroad, and to be alfo at the rifk and expence of 
 fending bullion home, which terms I do agree to in behalf 
 of thofe which I fhall recommend, whose names are at the 
 foot. And as it feems prudent to guard againft accident 
 by death, as well as that the Company be fecured againft 
 the nea:lect & mifcondu6l of its fervants in this bufmefs, I 
 do hereby, for myfelf and my houfe, here guarantee the fafety 
 of the houfes named as above, for the execution of this 
 bufmefs, and alfo that fuch bills of exchange, as they fhall 
 remit on the above account, fhall be good. 
 
 The agents in this bufmefs hope to be indulged with 
 giving their fhips in the trade the freight of the tea out, 
 in preference to others. 
 
 I am, with the higheft refpe6f, firs. 
 
 Your moft obed't & moft hum. ferv't, 
 
 William Kelly. 
 
 To the Hon'ble the Com*-'' of Warehoufes, &c., &c., &c. 
 
226 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 For New York : 
 Meffrs. Abraham Lott & Co.^ 
 Meffrs. Hugh & Alex^ Wallace. 
 
 Mr. Lott has been a merchant of reputation there about 
 1 8 years, and Public Treafurer of the Province about 7 
 years. The latter is a houfe of long ftanding and of great 
 credit, and is well known to many gentlemen here, particu- 
 larly Meffrs. Bourdieu & Chollet. 
 
 For Bojlon : 
 John Erving, Jun*^-.^ 
 Henry Lloyd.^ 
 
 Both men of fortune and eftablifhed charadlers as mer- 
 chants. 
 
 For Philadelphia : 
 Meffrs. Francis Tilghman. 
 Meffrs. Reefe Meredith & Son. 
 
 Both houfes of great credit & eftablifhed reputation. 
 
 P. S. — Mr. Kelly, on confideration, thinks that one month 
 from the laft prompt, will be too fhort a time for limiting 
 the remittances to be made, and therefore has taken the 
 liberty to put down two. 
 
 1 Abraham Lett, of New York, was clred pounds, and carried off two slaves, 
 
 treasurer of that colony, and died in In 1786, the Legislature of New York 
 
 New York, 1794; aged sixty-eight. In passed an Act, ^'more effectually to 
 
 September, 1776, he was ordered by the compel Abraham Lott to account for 
 
 Whig Convention to settle his accounts money received while he was treasurer 
 
 as treasurer, and pay over the balance of the colony, and for which he has not 
 
 to his successor. In August, 1781, accounted." 
 
 some Whigs went in a whale boat to 2 (Colonel John Erving, Jr., a flour mer- 
 
 his residence, robbed him cf six hun- chant, on Kilby Street, Boston, and a 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 227 
 
 Sir 
 
 London, 6 July, 177; 
 
 Mr. Kelly will give the Committee my propofals 
 for doing the Company's bufmefs in Virginia, and if they 
 require further knowledge of me, Meffrs. Harris & Co., and 
 Mr. John Blackburn, will give them it. I am, fir. 
 
 Your hum. ferv't, 
 
 Benj. Harrison. 
 Mr. Wm. Settle, Clerk, 
 
 to the Committee of Warehoufes. 
 
 Hon'ble Gentlemen ; 
 
 Purfuant to your requeft, I beg leave to lay before 
 you the propofal of my friend, Henry White, Esqr., of New 
 
 graduate of Harvard College, (1747,) was 
 in 1778, proscribed and banished, and 
 in 1779 his property was confiscated 
 under the Conspiracy Act. His man- 
 sion, on the west corner of Milk and 
 Federal Streets, was afterwards the 
 residence of Robert Treat Paine, a 
 signer of the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence. Prior to the Revolution Irving 
 was colonel of the Boston regiment. 
 In 1760, he signed the Boston memorial 
 against the acts of the revenue officials, 
 and was thus one of the fifty-eight 
 merchants who were the first men in 
 America to array themselves against 
 the officers of the Crown. But, in 1774, 
 he was an addressor of Hutchinson, 
 and was appointed a mandamus coun- 
 
 cillor. In 1776, he fled to Halifax, 
 afterwards went to England, and died at 
 Bath, in 1816; aged eighty-nine years. 
 His wife, Maria Catherina, youngest 
 daughter of Governor Shirley, died a 
 few months before him. George Erving, 
 his brother, also a loyalist, died in Lon- 
 don, in 1806; aged seventy. 
 
 8 Henry Lloyd, a merchant of Boston, 
 agent of the contractors for supplying 
 the royal army, was an addressor of 
 Gage, in 1775. In 1776, he went to 
 Halifax, and was proscribed and ban- 
 ished in 1778. He died in London, 
 Idte in 1795, or early in 1796; aged 
 eighty-six. His place of business was 
 at No. 5 Long Wharf. 
 
2 28 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 York, for the fale of what teas you may think proper to 
 commit to his charge, and in juftice to my friend, I think it 
 my duty to declare that there is no gentleman more capable 
 of tranfa6ling this bufniefs, feeing from his long experience 
 in that branch, that his confequence as a merchant of 
 fortune he will be capable of advancing the intereft of the 
 Company in the fale thereof, as well as filencing any prej- 
 udices that may arife from the mode of its introdu6tion, viz.: 
 That the money arifmg from the fale of fuch teas fhall be 
 paid into the hands of your treafurer in three months im- 
 mediately following the receit thereof, firfi; dedu6ling 6 pr 
 cent, in lieu of all charges confequent to their landing, fave 
 the duty of 3d. pr lb. and freight, and I hereby engage to 
 join myfelf with one or two more gentlemen of fortune in a 
 bond for the faithful performance of the above covenant. 
 
 I am, with all due refpect, hon'ble gentlemen, 
 
 Your moft obedient, &c., &c., &c., &c., 
 
 Scots Yard, 
 
 Tuesday, 6 July, 1773. 
 
 John Blackburn. 
 
 N.B. — The firm of Mr. White's houfe is the Hon'ble 
 Henry White, Efqr., at New York. 
 
 To the Hon'ble Diredlors, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Your letter of the 30th ultimo, addreffed to the 
 chairman of the Eafl India CompX, having been read in a 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 229 
 
 Committee of Warehoufes, they defire you will pleafe to 
 meet them at this houfe tomorrow, at twelve of the clock 
 at noon, relative to the exportation of tea to America. 
 
 I am, hr. 
 
 Your moft ob. serv't, 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 
 
 7th July, 1773. 
 Samuel Wharton, Efqr. 
 
 To THE Worshipful Committee of Warehouses for the 
 Hon'ble the East India Company. 
 
 The Petition of Walter Manfell} of the City of London, 
 Merchant, refpe6lfully fliezveth : 
 
 That your petitioner, having received certain infor- 
 mation of the Hon'ble Eaft India Company's intention to 
 export large quantities of teas to His Majefly's American 
 Colonies, your petitioner therefore humbly begs leave to 
 acquaint this Committee, that he and his partner, Thos. 
 Corbett, now refident there have long carried on confider- 
 able bufmefs as merchants, in Charles Town, South Carolina, 
 where your petitioner has been refident himfelf for near 20 
 y''"- and flatters himfelf that he is well acquainted with the 
 
 ^ Mansell was a South Carolina loyalist, whose estate was confiscated, in 1782. 
 
230 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 trade of that and the neighbouring Provinces. That your 
 petitioner has at a very confiderable expence ere6led and 
 built large and commodious brick warehoufes, for the recep- 
 tion of all kind of merchandize, in Charles Town, and has 
 a fhip of his own, of the burthen of two hundred tons, con- 
 ftantly employed in the Carolina trade only ; that your 
 petitioner humbly hopes and doubts not, but that this 
 Hon'ble Com'-^ will upon the fl;ri6lest enquiry into his char- 
 a6ler and circumftances, being poffeffed of houfes and lands, 
 in Charles Town, of upwards of ^500 fterling pr an., and 
 from his American conne6lions find him not unworthy of 
 their countenance and favor. 
 
 Your petitioner therefore humbly prefumes to offer his 
 fervices to this Hon'ble Comm'-^ to tranfact as their agent 
 any bufmefs relative to the exportation to and fale of their 
 teas in South Carolina, or elfewhere in the Colonies of 
 America, as they fhall think fitting to commit to his care 
 
 and management. 
 
 Walter Mansell. 
 
 Hon'ble Sirs : 
 
 We take the liberty of recommending Meffrs. Wil- 
 ling, Morris & Co.,^ of Philadelphia, to be your agents there 
 
 ^The firm of Willing, Morris & Co., Thomis Willing, (1741-1821,) from 1754 
 
 established in 1754, was the most ex- to 1807, held successively the offices of 
 
 tensive importing house in Philadelphia. Secretary to the Congress of Delegates, 
 
 They worked actively and zealously for at Albany ; mayor of the city of Phila- 
 
 the non-importation articles of agree- delphia ; Representative in the General 
 
 ment, after the Stamp Act and the Tea Assembly ; President of the Provincial 
 
 Act were inflicted on this country. Congress ; delegate to the Congress 
 
 Robert Morris (1733-1806,) was the of the Confederation; President of 
 
 well-known financier of the Revolution. the first chartered Bank in America, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 231 
 
 for any quantity of tea you may pleafe to confign them for 
 fale, and which they will difpofe of in the beft manner they 
 can for the benefit of the Com^- on the following terms : 
 
 The tea to be fold at two months prompt, to be paid for 
 on delivery, and the money to be paid at the exchange, 
 which fhall be current at that time, into the Company's 
 treafury within three months after it is received from Phila- 
 delphia. Willing, Morris & Co. to be allowed 5 pr cent, 
 for commiffion, and i pr cent, for warehoufe room and all 
 other charges, except freight & duty. 
 
 Meffrs. Peter & John Berthon are ready to become joint 
 fecurities with us for Meffrs. Willing, Morris & Co. 
 We are, very refpe6lfully, 
 
 Your honors moft obed^ humble fervants, 
 
 Roberts, Baynes & Roberts. 
 
 King's Arms Yard, July 8th, 1773. 
 To the Hon'ble the Com'" &c., &c. 
 
 London, 8 July, 1773. 
 To the Hon'ble Committee of Warehoufes. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 We beg leave to recommend Meffrs. James & 
 Drinker, of Philadelphia, to be one of your agents at the 
 
 and President of the first bank of the naval and military stores. To the great 
 
 United States. He was a man whose credit and well-known patriotism of this 
 
 integrity and patriotism gained him the house, the country owed its extrication 
 
 esteem and praise of his countrymen. from those trying pecuniary embarrass- 
 
 From the beginning of the Revolution- ments, so familiar to the readers of our 
 
 ary war, Willing & Morris were the Revolutionary history, 
 agents of Congress for supplying their 
 
 26 
 
232 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 difpofal of teas, which you may think proper to fend to 
 Philadelphia, undertaking that they fliall difpofe of fuch teas 
 in no other manner than as you dire6t, on condition of your 
 allowing them 5 pr cent, for commiffion, for felling and 
 making remittance, and i pr cent, for truckage, warehoufe 
 rent or any charge whatever ; fliould any teas get damaged 
 on board of fhips, any expence arifmg on them to be al- 
 lowed by the Company. We do alfo engage, that in two 
 months after the prompt day, remittance in bills or fpecie, 
 fliall be made to the Company, provided the teas are cleared, 
 the fpecie to be at the rifk of the Company, they paying the 
 charges attending it. We further agree, that in cafe any 
 bills are protefted, we will pay the Company the amount of 
 them in two months after they become due. And we are 
 willing to enter into bond for the performance of the agree- 
 ments, provided the Dire6lors think proper to allow the teas 
 to be fent to any other port, if the Penfilvanians refufe to 
 admit the duty to be paid, or to confume them in that 
 country, in the latter cafe, our bond to be void. 
 
 We are, &c., &c., 
 
 PiGOu & Booth. 
 We beg leave to folicit the | 
 freiijht to Penfilvania. I 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Having been informed that the Dire61ors of the 
 Eafl India Company propofe fliipping teas to fome of the 
 American Colonies, to be there fold by agents on the Com- 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 233 
 
 pany's account, and as I apprehend South CaroHna may be 
 fixed upon as one of them, I beg leave to propofe Mr. 
 Roger Smith, of South CaroHna, for whofe foHdity I am 
 wilHng to become refponfible. 
 
 If the intended plan takes effect, and you do give me the 
 honor to admit of my application, I fhall be ready to attend 
 you on the bufinefs whenever you may be pleafed to give 
 me notice thereof. I have the honor to be, gentlemen. 
 
 Your moft obd' h'ble ferv' 
 
 New Broad Street Buildings, 
 14'-^ July, 1773. 
 
 To the chairman and deputy chairman 
 of the Hon'ble Eaft India Company. 
 
 John Nutt. 
 
 Sirs : 
 
 We beg leave to tender you the fervices of Mr. 
 Samuel ChoUet, merchant, in Charleftown, South Carolina, 
 and Meffrs. Hugh and Alexander Wallace,^ merchants, in 
 
 1 Hugh and Alexander Wallace, 
 brothers, were merchants, of New York, 
 and partners in business. Hugh was a 
 member of the Council, and second 
 President of the Chamber of Commerce. 
 He was arrested as a loyalist, and con- 
 fined to the limits of Middletown, Conn., 
 and his estate was confiscated. At the 
 peace he went to England, and died at 
 Waterford, Ireland, in 1788. 
 
 Alexander, his brother, also a loyalist, 
 whose property was confiscated, had 
 
 originally been a member of the com- 
 mittee of correspondence, and undoubt- 
 edly sympathized with the Whigs, but 
 like many others, ultimately fell off 
 from the great body of his countrymen, 
 and clung to the royal cause. In 
 August, 1776, he was arrested and con- 
 fined at Fishkill. At the peace he 
 went to England, with his brother, and 
 died at Waterford, Ireland, in the year 
 1800. 
 
234 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 New York, for the fale of fuch teas as you may think 
 proper to fend there, being perfons in every refpe6t well 
 qualified to difpofe of them to the beft advantage. 
 
 We are willing to enter into fuch covenants as may be 
 required for the fecurity of the confignments & the remit- 
 tances of the fales, on the fame terms as are to be granted 
 to other houfes on the Continent of America, provided we 
 are allowed a proper confideration for fuch guarantee. 
 
 We have the honor to be, firs, 
 
 Your moft obed^ hble. ferv'^ 
 
 BOURDIEU & ChOLLET. 
 
 Lime Street, July 15, 1773. 
 
 London, 15th July, 1773. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Hearing that you are going to appoint agents in 
 America for the fale of your teas, permit us to propofe our 
 partner, Mr. Daniel Stephenfon, of Blandensburgh, Maryland, 
 as one (fhould you adopt this meafure,) and we flatter our- 
 felves, that from his long refidence & connexions in Virginia 
 & Maryland, in bufmefs, that he will be thought an eligible 
 perfon, & for his refponfibility, we are ready to give the 
 fecurity of our houfe, fhould he be appointed on the fame 
 terms as the other gentlemen. We apprehend his prefent 
 fituation is well calculated for this meafure, being at a 
 proper diflance between New York & James River, & near 
 the centre of the Maryland bufmess. 
 
 We are, refpe6lfully, gentm" your moft odb' fervants. 
 
 Gale, Fearon & Co. 
 To the Committee of Warehoufes. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 235 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Upon coiifidering the exportation of teas by the 
 Company, having no diredlion or power from our corre- 
 fpondents at Bofton or New York, to make terms, we dedine 
 offering any recommendation in the prefent ftate of the 
 affair, at the fame time think our thanks are due to you, 
 for your readinefs in attending to any propofitions we might 
 make. We are, refpe6lfully, 
 
 Your moft ob' ferv- 
 
 Davison & Newman. 
 Fenchurch Street, July 15, 1773. 
 
 Edw'^ Wheeler, Efq' deputy chairman. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The Committee of Warehoufcs of the Eaft India 
 Company defire you will meet them at this houfe, on 
 Thurfday next, at twelve o'clock at noon, relative to the 
 exportation of tea to America. I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft obd' ferv* 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eafl India Houfe, 17th July, 1773. 
 
 To Brook Watson, Samuel Wharton, 
 
 Jonathan Clarke, Jno. Blackburn, 
 
 Frede'k Pigou, Junr., Benjn. Harrison, 
 
 Gilbert Barkley, Walter Mansell, 
 
 George Browne, John Nutt, 
 
 Roberts, Baynes & Roberts, Davison & Newman, 
 
 Mr. Berthon, Bordieu & Chollett, 
 
 William Kelly, Gale, Fearon & Co. 
 Greenwood & Higginson, 
 
236 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 In confequence of my converfation this day, with 
 the gentlemen of the Committee of Warehoufes, relative to 
 the rate of exchange from Bofton, I beg leave to confirm 
 the offer I made, of abiding by the ftandard exchange of 
 £iZ3 6s. 8d. currency for ^100 fterling, upon an allowance 
 of 2/^ pr cent., with the provifo of the intended exportation 
 being made by way of experiment, that is not exceeding 500 
 chefls to Bofton, before the fuccefs thereof is known. 
 
 I am, gentlemen. 
 
 Your h'ble ferv't, 
 
 Wm. Palmer. 
 Devonfliire Square, 22 July, 1773. 
 
 To the Hon'ble the Court of Dire(51ors, &c. 
 
 Sirs : 
 
 It is fo perfectly contrary to all mercantile ufage, 
 to fix a certain rate of exchange for commifiion bufmefs, 
 that we muft beg leave to decline making any further pro- 
 pofals for your intended confignments to New York and 
 Carolina, becaufe the revolutions in all exchanges cannot be 
 forefeen. We have known the New York exchange at 168 
 & 190, at prefent it is 177/^, the par between Philadelphia 
 and New York is, as 160 at the former, to 170-^ at the 
 latter. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 237 
 
 If you fliould hereafter adopt the regular and ufual mer- 
 cantile form — of receiving your remittances at the current 
 exchange of the place at the time of remitting, we fliall be 
 obliged to you for your confignments to Mefsrs. Hugh and 
 Alexander Wallace, of New York, and Samuel Chollett, of 
 Charleftown, South Carolina, for whom we will become fecu- 
 rity for the ufual commifiion of guarantee of 2/^ pr cent. 
 
 We are, firs. 
 
 Your mofl, obd' h'ble ferv'-' 
 
 BOURDIEU & ChOLLET. 
 
 Lime Street, July 23'"-^ i773- 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The Committee of Warehoufes of the Eaft India 
 Company defire you will meet them at this houfe tomorrow 
 morning, at eleven o'clock, relative to the exportation of tea 
 
 to America. 
 
 I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft obd' fervant, 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eafl India Houfe, 29"? July, 1773. 
 
 To Walter Mansell, Frederick Pigou, Junr., 
 
 William Palmer, William Kelly, 
 
 Brook Watson, Samuel Wharton, 
 
 Jonathan Clarke, Gilbert Barkley, 
 
 John Blackburn, George Browne. 
 
238 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I am dire6ted by the Comm*" to acquaint you that 
 the Court of Dire6lors of the E. I. C. have agreed to fhip 
 for Bojloji three hundred chefts of tea, and confign to your 
 correfpondents an equal proportion thereof, of which pleafe 
 to inform them. 
 
 Shall be obliged to you to acquaint me the firm of your 
 correfpondents at Bojlon. I am, fir. 
 
 Your mofl hum. ferv* 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 4*'' Aug* 1773. 
 
 To Jonathan Clarke, 1 John Blackburn, 
 
 Wm. Palmer, \ Esq":?- Boston. Wm. Kelly, \ Esqr?- New York. 
 
 Brooke Watson, J Fred'k Pigou, Junr-. 
 
 Geo. Browne, 1 
 
 Gilbert Barkly, I 
 
 Fred'k Pigou, f ^^q-" Philadelphia. 
 
 Sam'l Wharton, 
 
 Sir: 
 
 At foot you have the firm of our correfpondents at 
 Boflon, which we gave into the Com*" of Warehoufes for 
 partaking of the India Com^'^ Tea confignments, and for 
 whom we are ready to give fecurity. 
 
 Benj"?? Faneuil, Jun"", ) Efq"- of Bofton, 
 
 Jofhua Winflow, late of Nova Scotia, ) jointly. 
 
 Security — Brook Watfon, Rob* Rafhleigh, 
 Watfon & Rafhleigh. 
 London, 4**" Aug* 1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 239 
 
 Security offered for Mr. Gilbert Barkly, — Wm. Rofs, Esq'- 
 No. 24 Auftin Fryars. 
 
 Securities offered for Walter Manfell, — Henry Laurens, 
 Fludyer Street, Carolina Merchants ; William Barrett, Old 
 Palace Yard. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The firm of the houfe I have recommended to the 
 Court of Directors for New York, is Pigou & Booth, and 
 at Philadelphia, Mefsrs. James & Drinker, as agents for 
 the difpofal of teas. I am, sir. 
 
 Your moft hum. fer* 
 
 Fred'k Pigou, Jun'- 
 Mark Lane, 4 Aug* 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I was favored with your letter of yefferday, lajl 
 night after ten o'clock, acquainting me that the Court of 
 Dire6lors of the E. L C. had agreed to fhip for Philadelphia 
 fix hundred chefts of tea, and confign to my correfpondents 
 an equal proportion thereof, you will be pleafed to inform 
 the Dire6lors that I gave notice to my brothers, Thomas & 
 Ifaac Wharton, (the perfons whom I recommended,) by the 
 
 27 
 
240 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 lafl night's New York mail, of the refolution of the Court 
 of Dire6lors to fhip the above quantity of teas to Philadel- 
 phia. I am, fir, 
 
 Your mofl hum. ferv't, 
 
 Sam'l Wharton. 
 Argyle Street, Aug' 5, 1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
 Mr. Browne's compliments to Mr. Settle, and begs leave 
 to inform him that the addrefs of the houfe at Philadelphia, 
 whom he recommends for an agent for the fale of tea, is 
 Jonathan Browne, merchant, at Philadelphia. 
 
 Aug^^ 5, 1773. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Laft evening I had the pleafure to receive yours 
 of yefterday, mentioning the refolution of the Court of 
 Dire6lors of the Hon'ble Eafl India Company relative to 
 the exportation of tea to New York, and defiring me to 
 acquaint you with the firm of my correfpondent there, 
 which is Abraham Lott & Co. I am, fir, 
 
 Crefcent, 5-^ Aug' 1773. 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 William Kelly, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 24 1 
 
 MR. PALMER'S OPINION IN WHAT MODE TO 
 SHIP TEA TO AMERICA. 
 
 The Bohea tea to be taken out of what was refufed by 
 the buyers lafl fale ; but particular care to be taken that 
 none under the degree of middling, or good middling, nor 
 any damaged chefts are fent, to be marked & invoiced, not 
 according to the King's numbers, but the Company's, to be 
 reweighed, by thus marking them, each bed will be kept 
 feparate, and there will not only be no pretence abroad for 
 finding fault, as from No. to No., will be exactly of the 
 fame quantity, having been packed from the faid heap or 
 pile at Canton, and fmce examined in England. But the 
 tafte of the Americans will alfo be better known, that is, 
 whether they prefer a frefh middling tea, provided it is not 
 abfolutely faint, or a ftrong, rough tea. A certain quantity 
 of each of thefe kinds to be fent to each place, that either 
 may not have the advantage over the other, by having teas 
 of a fuperior quality, their refpective qualities to be remarked 
 in the invoices. A fmall affortment of about a dozen or 
 twenty fmall chefts of Hyfon, Souchong, Congou, and each 
 fpecie of Singlo tea, viz. : Twankey, Skin and Firft Sort, to 
 be fent to each place, with proper remarks thereon in the 
 refpedtive invoices, each of thefe fpecies to be taken out of 
 fome bed or break of teas now laid down, or intended fo to 
 be, for next September fale, regard being had to their 
 refpective qualities, and to be taken out of fuch beds or 
 breaks, which fhall be fufificiently large, not only to fupply 
 
242 ■ LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 each Colony with its quantity, but alfo to leave a confider- 
 able part thereof to be fold at the enfuing fale, by which 
 means the Company may hereafter compare the prices to 
 the fame parcel of tea fells for, not only at each Colony, 
 but alfo at their own fales, which can no otherwife be done, 
 as each of thefe fpecies, going under the fame general de- 
 nomination of Hyfon, Souchong, Congo and Singlo, vary 
 almoft lOO pr cent, in the price they fell for, according to 
 quality, & not lo pr cent, in the purchafe. 
 
 As it would be a great objedl; with the Company to 
 introduce, if poffible, the confumption of Singlo tea into 
 America, that being a kind of tea which fpoils by age, much 
 more than Bohea, and alfo that of which they are much 
 more confiderably overloaded with, and further, fuch an in- 
 troduction would have this advantage alfo, that the foreign 
 countries could not foon rival us, not being themfelves im- 
 porters of any confiderable quantity of this fpecie of tea. 
 It fliould be recommended to the agents, to endeavour all 
 they can, at fuch introdu6lion, which it is conceived may be 
 brought about, at leaft in fome degree, from the experience 
 of the confumption here in England, which will appear to 
 have conftantly gained ground proportionally, as its price at 
 the Company's fales has approached nearer to Bohea tea, 
 and in the prefent fituation of this branch of the Company's 
 trade, it might eafily be made appear, it would be for their 
 advantage, even to fell it in America, at the quoted price of 
 Bohea, by which means they might be relieved from the dif- 
 agreeable alternative of felling it here under prime cofl, or 
 keeping a greater quantity unfold in their warehoufes, until 
 it is fpoiled by age. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 243 
 
 London, Aug' ^^^ ^773- 
 St. Paul's Churchyard, N°: 55. 
 Sir: 
 
 I am favored with yours of yefterday's date, and 
 agreeable to your requeft, I ihall immediately communicate 
 the information therein contained, to Richard Clarke, Efqr., 
 & Sons, Merchants, in Boflon, New England, which is the 
 houfe with which I am conne6ted, and who I flatter myfelf 
 will acquit themfelves of the truft the Hon'ble the Court of 
 Dire6lors have been pleafed to repofe in them. 
 
 I would alfo beg leave to folicit part of the freight of the 
 tea for a veffel which I fhall poffibly have ready in ten 
 days, provided it will agree with the time you propofe to 
 fhip them. 
 
 I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft hum. ferv' 
 
 Jonathan Clarke. 
 Mr. Wm. Settle, 17'*^ Aug' 
 
 Wm., Cap' Jofeph Royal 
 Loring, will be ready in 5 days. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The Committee of Warehoufes defire you will in- 
 form them whether you have a conftant trader to Bofton or 
 South Carolina ready to fail, as the Eaft India Com^ intend 
 
244 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 to export teas to both thofe Colonies, and are defirous of 
 giving you the preference of the freight. 
 
 I am, fir, 
 
 Your moft obedi' fer' 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 5-^ Aug* i773- 
 
 To George Hayley, Efq"" 
 Thos. Lane, Efq^- 
 Alex. Champion, Efq^- 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The deputy chairman of the Eafl India Com^ defires 
 you would point out to the Com'" of Warehoufes what forts 
 of tea and quantity of each are, in your opinion, proper to 
 be fent to Bofton & South Carolina, to make up to the 
 former of thofe places, an export equal to 300 large chefts 
 of Bohea tea, and the latter a quantity equal to 200 large 
 chefts Bohea. 
 
 Mr. Holbrook fays if you can be with him this morning, 
 you will expedite his bufmefs very much, as the Com*" have 
 dire6led him to make ready for fhipping immediately. 
 
 I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft hum. ferv' 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 6*'^ Aug* 1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 245 
 
 MR. PALMER'S ASSORTMENT OF TEAS FOR 
 
 AMERICA. 
 
 Boston. So. Carolina. New York. Philadelphia. Total. 
 
 Bohea, 1. ch'^- 
 
 Congo, fm' d°- 
 
 Singlo, d°- 
 
 Hyfon, d°- 
 
 Souchong, d°- 
 
 268 
 
 182 
 
 568 
 
 568 
 
 1586 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 70 
 
 80 
 
 50 
 
 80 
 
 80 
 
 290 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 70 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 35 
 
 WEIGHT OF TEA EXPORTED TO AMERICA, 
 
 lbs. 
 
 Bohea, 
 
 Singlo, 
 
 Hyfon, 
 
 Souchong, 
 
 Congou, 
 
 Total lbs., 
 
 562,421 
 
 22,546 
 
 5^285 
 
 2,392 
 6,015 
 
 598,659 
 
 The Hayley, James Scott, is now ready to fail, & I mean 
 to difpatch her 15^^ Aug*' The Dartmouth, James Hall,' 
 will be here about 14 days longer. These two are conilant 
 traders to Bofton. 
 
 I have no connecSlion with the Carolina trade, but I 
 underftand the London, Curling, belonging to Greenwood & 
 
 ^ James Hall, captain of the " Dart- was consequently proscribed and ban- 
 mouth," the first tea-ship , to arrive in ished in 1778. 
 America, was a Boston loyalist, and 
 
246 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Higginfon, is now ready for failing, and is a conftant trader. 
 Mr. Settle will pleafe to inform the Com*-^ of the above & 
 thereby oblige, 
 
 His humble fervant, 
 
 George Hayley. 
 Eafi; India H° lo Aug^ i773- 
 
 To Grey Cooper, Efq-' or Jn°- Robinson, Efq'- 
 
 Sir: 
 
 By order of the Court of Dire6lors of the United 
 Eaft India Comp^ I tranfmit you the enclofed petition, with 
 their requefl that you will be pleafed to lay the fame before 
 the Right Hon'ble the Lords Commiffioners of the Treafury. 
 
 I am, very refpe6lfuily, fir, 
 
 Your mofl obed* & hum. fer' 
 
 Peter Mitchell, Sec^- 
 
 To THE Right Hon'ble the Lords Cojmmissioners of His 
 Majesty's Treasury. 
 
 TAe humble Petition of the United Company of Merchants 
 of England trading to the Eafi Indies. 
 
 Sheweth : 
 
 That by an A6i paffed in the laft feffion of Parliament, it 
 is among other things enabled, " That it fhall and may be 
 lawful for the Commiffioners of his Majefty's treafury, or 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 247 
 
 any three or more of them, or the High Treafurer for the 
 time being, to grant a licence or Hcences to the faid United 
 Company, to take out of their warehoufes fuch quantity or 
 quantities of tea as the faid Commiffioners of the Treafury, 
 or any three or more of them, or the High Treafurer for 
 the time being, fliall think fit, without the fame having been 
 expofed to fale in this kingdom, and to export fuch tea to 
 any of the Britifh colonies or plantations in America, or to 
 foreign parts difcharged from the payment of any of the 
 cuftoms or duties whatfoever." 
 
 That the faid United Com"^ have agreed to export to the 
 Britifh colonies or plantations in America a quantity of teas, 
 equal in weight to 1700 large chefts of Bohea tea, which 
 quantity will not in the whole exceed fix hundred thoufand 
 pounds weight. And your petitioner having in the affidavit 
 hereunto annexed fhewed unto your lords?' that after the 
 taking out of their warehoufes the faid quantities of teas fo 
 intended to be exported, that there will be left remaining 
 in the warehoufes of the faid United Company a quantity of 
 tea not lefs than ten millions of pounds weight, as by the 
 faid Ad is diredled. 
 
 Your petitioners therefore pray your lordfhips to grant 
 them a licence to take out of their warehoufes the quantities 
 of teas above mentioned, not exceeding in the whole fix 
 hundred thoufand pounds weight, without the fame having 
 been expofed to fale in this kingdom, and to export fuch 
 tea difcharged from the payment of any cuftoms or duties 
 whatfoever. 
 
 By order of the Court of Dire6tors of the faid Company. 
 
 P. Mitchell, Sec^- 
 Eafl India Ho. ig^^ April, 1773. 
 
 28 
 
248 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 LICENCE TO EXPORT TEA. 
 
 After our hearty commendations. Whereas, the united 
 company of merchants of England trading to the Eaft Indies, 
 have, by the annexed petition, humbly prayed us to grant 
 them, in purfuance of an A61; paffed the lafl; feffion of Par- 
 liament, a licence to take out of their warehoufes a quantity 
 of teas, equal in weight to one thoufand feven hundred large 
 chefts of Bohea tea, which quantity will not in the whole 
 exceed fix hundred thoufand pounds weight, without the 
 fame having been expofed to fale in this kingdom, and to 
 export fuch tea difcharged from the payment of any cuftoms 
 or duties whatfoever, to the Britifli colonies or plantations 
 in America. And it appearing to us by the annexed affi- 
 davit, that there will be left remaining in their warehoufes 
 a quantity of tea not lefs than ten millions of pounds 
 weight, as by the faid A61 is provided and dire6led. Now 
 we, having taken the faid application and the feveral matters 
 and things therein fet forth into our confideration, do think 
 fit to comply with the requeft of the faid petitioners. And 
 in purfuance of the powers given unto us by the faid A61, 
 we do hereby authorife, permit and grant licence to the 
 faid Company to take out of their warehoufes the faid 
 quantity of tea, not exceeding in the whole fix hundred 
 thoufand pounds weight, without the fame having been 
 expofed to fale in this kingdom, and to export fuch teas 
 difcharged from the payment of any cuftoms or duties what- 
 foever, to any of the Britifh colonies or plantations in 
 America. Neverthelefs, you are therein to take efpecial 
 care, that all and every the rules, regulations & reflridlions 
 and orders dire6led by the faid recited A61, relating to the 
 
LORD NORTH. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 25 1 
 
 exportation of fuch teas, or any ways concerning the fame, 
 be in all and every refpe6l fully obeyed and obferved. And 
 for fo doing, this fhall be as well to you as to the faid 
 Company, and to all other officers & perfons whatfoever 
 herein concerned, a fufficient warrant. 
 
 Given under our hands and feals at the Treafury Cham- 
 bers, Whitehall, the 20-^ day of Augufl, one thoufand feven 
 hundred and feventy three ; in the thirteenth year of the 
 reign of our fovereign lord, George the Third, King of Great 
 Britain, France and Ireland, and fo forth. 
 
 North. 
 
 c. townshend. 
 
 C. J. Fox. 
 
 To our very loving friends the Commiffioners, for managing 
 His Majefty's Revenues of Cufloms and Excife, now and 
 for the time being, and to all other officers and perfons 
 herein concerned. 
 
 Eaji India Compmty, Licence to Export Teas 
 Hon'ble Sirs : 
 
 We have the fhip Eleanor, James Bruce, about 250 
 tons, (a conftant trader,) which we intend for Boflon, and 
 fhould be much obliged for the freight of the teas you 
 intend exporting to that place. 
 
 We have no fhip bound to South Carolina, but are much 
 obliged for the preference given us. We are, firs, 
 
 Your moft h'ble fert'- 
 
 Lane, Son & Eraser. 
 Nicholas Lane, 6'- Aug'- 1773. 
 
 The Hon'ble the Court of Directors, &c., &c. 
 
252 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 John Dorrien, Efq' recommends for Bofton, the Beaver, 
 Capt" Coffin. 
 
 Sir : 
 
 I wrote you under date of the 5*-^ inft' that you 
 would be pleafed to inform the Committee of Warehoufes, 
 whether you had a conftant trader ready to fail for Boflon 
 or South Carolina, but fliould have faid to Bofton only. I 
 am therefore to defire the favor of an anfwer whether you 
 ha\ e a conftant trader ready for that colony. 
 
 I am, &c., &c., 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India H- Aug' 10, 1773. 
 
 Alex. Champion, Efq' 
 
 Sir: 
 
 In anfwer to your efteemed of the 5"" and lo^'' cur- 
 rent, am obliged by the favor intended, but at prefent have 
 only one fhip under my care bound to Bofton, who will 
 depart in a very few days, but flie is not a conftant trader. 
 It is not, therefore, in my power to accept of the offer. 
 
 I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft hum. ferv'- 
 Alexander Champion. 
 Bifliopgate Street, Aug' 10, 1773. 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 253 
 
 Hon'ble Sir : 
 
 Being informed you have fome teas to fhip to 
 America, I have now a veffel, Britifli built, burthen about 
 160 tons, which fhould be glad to lett to your honors for 
 the above purpofe. 
 
 I am, with due regard, hon'ble firs. 
 
 Your mofl obed' fervt', 
 
 Thos. Walters. 
 Carolina Coffee Houfe, 
 
 Birchen Lane, 17^*^ Aug' 1773. 
 
 The Elizabeth, John Scott, for any part of America. 
 
 To the Hon'ble Dire6tors of 
 the Eaft India Company. 
 
 Mr. Abraham Dupies, in Gracechurch Street, will become 
 obligated for Richard Clarke & Sons, of Bofton. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I have a veffel in this port, which will be ready 
 to return to America in a few days, therefore take the 
 opportunity to acquaint you that I am willing to take on 
 board her 600 chefts of tea, either for New York or Phila- 
 delphia, at the a cuftomary freight given from hence to 
 thofe places. 
 
 I am, gentl" your moft hum. fervant, 
 
 Joseph Cabot. 
 Threadneedle Street, 24 Aug* ^11 "h- 
 To the Hon'ble Committee of Warehoufes. 
 
^54 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Sir 
 
 London, Aug* 26, 1773. 
 
 We pray you to inform the Com- of Warehoufes 
 ^r the Hon'ble the Eaft India Company that we have a 
 ihip,rzver built^ called the Nancy, commanded by Captain 
 Colvil e, compleately fitted and ready to receive the tea for 
 New York, which we beg leave to recommend to the Com- 
 mittee. We are, fir, 
 
 Your mofl obedient and humble fervants, 
 
 John Blackburn. 
 
 PiGou & Booth. 
 
 Tv^ ,,, Wm. Kelly & Co. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Pleafe to acquaint the Hon'ble Committee of Ware- 
 houfes, that we have taken up the Polly, Cap* Ayres, for 
 Philadelphia, to carry the Company's tea to that port, which 
 yeffel lays at Princes Stairs, Rotherhith, and was built at 
 Ipfwich, in the year 1765. She is now ready to take in. 
 We are, firs, 
 
 Your mofi; h'ble ferv*^ 
 
 PiGou & Booth, 
 
 For selves & George Browne, 
 
 Samuel Wharton & Gilbert Barkley 
 Mark Lane, 31ft Aug* 1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 255 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Your remarks to the bond offered you, relative to 
 the 600 chells of tea, which are to be exported to New 
 York, have been laid before the Committee of Warehoufes, 
 and they are of opinion that the faid bond is according to 
 the agreement made with the feveral gentlemen for the dif- 
 ferent Colonies, and the merchants who are concerned for 
 the tea to Bofton, have executed their bonds agreeable 
 thereto, and Meffrs. Wharton, Pigou & Barkley have agreed 
 alfo to execute on Thurfday morning. Therefore, I am to 
 defire you to inform me whether you will pleafe likewife to 
 execute the faid bond. 
 
 I am, fir, 
 
 Your mofl h'ble ferv^ 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eafl India Houfe, 31^- Aug' 1773. 
 
 To John Blackbiarn, Efq""- 
 William Kelly, Efq""- 
 
 Sir: 
 
 As the feveral gentlemen mentioned in your polite 
 note of this day have executed the bond, I fhall with pleaf- 
 ure follow their example, and on Thurfday next I propofe 
 waiting on you for that purpofe. I am fir, 
 
 Your moft h'ble ferv' 
 
 John Blackburn. 
 Scot's Yard, 31ft Aug' 1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
256 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Laft evening I had the pleafure to receive your 
 favor of yefterday, relative to the bond which I am to fign 
 for New York, and the objedlions made to its draught by Mr. 
 Blackburn, Pigou and myfelf, which at the time appeared 
 refonable to us, but as others have figned in the form fhewn 
 to me, I don't mean to be particular, and therefore fhall 
 conform, relying on the honor of the Com'-^ in all future 
 matters. 
 
 Tomorrow I am indifpenfably obliged to go out of town 
 fhall return on Saturday next, wait on you, & execute the 
 bond. I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft obedi* & moft hum. ferv' 
 
 Wm. Kelly. 
 Crefcent, Sep. 1-1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
 Freight of ^68 whole, & ijo half chefls of Tea, flipped on 
 the Polly, Cap* Sam^ Ayres, for PJiiladelpJiia : 
 
 feet. 
 
 568 chefls con^ for freight, 8748.6 
 
 130 quarter d°- d°- 656.9 
 
 9405- 
 
 9405.3 at IS. 6d. pr foot, Philadelphia currency, is ^705 7 10^2 
 
 tons. 
 
 Primage on 2 35>^ at 2s. fterl^ pr ton, is ^23 10 3 
 
LETTERS AND D0CUMP:NTS. 257 
 
 Freight of Tea oji the London, to South Carolina : 
 
 feet. 
 
 182 chefls meafure 2644.3 ^^ i^- P^" ^^ot, ^132 4 3 
 
 75 d°- d°- 345.9 d°- .... 17 5 9 
 
 257 149 10 o 
 
 Primage, 5 pr cent, ... 7 10 o 
 
 /157 o o 
 
 Freight of Tea fhipped on the William, for Boflon : 
 
 feet. 
 
 58 chefts meafure 585.11, at is. 4d. pr foot, ^39 i 3 l. m. 
 
 Primage, .... 19 6fl:erl^- 
 
 Freight of 6g8 chefls Tea on the Nancy, for New York : 
 
 feet. 
 
 698 chefts meafure 9264.8, at 2s. 3d. pr foot, is 
 
 Currency, ^1042 5 4 
 
 Sterling, ^30 8 2 Primage, 5 pr ct. . 52 2 3 
 
 ^1094 7 7 
 
 Freight of jtJ/j. chefls Tea on the Eleanor, for Boflon : 
 
 feet. 
 
 114 chefts meafure 1383.4, at is. 4d. . .^92 4 5 l. m. 
 Primage, . . . . ^3 9 o 
 
 Freight of 112 chefls Tea on the Beaver, for Boflon : 
 
 feet. 
 
 112 chefts meafure 1375, at is. 4d., is . ^91 13 iol.m. 
 34>^ tons at 2s. pr ton primage, . ^3 17 o 
 29 
 
258 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Whitehall, Dec"^ 17''' 1773. 
 
 Lord Dartmouth prefents his compHments to Mr. 
 Wheler, and requefls the favor to fee him at his office, at 
 Whitehall, on Monday morning next, at eleven o'clock, on 
 the fubje6t of fome advices Lord Dartmouth has lately re- 
 ceived from America, refpe61ing the importation of tea from 
 England. 
 
 LETTER TO SUNDRY AMERICAN MERCHANTS. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The Com*^^ of Warehoufes of the E. I. Com^ defire 
 you would pleafe to inform them whether you have receiv"* 
 any advices from Bojlou relative to the faid Com^? exporta- 
 tion of tea to that colony, and if you have, to communicate 
 the purport thereof to the Committee. I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft obe. fer* 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 20'^ Dec' 1773. 
 
 To Mr. Wm. Palmer, ) j. n 
 Brook Watfon, I "^ 
 
 071. 
 
 Wm. Greenwood, I ^ ^ x- /■ 
 
 ;■ c>oiitn Larolina. 
 y- Nutt, i 
 
 In"- Blackburn, | ,^ t. , 
 \ \ New \ork. 
 
 Wm. Kelly, ) 
 
 Fred"" Pigou, Jun' New York & Philadelphia. 
 
 Geo. Browne, | 
 
 Sam' Wharton, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 259 
 
 LETTER TO SUNDRY AMERICAN MERCHANTS.^ 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The Comm*?-^ of Warehoufes defire the favor of an 
 
 anfwer under your hand to my letter of yefterday, relative 
 
 to the exportation of tea to B0JI071. I am, fir, 
 
 Your moft obd' fervant, 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eall India Houfe, 21''. Dec' 1773. 
 
 Brook Watfon, Efq'- Bojion. 
 
 Wm. Greenwood, Efq'- ) c^ .7 /- /• 
 
 _^ ^ > ^Sout/i Lara Una. 
 
 John Nutt, Efq""- j 
 
 John Blackburn, Efq""- New York. 
 
 Geo. Browne, Efq*^- Philadelphia. 
 
 LETTERS FROM SUNDRY AMERICAN 
 MERCHANTS, 
 
 WITH ENCLOSURES OF ADVICES FROM THE SEVERAL COLONIES. 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
 From Mr. Palmer. 
 
 Mr. Palmer has received no material advices from 
 Boflon fince the confignment has taken place, but has letters 
 of as late a date from thence as the 1^ of Novem^ one of 
 which mentions there was no tea then to be bought. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 2ifl; Dec' 1773 
 
 1 These two letters following each anxiety of the Company, in reference 
 other so closely, plainly mnnifest the to their shipments of tea to Boston. 
 
26o LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Garlick Hill, 226. Decern' 1773. 
 
 To the Hon die the Committee of Warehoufes. Eajl India Hou/e. 
 
 Genr 
 
 In compliance with your requeft, we fend you en- 
 clofed extra6ls from the letters which we have lately received 
 from Boflon relative to the Com^? teas fent there. 
 
 We are, gent" 
 
 Your moft hum, ferv*^ 
 
 Watson & Rashleigh. 
 
 Extract of a Letter dated Boflon, 18''' Ofto'^' lyyj : 
 
 " But what difficulties may arife from the difaffe6lion of 
 the merchants and importers of tea to this meafure of the 
 India Company, I am not yet able to fay. It feems at 
 prefent to be a matter of much fpeculation, and if one is to 
 credit the prints, no fmall oppofition will be made thereto. 
 However, I am in hopes it will be otherwife, and taking it 
 for granted that the tea fliould arrive, and no obftacle 
 happen to prevent its being landed and difpofed of, agree- 
 ably to the inftrudtions of the Company, then I am to add 
 that you may be affured I fhall ftri61;ly conform to the 
 inflru6tions which I may jointly receive refpedling it, paying 
 all due regard to the contents of your letter. 
 
 " I know not how to write more fully hereon until the tea 
 arrives, and what may poffibly be the confequences attending 
 it. My friends feem to think it will fubfide ; others are of 
 a contrary opinion." 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 26 1 
 
 ExtraH: of a Letter dated Bojlon, jo O^''' ly/J : 
 
 " I omitted a letter to you in particular when I wrote to 
 your houfe the 10'^ infl., becaufe I thought it was probable, 
 both from the contents of your letter then received, as well 
 as from the public reports, that the tea you mention as 
 coming from the India Com^ might every day be expe6led 
 to arrive, as you fay 4 Aug*- they intended fhipping 300 
 chefts immediately, but by my letter, this day received by a 
 veffel from London, it is not to be fent. 
 
 " I perceive by the prints, that the clamour is flill con- 
 tinued againft this meafure of the India Company, and feems 
 to be purfued with rather more warmth in fome of the 
 Southern Colonies than in this. For my own part I am 
 not fufficiently fkilled in politicks to fee the pernicious con- 
 fequences which 'tis faid muft arife therefrom. If they would 
 prevent the Tea A€i being enforced, or the payment of the 
 revenue arifmg therefrom to Government, methinks they 
 fhould either not import any tea, or rather not confume any, 
 and then the end would be anfwered at once. But while 
 there is fuch a vaft quantity exported every year by fo con. 
 fiderable a number of perfons, who all pay the duty thereof 
 on its arrival, I do not fee why every importer, nay, every 
 confumer thereof, do not as much contribute to inforce the 
 Tea A(5l as the India Comp^ themfelves, or the perfons to 
 whom they may think proper to confign their tea for fale. 
 Nor can I but be of opinion that the uneafmefs is fomented, 
 if not originated, principally by thofe perfons concerned in 
 the Holland trade, and thereby introduce large quantities of 
 tea, which, paying no duty, by that means they can afford 
 to underfell thofe who do pay it, and this trade, I am in- 
 
262 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 formed, is much more pradlifed in the Southern Govern- 
 ments than this way. 
 
 " To what lengths the oppofition to this tea's being 
 brought or landed, or difpofed of, may be carried, mufl be 
 left to time to determine." 
 
 Extrafl of a Letter dated Bojion, 4. No'd^-' lyjj 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 " Thus far I had wrote you with intentions to forward by >^ 
 
 firft conveyance, when I found there was to be a mufler of ^ 
 
 the people, to demand that the perfons who are to be em- ^ 
 
 ployed as agents for difpofmg of the tea which may come | 
 
 from the India Company, would refign their commiffions & / 
 
 fwear (under Liberty Tree) to return the tea by the fame 
 or firfh veffels for London, &c. You will be fully acquainted ^ 
 
 of their unreafonable proceedings. After the time had 
 elapfed which was fixed upon for the gentlemen to appear 
 and refign, on their not complying with the order, they 
 marched down in a body to Mr. Clarke's ftore, where we , 
 
 were, and not receiving fuch an anfwer as they demanded, 
 they began an attack upon the ftore and thofe within, break- 
 ing down doors, flinging about mud, &c., for about an hour, 
 when they began to difperfe, and a number of gentl", friends 
 of thofe agents coming to their affiflance, they left the ftore 
 and went upon change, but met with no further infult, tho' 
 there is much threatening. As the tea is not arrived, and 
 it is uncertain when it may, I purpofe to write you again 
 fpeedily. 
 
 " In the interim, I am, &c." 
 

 -IV 
 
 i*^*»%,. 
 
LETIERS AND DOCUMENTS. 267 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Letter from Mr. Greenwood. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 In anfwer to your letter of the 20"" inft., I beg you 
 would be pleafed to inform the Com'?.'' of Warehoufes that I 
 have yet received no advices from South Carolina, relative 
 to the Compy'" exportation of tea. When I do, they may 
 depend I will take the earlieft opportunity to communicate 
 the fame to them. 
 
 I am, fir. 
 
 Your moil obe' ferv* 
 
 Wm. Greenwood 
 Queen Street, 22"* Dec""- 1773. 
 
 Mr. Settle. 
 
 From Mr. Nutt. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 In compliance with your defire, intimated to me by 
 Mr. Settle, refpe6ting any information received from South 
 Carolina, concerning the teas exported by the Eafl: I. Com^ 
 to that Colony, I have the honor to acquaint you that the 
 veffel in which they were fhipped did not fail from England 
 before the iS"" 06lober, and the latefl dates from thence are 
 
268 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 only the i^' Nov'' fo that we cannot expert for fome time 
 to hear of her arrival. I have the honor to be, gent"- 
 
 Your moft obed* hum. ferv'' 
 
 John Nutt. 
 Broad Street, 22°^ Decem""' 1773. 
 
 To the Com*"^ of Warehoufes, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 Letter from Mr. Blackburn. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I am honored with your two letters of the 20*'' & 
 2ifl curr\ defiring me to inform the Com*?-^ of Warehoufes 
 if I have received any advices from New York relative to 
 the Com'^ exportation of tea to that Colony. 
 
 The veffel wherein the tea was fhipped was not arrived 
 when the lafl letters were difpatched from thence, confe- 
 quently no precife judgment can be formed whether or not 
 it would be permitted to be landed ; but I flatter myfelf from 
 the difpofition of the principal gentle" of New York, who 
 are men of moderation, candour and prudence, and as firmly 
 attached to the Government and laws of this Kingdom as 
 any of his Majefly's fubjedts ; that they will, by their example 
 and influence, be able to fupprefs every riot and difturbance 
 occafioned by the oppofers of this meafure. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 269 
 
 I expe6l a fliip from New York, which was to depart 
 about the 26'^ Novem'"' by which I fliall receive fome frelh 
 intelHgence relative to this bufmefs, and if I fliould be 
 furnifhed with any advices that regard the intereft of the 
 Company, I fliall not fail to wait on the Directors immedi- 
 ately. I have the honor to be, fir. 
 
 Your moft obed' & hum. fer* 
 
 John Blackburn. 
 Scots Yard, 22""^ Dec""' 1773. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Settle. 
 
 Extraft of a Letter from a merchant in New York, to Wm. 
 Kelly, of London, dated 5''^ Nov''' ly/J : 
 
 " The introdu6lion of the Eaft India Comyany's tea is 
 violently oppofed here, by a fet of men who lliamefully live 
 by monopolizing tea in the fmuggling way," 
 
 ExtraH: of a Letter from Abraham Lott, Efq''' of New 
 York, to Wm. Kelly} of Londofz, dated New York, j'""' 
 Nov''-' lyyj, & received with the above mentioned Extract 
 of Mr. Kelly, 22^^ Dec''' I'/yj : 
 
 " Herewith you will receive feveral papers relating to the 
 importation of the India Com''-'.^ tea. If it comes out free 
 of a duty here on importation, things I believe may go 
 
 ^ William Kelly is, I suppose, the pp. 75, 'jd. " A certain Mr. Kelly, former 
 
 person referred to in the following par- resident of the city, (New York,) then 
 
 agraph in Leake's " Life of John Lamb," in London, and canvassing some one of 
 30 
 
270 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 quiet enough, tho' you will obferve much is faid againft 
 it even on that fuppofition. But if it fliould be fubje6t to 
 a duty here, I am much in doubt whether it will be fafe, 
 as almoft every body in that cafe fpeaks againft the ad- 
 miffion of it, fo that, altho' I am well affured that the 
 Governor will not fuffer the laws to be trampled on, yet 
 there will be no fuch thing as felling it, as the people would 
 rather buy fo much poifon, than the tea with the duty 
 thereon, calculated (they fay) to enflave them and their 
 poflerity, and therefore are determined not to take what 
 they call the naufeous draft. A little time will determine 
 how matters will terminate, that is, if the tea comes out. 
 If it does, I hope it may come fvree of duty, as by that 
 means much trouble and anxiety will be faved by the agents. 
 I do affure you they have all been very uneafy, tho' at the 
 fame time determined to do* their duty, but in the moft 
 prudent & quiet manner. It is now two o'clock, p.m., when 
 I received the paper figned Cafiius, in which you will find 
 
 Mr. L R de handfomely complimented, and yourfelf 
 
 feverely handled, on a fuppofition that you fhould have 
 fpoken words to the import, as afferted in the paper. Mr. 
 
 the Ministerial Boroughs for an elec- 
 tion to Parliament, ridiculed the appre- 
 hensions of those who refused to insure 
 the cargoes of tea from destruction, 
 and declared that if animosities should 
 rise as high as during the time of the 
 Stamp Act, the tea might safely be 
 shipped and securely landed. That 
 then the Colony had an old man to 
 deal with (Colden) ; but now they would 
 have to contend with a vigorous 
 military governor, (Tryon,) one who 
 
 had shown his energy in putting down 
 insurrectionary movements in North 
 Carolina. The Committee of Vigilance 
 took note of these offensive declarations, 
 and on November 5, called a meeting 
 at the Coffee House. The people as- 
 sembled, denounced Kelly, and burnt 
 his effigy, and after the representative 
 was consumed, a gentleman observed 
 that it was matter of regret that the 
 principal could not be dealt with in the 
 same summary and exemplary manner." 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 271 
 
 R e's name is not mentioned, but there is no doubt but 
 
 he is the perfon alluded to, as upon the arrival of the Lon- 
 don fhips, who refufed to bring the tea. It was currently- 
 reported that he had wrote his partner nearly in the fame 
 words as mentioned in the paper. You are the beft judge 
 of the truth of the affertion, but whether true or not, his 
 conduct is ungenerous and mean. If the paper fpeaks 
 truth, that he was offered part of the confignment of tea, 
 he muft be a man of great influence to have fo great an 
 offer made him, when fo many other people of weight were 
 applying for it and could not obtain it." 
 
 From Mr. Fred^ Pigou, Jun'^- 
 
 Sir : 
 
 Pleafe to acquaint the Com'-^ of Warehoufes of the 
 Hon'ble the Eaft India Company, that from the advices I 
 have received from Philadelphia, I fhould be of opinion the 
 tea fent to that place will, if landed, meet with much dii^- 
 culty in being difpofed of. 
 
 At New York, I am of opinion it will meet with lefs 
 oppofition, and may poffibly be fold in that city. It would 
 have been fortunate if the New York veffel could have 
 arrived as foon or before the Philadelphia fhip. 
 
 I am, fir, your mofl hum. ferv* 
 
 Fred'k Pigou, Jun' 
 Mark Lane, 21ft Dec""' 1773. 
 
 To Mr. Settle. 
 
2 72 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 Letter from Mr. Geo. Browne. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The advice I have from my brother at Philadelphia, 
 relative to the Com^'' confignment of tea, is, that it was 
 very doubtful how it would be received there, the meafure 
 being looked upon in an unfavorable view in general. He 
 had only jull; received an account (from another hand) of his 
 being nominated one of the agents, and refers me to the 
 public prints for an account of the refolutions entered into 
 by the people in oppofition to it. I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft obedi' fer' 
 
 Geo. Browne. 
 Mr. Settle. 
 
 From Mr. Sam^ Wharton. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I underftand that Mr. Walpole, of Lincolns Inn 
 Fields, had received fome advices from my brother, refpe6ling 
 the teas fent to Philadelphia. I applied to him for them, 
 and he requefted that I would fend them to you, with what 
 intelligence I had myfelf received. I am, fn*. 
 
 Your very hum. ferv' 
 
 Samuel Wharton. 
 Argyle Street, Decem"" 23, 1773. 
 
 Mr. Settle. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 273 
 
 Extrafl of a Letter from Thomas Wharton} Efq'' of 
 Philadelphia, dated OH. 5, ///J, to Sam^ Wharton, in 
 London : 
 
 " I have clofely attended to the courfe of your arguments, 
 and think they are of great weight, but you know it is 
 impoffible always to form a true judgment from what real 
 motives an oppofition fprings, as the fmugglers and London 
 importers may both declare that this duty is ftamping the 
 Americans with the badge of flavery, and notwithftanding 
 the Dire(5l;ors of the Eafl India Company have a juft right 
 to fend their teas where they think proper, yet the Ameri- 
 cans allege they may and ought to refufe to purchafe and 
 use it. 
 
 " A little time after the fhip's arrival we fhall know what 
 is to be done, and I expedl we fhall before that time have 
 a conference with the agents from New York, which I pro- 
 pofed, that our condu6l might be uniform, and as much as 
 poffible anfwer the end of 02ir appointm.entr 
 
 1 Thomas Wharton was a wealthy and later period was proscribed as an enemy 
 
 influential merchant of Philadelphia, and to his coun.ry, and lost his estate, 
 
 of the sect called Quakers. ' In the under the Confiscation Acts of Pennsyl- 
 
 enterprise of Galloway and Goddard to vania. His son, Thomas Wharton, Jr., 
 
 estabhsh the " Chronicle," a leading was a distinguished Whig, and Presi- 
 
 newspaper, he was their partner, and dent of Pennsylania. In the early part 
 
 the parties supposed that Franklin, who of the Revolution, and indeed until the 
 
 was a correspondent of Wharton's, on time when blood was shed, father and 
 
 his return from England, would join son acted together, and were members 
 
 them. In 1777, he was apprehended, of the same deliberative assemblies and 
 
 and sent prisoner to Virginia, and at a committees. 
 
2/4 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Extj^a^ls of two Letters from Tho'- Warton, Eff' of Phila- 
 delphia, dated O^. 5 a^id Oft. jo, ///J, to the Hoiible 
 Tho^- Walpole, of London : 
 
 " About a week before the arrival of the September 
 mail, a letter reached this city, informing us that particular 
 perfons (tho' not all of them the proper ones) were nomi- 
 nated agents for the Eaft India Dire6lors. This gave the 
 inhabitants a knowledge of the intention of the Dire6lors, 
 and fome perfons immediately declared, that as the duty 
 was ftill retained, that, tho' fmall, yet it as implicitly fixed 
 the power and eftablifhed the badge of flavery, as if it had 
 been greater. The fame fentiments, I am told, are expreffed 
 in letters from New York. At prefent, therefore, it is 
 impoffible to fay what meafures the people will take on this 
 occafion, but I fhould expe6t they will not hinder the tea 
 being landed, if they infift on its not being fold, till the 
 duty is taken off by A61 of Parliament, or the Eaft India 
 Dire6lors fatisfy the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms in Lon- 
 don. For, notwithftanding, it may juftly be urged that the 
 Dire6lors of the Eaft India Comp^ have a right to export 
 their teas to North America, yet, as it is faid, the inhabi- 
 tants have alfo a right of judgment refpe6f;ing the purchafe 
 and confumption. I fliould expert, that if the oppofition 
 takes place, it will reft with their adherence to an engage- 
 ment of this kind. 
 
 " I can have no doubt that the India Com^ would find 
 their fales lucrative, and that an extenfion of trade would 
 certainly take place, by comprehending the articles of peppei, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 275 
 
 fpices, and filks in their exports ; great quantities of the 
 two firft articles have certainly been introduced in the 
 Continent from Holland and thro' the Weft Indies, and 
 therefore it is that I apprehend the London merchants are 
 miftaken when they fay they already fliip as much as the 
 Continent can confume, for through them are imported only 
 fuch quantities of fpices, &c., as the merchant here can 
 vend, after the run goods are fold, they being imported 
 cheaper than thofe from England, are naturally firft fold. 
 But if the Eaff India Company fliould think proper to ex- 
 tend their trade, I cannot doubt it would in a great meafure 
 put a ftop to the importation from Holland and the Dutch 
 Iflands, and large fums would annually pafs from America 
 to London for thofe commodities. But perhaps little more 
 fhould be faid until it is known in what manner our fellow 
 countrymen fhall view this fcheme of trade." 
 
 "Philadelphia, 06i. 30, 1773. 
 
 " I fhall endeavor to communicate a more full ftate of the 
 fentiments of my fellow citizens than I could in my lafl 
 letter. I could then only conje6lure what might be the 
 refult of their judgments refpe6ling the Hon'ble the Dire6l- 
 ors of the Eafl I. Com^ fending their teas to this Continent. 
 A communication of fentiments, taking place between the 
 New Yorkers & the Philadelphians, foon produced a number 
 of pieces in the public prints and otherwife, moft abfolutely 
 afferting the rights of the Americans, and denying the power 
 of Parliament refpecting the internal taxation of the Colonies, 
 which led into many comparifons, endeavoring to fhew that 
 
276 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 the agency of the tea was equally odious & dangerous as 
 the execution of the Stamp A(5l would have been. I may 
 fay with great truth, that I do not believe one man in a 
 hundred was to be met with who approved of the fending 
 the tea, while the duty was to be paid here. Yet a great 
 number of people acknowledged the right of the Eaft India 
 Dire6lors to export their teas to America, and declared that 
 nothing lefs than a confirmed belief that the admitting this 
 mode of taxation would render the affemblies of the people 
 mere cyphers, could have induced them to proceed in the 
 manner they have done; for when it was mentioned to them 
 that by refufmg to admit the tea to be landed, they did as 
 much deprive the India Company of the natural rights of 
 Englifh merchants, as the fubje6ling us to the payment of 
 duty poffibly could affe6l us, they replyed that the Ad; of 
 Parliament hindered the tea from being landed until the duty 
 was firfh paid or fecured, and confequently as the Dire6lors 
 knew this, and the oppofition heretofore given by the Ameri- 
 cans, they mufl take what followed. 
 
 " You will perceive by the refolution formed and entered 
 into on the 18'-' into what a fituation the agents were 
 driven, there being no poffibility of perfuading the people 
 to wait till we knew the real ftate of fa6ls. The meeting 
 at the State Houfe confifted, (it is faid) of 6 or 700, and be 
 affured, they were as refpe6table a body of inhabitants as 
 has been together on any occafion ; many of the Jirji rank. 
 The whole of their proceedings were condu(51ed with the 
 greatefh decency and firmnefs, and without one diffenting 
 voice. After the refolution had paffed, they appointed a 
 Com'"'' of 12 perfons, who, on the 18"^ inft., about 12 o'clock, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 277 
 
 called on James and Drinker, and then came down to my 
 houfe, where they conduded themfelves with great decency, 
 read the refolution, and informed me they were appointed 
 by their fellow citizens to demand of Tho^- & Ifaac Wharton, 
 whether we would execute the truft if the duty was to be 
 paid here ? We told them it involved us in a difficulty 
 which we could not folve, becaufe we had 7iot received the 
 leaji intimation from the Dire^ors, and therefore it was im- 
 poffible to know the exad flate the tea was to be fhipped 
 in, but that we would, on being acquainted with the fituation 
 under which it came, openly communicate the fame, and 
 that we would do nothing to injure the property of the 
 India Com^ or enflave America. This anfwer they received 
 with great fatisfadion, and in the evening they reported to 
 a unanimous body of citizens the anfwers they had received, 
 who gave Tho=- and Ifaac Wharton very evident marks of 
 their approbation for the candid anfwer they gave. 
 
 " Should the tea be fent fubjed to the payment of the 
 duty, I am fatisfied it will not be fuffered to be landed, and 
 that it muft return to London, (unlefs the India Dired- 
 ors have in fuch cafe direded the captain where to proceed 
 with it,) which intimation may be in time to fecure the 
 property by infurance fhould they incline." 
 
 Copies of the above advices were, by order of the Com'.'.' 
 of Warehoufes, fent to Lord Dartmouth in the manner 
 direded by their minute of the 
 
 31 
 
278 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
 LETTER FROM Mr. JONATHAN CLARKE TO 
 EDWARD WHELER, Esq" 
 
 Bofton, New England, 17'- Nov""' 1773. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 After a long detention in the Englifh channel, and 
 a pretty long paffage, I arrived here this morning from 
 England, and there being a veffel to fail for London within 
 a few hours, gives me an opportunity of writing you a few 
 lines on the fubje6l of the confignment of tea, made to our 
 houfe by the Hon'ble Eaft India Company, in which I had 
 your friendly affiftance, and of which I fhall always retain 
 a grateful fenfe. 
 
 I find that this meafure is an unpopular one, and before 
 my arrival fome meafures have been taken to oblige my 
 friends to make a refignation of the truft, which they have 
 not thought fit to comply with. They have wrote to our 
 friend, Mr. Abraham Dupuis, very particularly, refpe6ling 
 the meafures that have been adopted, and to that account I 
 mufl beg leave to refer you, as I have not time to repeat 
 it by this opportunity, but I fhall keep the Company fully 
 advifed in future. 
 
 I fully fee that we fliall meet with difficulty in executing 
 this truft, but our utmofl endeavors fhall be exerted to fulfill 
 the orders we may receive from the Company. 
 
 I am, very refpeftfuUy fu*, your mofl obliged h'ble ferv' 
 
 Edward Wheler, Efq'- Jon^ Clarke. 
 
 Received from the Deputy Chairman, 5'^' Jan"?;' 1774. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 279 
 
 LETTER TO Mr. ABRAHAM DUPUIS. 
 
 Sir. 
 
 Mr. Wheler, chairman of the Eaft India Company, 
 having received a letter from Jonathan Clarke, Efq-"' dated 
 Bofton, i;**^ November laft, wherein he begs leave to refer 
 him to you for the meafures that have been adopted at 
 Bofton, relative to the Company's exportation of tea to that 
 Colony, I am direded by the chairman to defire you would 
 be pleafed to communicate to him the advices you have 
 received from Meffrs. Clarke & Sons, for the information of 
 the Court of Diredors of the Eaft India Company, which 
 will be a favor conferred on him. I am, fir. 
 
 Your moft obd' ferv'' 
 
 Wm. Settle. 
 Eaft India Houfe, 5^"? Jan^' 1774. 
 
 Abraham Dupuis, Efq'- Gracechurch Street. 
 
 LETTER FROM Messrs. CLARKE & SONS, at Boston 
 TO Mr. ABR^ dupuis, 
 
 Referred to i7i Mr. Clarke s Letter to the chairma^t, of 
 
 the if^ Nov''' i7y3. 
 
 Bofton, Nov''-' 1773. 
 Mr. Abraham Dupuis, 
 
 Sir: 
 
 We now embrace the firfl: leifure we have, to give 
 you an account of the proceedings of fome of the inhabitants 
 
28o LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 
 
 of this town, relative to the expe6led importation of teas 
 into this port from the Hon'ble Eaft India Company. As 
 foon as it was known here that the Company had deter- 
 mined on this meafure, and that certain gentlemen of this 
 town were fixed upon as fa6tors, there appeared a diffatif- 
 faction in many perfons. But at firft there did not appear 
 any refentment againfl the fuppofed fa6lors, nor was there, 
 as far as we ever heard, any mention made of a defign to 
 bring them under any obligations not to execute their truft, 
 but the general voice among the oppofers of the Company's 
 plan was, that the teas muft not be landed, or, if landed, 
 not fold. About three or four weeks ago, a printed anony- 
 mous addrefs to the Company's fa6lors was brought to this 
 place by the pofl, either from New York or Philadelphia^ 
 but whether it was fabricated at either of thofe places, or 
 this, we cannot determine. The defign of it was, to repre- 
 fent a number of gentlemen, who cannot juflly be confidered 
 in any other light than commercial fa6tors, as Crown officers, 
 and they, in the faid paper, are expreffly put on the fame 
 footing with the late (lamp officers, doubtlefs with a defign 
 to render them odious to the people, and much is faid in it 
 to diffuade or intimidate them from executing their expe6led 
 truff. Soon after this, a fecond anonymous addrefs, but 
 much more inflammatory, appeared here in one of the newf- 
 papers from New York. Both thefe were printed in one or 
 more of the newfpapers of this town, and feveral other pieces 
 were alfo publifhed here, to roufe the people to an oppofi- 
 tion to the Company's defign, and their rage againft us and 
 the other gentlemen, fadlors for the Company in this place. 
 As things were then circumflanced in this place, we judged 
 it might tend to undeceive many perfons that were mifled, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 281 
 
 to publifli fome obfervations on the Company's plan, to 
 anfwer the obje6lions that were made againft it, and to point 
 out fome of the beneficial confequences attending the execu- 
 tion of it. Accordingly we, by the affiftance of a friend, 
 got printed in Meffrs. Fleet's Evening Poll, of the 24"" 
 06tober, a piece figned Z\ in which this affair is canvaffed 
 with as much freedom as the temper of the times would 
 bear, and altho' this was penned in hafte, and under the 
 refhridlion of the afore-hinted fhackle, we have the fatisfa6lion 
 to find, that in the opinion of the mofl judicious amongft 
 us here, every obje6lion that has been flarted againft the 
 Company's plan is fully anfwered, and altho' this publifh- 
 
 ^ A portion of this article, which fairly 
 represents the views of the consignees 
 on the vexed tea question, is as follows : 
 
 " The objectors say the tea duty will 
 be a means of supporting the Parlia- 
 ment of Great Britain in raising money 
 from us. How it can affect this matter 
 I am utterly at a loss to comprehend. 
 Have not large quantities of tea for 
 some years past been imported into 
 this Province from England, both on 
 account of the dealers in tea there and 
 the merchants here, all which have paid 
 the American duty ? How in the name 
 of common sense does it differ, unless 
 it be in favor of America, for a New 
 England merchant to have his tea 
 shipped from Great Britain, on his own 
 account, or receive it on commission 
 from the grocers there, and on its arriv- 
 al, paying the customary duty, than if 
 it had been shipped by the East India 
 Company, who were the original im- 
 porters ? What consistency is there in 
 
 making a clamour about this small 
 branch of the revenue, whilst we si- 
 lently pass over the articles of sugar, 
 molasses and rum, from which more 
 than three-fourths of the American rev- 
 enue has and always will arise, and 
 when the Act of Parliament imposing 
 duties on these articles stands on the 
 same footing as that respecting tea, and 
 the moneys collected from them are 
 applied to the same purposes ? Many 
 of us complain of the Tea Act, not only 
 as it affects our liberties, but as it 
 affects our purses, by draining us annu- 
 ally of a large sum of money. But if 
 it be considered that by this step the 
 East India Company have taken of 
 sending their tea to market themselves 
 at their own cost, and the saving that 
 is thereby made to the merchants here 
 of commissions, freight and charges of 
 importing it, which will be equal to the 
 whole annual tax that has yet been paid, 
 it must silence that complaint." "Z." 
 
252 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 ment does not feem to have had its defigned effe6t as yet 
 it is to be hoped, when the people s temper is become more 
 cool, that the aforefaid piece, with what has fmce, and may 
 hereafter be pubHflied on this fubje6l, may not entirely fail 
 of the defign propofed. 
 
 Befides thefe paper fkirmifhes, we would inform you that 
 we were told that there were about two or three weeks fmce, 
 feveral nightly meetings, held in various parts of the town, 
 of a large number of perfons, to confult and conclude on 
 fome method to prevent the execution of the Company's 
 plan, but what was fixed at thefe meetings we could not 
 learn. But we were not loft in this uncertainty long, for in 
 the morning of the 2"? inftant, about one o'clock, we were 
 roufed out of our fleep by a violent knocking at the door of 
 our houfe, and on looking out of the window we faw (for the 
 moon fhone very bright) two men in the courtyard. One 
 of them faid he had brought us a letter from the country. 
 A fervant took the letter of him at the door, the contents 
 of which were as follows : 
 
 " Bofton, ift Nov., 1773. 
 Richard Clarke & Son : 
 
 The Freemen of this Province underftand, from 
 good authority, that there is a quantity of tea configned to 
 your houfe by the Eaft India Company, which is deftru6live 
 to the happinefs of every well-wifher to his country. It is 
 therefore expelled that you perfonally appear at Liberty 
 Tree, on Wednefday next, at twelve o'clock at noon day, to 
 make a public refignation of your commiftion, agreeable to 
 a notification of this day for that purpofe. 
 
 Fail not upon your peril. O. C." 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 283 
 
 Two letters of the fame tenor were fent in the fame 
 manner to the other fa6lors. On going abroad we found a 
 number of printed notifications pofted up in various parts 
 of the town, of which the following is a copy : 
 
 " To the Freemen of this and the othej' Towns in the 
 Province. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 You are defired to meet at Liberty Tree, next 
 Wednefday, at twelve o'clock at noon day, then and there 
 to hear the perfons to whom the tea, fliipped by the Eaft 
 India Company, is configned, make a public refignation of 
 their office as confignees, upon oath. And alfo fwear that 
 they will refhip any teas that may be configned to them by 
 the faid Company, by the firft veffel failing for London. 
 
 Boflon, Nov'- ist, 1773. O. C, Secre^- " 
 
 , In this you may obferve a delufory defign to create a 
 public belief that the fa6lors had confented to refign their 
 truft on Wednefday, the 3'' inft., on which day we were 
 fummoned by the above-mentioned letter to appear at 
 Liberty Tree, at 1 1 o'clock, a.m. All the bells of the meeting- 
 houfes for public worfliip were fet a-ringing and continued 
 ringing till twelve ; the town cryer went thro' the town 
 fummoning the people to affemble at Liberty Tree. By 
 thefe methods, and fome more fecret ones made ufe of by 
 the authors of this defign, a number of people, fuppofed by 
 fome to be about 500, and by others more, were colle61ed 
 at the time and place mentioned in the printed notifica- 
 tion. They confifted chiefly of people of the lowefl rank, 
 
284 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 very few reputable tradesmen, as we are informed, appeared 
 amongft them. There were indeed two merchants, reputed 
 rich, and the fele61:men of the town, but thefe laft fay they 
 went to prevent diforder. The gentlemen who are fup- 
 pofed the defigned fa6tors for the Eaft India Comp^ viz : 
 Mr. Tho^- Hutchinfon, Mr. Faneuil, Mr. Winflow & Meffrs. 
 Clarke, met in the forenoon of the 3''' inftant, at the 
 latter's warehoufe, the lower end of King Street. Mr. 
 Eliflia Hutchinfon was not prefent, owing to a mifunder- 
 ftanding of our intended plan of condu61, but his brother 
 engaged to a6l in his behalf. You may well judge that 
 none of us ever entertained the leaffc thoughts of obeying 
 the fummons fent us to attend at Liberty Tree. After 
 a confultation amongft ourfelves and friends, we judged it 
 beft to continue together, and to endeavour, with the af- 
 fiflance of a few friends, to oppofe the defigns of the mob, 
 if they fhould come to offer us any infult or injury. And 
 on this occafion, we were fo happy as to be fupported by a 
 number of gentlemen of the firft rank. About one o'clock, 
 a large body of people appeared at the head of King Street, 
 and came down to the end, and halted oppofite to our ware- 
 houfe. Nine perfons came from them up into our counting- 
 room, viz : Mr. Molineux, Mr. Wm. Dennie, Doctor Warren, 
 Dr. Church, Major Barber, Mr. Henderfon, Mr. Gabriel 
 Johonnot, Mr. Pro6lor, and Mr. Ezekiel Cheever. Mr. Molin- 
 eux, as fpeaker of the above Com'"^ addreffed himfelf to us, 
 and the other gentlemen prefent, the fuppofed fa6lors to the 
 Eaft India Com^' and told us that we had committed an high 
 infult on the people, in refufmg to give them that mofl 
 reafonable fatisfa^tion which had been demanded in the 
 summons or notice which had been fent us, then read a 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 285 
 
 paper propofed by him, to be fubfcribed by the fa6lors, im- 
 porting that they folemnly promife that they would not land 
 or pay any duty on any tea that fhould be fent by the Eafl 
 I. Com^' but that they would fend back the tea to England 
 in the fame bottom, which extravagant demand being firmly 
 refufed, and treated with a proper contempt by all of us, 
 Mr. Molineux then faid that fince we had refufed their moft 
 reafonable demands, we muft expe6l to feel, on our firft 
 appearance, the utmoft weight of the people's refentment, 
 upon which he and the reft of the Com'-^ left our counting- 
 room and warehoufe, and went to and mixed with the 
 multitude that continued before our warehoufe. Soon after 
 this, the mob having made one or two reverfe motions to 
 fome diflance, we perceived them haffcening their pace to- 
 wards the ftore, on which we ordered our fervant to (hut 
 the outward door ; but this he could not effe(5l, although 
 affifted by fome other perfons, amongft whom was Nathaniel 
 Hatch,^ Efq"^-' one of the Juftices of the inferior Court for 
 this country, and a Juftice of the Peace for the county. 
 This gen'?^ made all pofiible exertions to ftem the current of 
 the mob, not only by declaring repeatedly, and with a loud 
 voice, that he was a magiftrate, and commanded the people, 
 by virtue of his office, and in his Majeffcy's name, to defift 
 from all riotous proceedings, and to disperfe, but alfo by 
 affifting in perfon; but the people not only made him a return 
 of infulting & reproachful words, but prevented his endeav- 
 
 ^ Nathaniel Hatch, of Dorchester, 1776; was proscribed and banished in 
 
 graduated at Harvard University, in 1778, and in 1779 was included in the 
 
 1742, and subsequently held the office Conspiracy Act, by which his estate 
 
 of Clerk of the Courts. He accom. was confiscated. He died in 1780. 
 panied the British troops to Halifax, in 
 32 
 
286 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 ors, by force and blows, to get our doors fhut, upon which 
 Mr. Hatch, with fome other of our friends, retreated to our 
 counting-room. Soon after this, the outward doors of the 
 ftore were taken off their hinges by the mob, and carried to 
 fome diftance ; immediately a number of the mob ruflied 
 into the warehoufe, and endeavored to force into the count- 
 ing-room, but as this was in another ftory, and the ftair-case 
 leading to it narrow, we, with our friends — about twenty 
 in number — by fome vigorous efforts, prevented their ac- 
 complifhing their defign. The mob appeared in a fhort 
 time to be difperfed, and after a few more faint attacks, 
 they contented themfelves with blocking us up in the ftore 
 for the fpace of about an hour and a half, at which time, 
 perceiving that much the greateft part of them were drawn 
 off, and thofe that remained not formidable, we, with our 
 friends, left the warehoufe, walked up the length of King 
 Street together, and then went to our refpe6live houfes, 
 without any moleftation, faving fome infulting behavior from 
 a few defpicable perfons. The night following, a menacing 
 letter was thruft under Ma: Faneuil's door, to be communi- 
 cated to the other confignees, with a defign to intimidate 
 them from executing their trufl, and other methods have 
 fmce been made ufe of in the public papers and otherwife, 
 for the fame purpofe. The next day, being the 4"" inff., a 
 notification was fent thro' the town, by order of the fele6l- 
 men, for the inhabitants of the town to meet on this affair 
 the next day, a tranfcript of which, and the proceedings of 
 the town thereon, at their meetings on the 5"" and 6*^ inft., 
 you have a full account of in the enclofed newfpapers, which, 
 being long, we fliall only copy the meffage of the town to 
 us, and our anfwer, which are as follows : — 
 
JOHK HANCOCK'S RkP.V TO W.SHIKOTOn's LeTTHK TO CoNOK.SS, RaCOMMH.O,.. THH BOMBAKOME.T 
 
 OF THE Town of Boston. 
 ashes, issue tlie order for that purpose immediately. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 289 
 
 " Voted, That a Com^?.^ be immediately chofen to wait on 
 thofe gentle" who, it is reported, are appointed by the Eafl 
 India Com^ to receive and fell faid tea, and requeft them, 
 from a regard to their own charader, and the good order and 
 peace of the town and province, immediately to refign their 
 appointments. And the following genf", viz. : the Moderator 
 of the Meeting, Mr. Henderfon Inches, Benj" Auftin, Efq"' 
 and Mr. John Mafon, & the feled men of the town, were 
 appointed a com*?-' accordingly." 
 
 Thefe gent"' all except Mr. Mafon, came to our houfe 
 about one o'clock, p.m., but not having an authenticated 
 copy of the Town's vote, we defired to be favored with one, 
 which was accordingly fent us, in a fhort time, from the 
 moderator, John Hancock, Efq^' to which we returned the 
 
 following anfwer, viz. : — 
 
 "Bofton, Nov^ 5, 1773. 
 
 Sir : .11/1 
 
 It is impoffible for us to comply with the requelt 
 
 of the Town, fignified to us this day by their Com'?^ as we 
 
 know not on what terms the tea, if any of it fhould be fent 
 
 to our care, will come out, nor what obligations, either of a 
 
 moral or pecuniary nature, we may be under to fulfil the 
 
 truft that may be devolved on us. When we are acquainted 
 
 with thefe circumflances, we fliali be better qualified to give 
 
 a definite anfwer to the requeft of the Town. 
 
 We are, fir, your moft humble fervants. 
 
 Rich'' Clarke & Sons, 
 
 Benj'' Faneuil, for felf & Joshua Winslow, Efq'- 
 
 Hon'ble John Hancock, Efq'' 
 
 Moderator of a Town Meeting 
 at Faneuil Hall." 
 
290 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 This anfwer, you'll fee by the enclofed news paper, was 
 unanimoufly voted to be not fatisfactory to the Town, and 
 the next day, on Mr. Hutchinfon's fending into the Town 
 Meeting an anfwer of the fame purport, both his and ours 
 were voted to be daringly affrontive to the Town, but upon 
 what reafons this vote was founded they have not been 
 pleafed to declare. You may obferve that the Town has 
 refolved that they will, by all means in their power, prevent 
 the fale of the teas exported by the Eaft India Company, 
 and in the preamble to this vote it is afferted that the 
 quantities of teas imported into this place fmce a certain 
 agreement, which we prefume they defigned fhould be under- 
 ftood to commence in the fall of 1770, at which time the 
 non-importation agreement ceafed, had been very fmall in 
 proportion to what had been ufual before faid agreement, 
 and that by a few perfons only. In order to fet thofe fa61s 
 in a clear light, we obtained from the cuftom houfe an 
 account of teas imported into this place from the beginning 
 of the year 1768, at which time the firft teas that paid the 
 American duty arrived to this time, and got the fame printed 
 in the enclofed news paper, by which it appears that the fa6t 
 has been groffly mifreprefented, efpecially confidering that 
 this year's importation would probably be encreafed at the 
 end of the year two or three hundred chefls, if the expedled 
 exportation on account of the Eaft India Company had not 
 prevented it. Befides the public tranfa6lions relative to this 
 affair, before recited, we have repeated accounts of the con- 
 tinual nocturnal meetings of the leaders of the mob, and we 
 are informed that they are determined to make the utmofl 
 efforts to prevent the fale of the teas ; that their prefent 
 fcheme, or part of it, is to endeavor, by all methods, even 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 291 
 
 the moft brutal, to force the confignees to give up their 
 truft, and if they fliould fail in this, it is by fome perfons 
 publickly afferted that the tea fliall not be landed, or if it 
 fhould be, that it fhall be burnt.^ 
 
 In our prefent unexpected and difficult fituation, we have 
 only to defire you to affure the gentlemen, who may have 
 configned any part of the Company's teas to our houfe, 
 whom we cannot at prefent write to, as we have not been 
 advifed who the gentlemen are, that we fhall make ufe of 
 the befl advice, and exert our utmofl endeavors to carry into 
 execution the Company's defign, which, as far as we are 
 acquainted with it, we judge to be beneficial to the Colonies, 
 and to this Town and Province efpecially, but whether it 
 will finally be in our power to accomplifh our defign, we 
 are not at prefent certain. We beg the favor of you, fn-, 
 to communicate the foregoing to the gentlemen who may 
 have had the dire6lion of this affair. We are, with the 
 greatefl efteem and higheft fenfe of our obligations to them 
 and you, fir, 
 
 Vour moft obedient & moft humble fervants, 
 Richard Clarke & Sons. 
 
 P. S. — Mr. Faneuil writes to his friend, Mr. Brook 
 Watfon, by this opportunity, advifing him of the tranf- 
 adtions relating to this affair. In cafe of mifcarriaore of 
 his letter, we defire you to communicate this letter to Mr. 
 Watfon. 
 
 ^ The proposition to burn the tea is referred to by Wyeth. See ante p. lxxi. 
 
292 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 EXTRACT OF Mr. FANEUIL'S LETTER TO 
 BROOK WATSON, Esq'' 
 
 MENTIONED IN MR. CLARKE's POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Mr. Faneuil, after giving an account of the proceedings 
 of the inhabitants of the 3"''^ inftant, entirely agreeing in 
 fubftance with Mr. Clarke's relation, goes on — 
 
 " By comparing this account with what Mr. Clarke writes 
 his friend, Mr. Dupuis, of London, you will come at the 
 exa6l flate of the affair. The Governor has given my Lord 
 Dartmouth an account of the condu6l of his Council. I 
 will only fay that next day they voted that the Attorney- 
 General be ordered to profecute the perfons concerned in 
 this riot. The confequence, I fuppofe, will be, the grand 
 jury will not find a bill againft them, and there the affair 
 will end." 
 
 On Thurfday, a letter, of which the following is a copy, 
 was found in my entry: 
 
 " Gentlemen : It is currently reported that you are in the 
 extremeft anxiety refpe6ling your (landing with the good 
 people of this Town and Province, as commiffioners of the 
 fale of the monopolized and dutied tea. We do not wonder 
 in the leaft that your apprehenfions are terrible, when the 
 moft enlightened humane & confcientious community on the 
 earth view you in the light of tigers or mad dogs, whom 
 the public fafety obliges them to deftroy. Long have this 
 people been irreconcilable to the idea of fpilling human 
 blood, on almoft any occafion whatever ; but they have lately 
 feen a penitential thief fuffer death for pilfering a few 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 293 
 
 pounds from fcattering individuals. You boldly avow a 
 refolution to bear a principal part in the robbery of every 
 inhabitant of this country, in the prefent and future ages, 
 of every thing dear and interefting to them. Are there no 
 laws in the Book of God and nature that enjoin fuch mif- 
 creants to be cut off from among the people, as troublers of 
 the whole congregation. Yea, verily, there are laws and 
 oflBcers to put them into execution, which you can neither 
 corrupt, intimidate, nor efcape, and whofe refolution to bring 
 you to condign punifhment you can only avoid by a fpeedy 
 imitation of your brethren in Philadelphia. This people are 
 ftill averfe to precipitate your fate, but in cafe of much 
 longer delay in complying with their indifpenfable demands^ 
 you will not fail to meet the juft rewards of your avarice & 
 infolence. Remember, gent"- this is the laft warning you 
 are ever to expe6l from the infulted, abufed, and moft in- 
 dignant vindicators of violated liberty in the Town of Bofton. 
 
 Thurfday evening, 9 o'clock. 
 
 Nov. 4, 1773. O. C, Sec^' pr order.^ 
 
 To Meffrs. the Tea Commiffioners. 
 Direded to B F Efq-"- " 
 
 On Friday we had a Town Meeting. What was done 
 there, together with our anfwers and their refolves, you'll 
 
 ^This letter, with all its extravagance lar leaders. These, however strongly 
 
 and exaggeration, undoubtedly expresses they felt in relation to ministerial ag- 
 
 the popular feeling, the public senti- gression, were, though direct and forci- 
 
 ment of the time. It is easy to see ble in their utterances, invariably dis- 
 
 from its style, as well as from the creet and temperate in their tone and 
 
 sentiments it contains, that it could language, 
 have emanated from none of the popu- 
 
294 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 fee in the enclQfed news paper. Jufl: before the meeting 
 broke up, feveral gent"' on my telling the purport of our 
 anfwer, advifed me to leave the town for that night ; but I 
 have not yet flept out of my own houfe, nor do I propofe 
 to do it, till I find it abfolutely neceffary. I thought it 
 beff, however, to conceal myfelf for two or three hours. 
 But nothing took place more that evening than is ufual on 
 the 5'" Nov"^- On Friday, we received an information, which 
 was repeated yefterday, that a number of picked men are 
 determined to break into our houfe one night this week. I 
 can hardly believe it, but thefe continued alarms are very 
 I am, gentlemen. 
 
 difagreeable 
 
 Your moft obed* ferv'. 
 
 Benj" Faneuil, Jun'-^ 
 
 ^ Benjamin Faneuil, Jr., was the son 
 of Benjamin, a merchant of Boston, 
 (born, 1 701 ; died, 1785,) and a nephew 
 of Peter Faneuil, to whom Boston is 
 indebted for her " Cradle of Liberty." 
 His place of business was in Butler's 
 Row, and he resided in the Faneuil 
 mansion, on Tremont Street. Before 
 the building of Ouincy Market and 
 South Market Street, Butler's Row 
 entered Merchants Row, between Chat- 
 ham and State Streets. With the other 
 tea consignees, Faneuil fled to the Cas- 
 tle, in Boston harbor, November 30, 1773, 
 
 and being a loyalist, went to Halifax, 
 when Boston was evacuated, in March, 
 1776. In the following spring he was in 
 London, and subsequently resided in 
 Bristol, Eng., where he died. His wife 
 was Jane, daughter of Addington Daven- 
 port. While in London, in lodgings in 
 the Strand, almost opposite Somerset 
 House, he wrote as follows to a friend : 
 " As soon as the Xmas holidays were 
 over, the tea consignees presented a 
 petition to the Lords of the Treasury, 
 praying a support until the affairs in 
 America were settled. We are told we 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 295 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE 
 
 TOWN OF BOSTON, ON THE 5™ & 6™ 
 
 NOVEMBER, 1773, 
 
 Referred to by Mejfrs. Richard Clarke & Sons, & Benj" 
 Faneuil, yun""' in their above mentioned Letters, from 
 the news papers enclofed. 
 
 [From the Massachusetts Gazette of Thursday, Nov. 11, 1773.] 
 
 The following notification was iffued on Thurfday Jaft : 
 The freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of 
 Bofton, qualified as the law directs, are hereby notified to 
 meet at Faneuil Hall, on Friday, the ^"^ day of November 
 inftant, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to 
 confider the petition of a number of the inhabitants, fetting 
 forth, "that they are juftly alarmed at the report that the 
 Eaft India Company, in London, are about fhipping a cargo 
 or cargoes of tea into this and the other Colonies, and that 
 they efleem it a political plan of the Britifli adminiftration, 
 whereby they have reafon to fear, not only the trade upon 
 which they depend for fubfiftence, is threatened to be totally 
 deftroyed, but what is much more than any thing in life to 
 be dreaded, the tribute laid on the foundation of that article 
 will be fixed and eftablifhed, and our liberties, for which we 
 have long ftruggled, will be lofl to them and their poflerity, 
 
 shall be allowed ^150 a year. This is a When we shall be able to return to 
 fine affair, and we can by no means live Boston I cannot say, but hope and be- 
 upon it, but there are such a confounded lieve it will not exceed one year, for 
 parcel of us to be provided for, that I sooner or later America will be con- 
 am told no more will be allowed. . . . quered, that you may depend on." 
 
 33 
 
296 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 and therefore praying that a meeting of the freeholders and 
 other inhabitants, may be immediately called, that fo the 
 fenfe of the matter may be taken, and fuch fteps be purfued 
 as to their fafety and well being fhall appertain." 
 
 By order of the Seledl men, 
 
 William Cooper, Town Clerk. 
 Bollon, Nov' 4'^' 1773. 
 
 On Friday lafl there was a very full meeting of the free- 
 holders, and other inhabitants of this town, in Faneuil Hall, 
 agreeable to a notification iffued by the Sele6l men, when 
 the Hon'ble John Hancock, Efq""' was chofen moderator, and 
 the Town, after due deliberation, came into the following 
 refolutions, viz. : 
 
 Whereas, it appears by an Acl of the Britifli Parliament, 
 paffed in the laft feffion, that the EafI; India Company, in 
 London, are by the faid A61 allowed to export their teas 
 into America in fuch quantities as the Lords of the Treafury 
 fhall think proper. And fome perfons, with an evil intent 
 to amufe the people, and others thro' inattention to the true 
 defign of the A(5l, have fo conftrued the fame as that the 
 tribute of three pence on every pound of tea is to be ex- 
 acted by the deteftable tafk maflers here. Upon the due 
 confideration thereof, — 
 
 Refolved, That the fense of this Town cannot be better 
 expreffed than in the words of certain judicious refolves, 
 lately entered into by our worthy brethren of Philadelphia. 
 W^herefore, 
 
 Refolved, That the difpofal of their own property is the 
 inherent right of freemen ; that there can be no property in 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 297 
 
 that which another can, of right, take from us without our 
 confent ; that the claim of Parliament to tax America is, in 
 other words, to claim a right to levy contributions on us at 
 pleafure. 
 
 2'^- That the duty impofed by Parliament upon tea landed 
 in America, is a tax upon the Americans, or levying con- 
 tributions on them without their confent. 
 
 3'' That the exprefs purpofe for which the tax is levied 
 on the Americans, namely, for the fupport of government, 
 adminiftration of juftice, and the defence of His Majefty's 
 dominions in America, has a dire6t tendency to render af- 
 femblies ufelefs, and to introduce arbitrary government and 
 flavery. 
 
 4"'- That a virtuous and fteady oppofition to this minif- 
 terial plan of governing America is abfolutely neceffary to 
 preferve even the fhadow of liberty, and it is a duty which 
 every free man in America owes to his country, to himfelf 
 and to his pofterity. 
 
 5'^ That the refolution lately agreed to by the Eaft India 
 Company, to fend out their tea to America, fubjecfled to 
 payment of duties on its being landed here, is an open 
 attempt to enforce the miniflerial plan, and a violent attack 
 upon the liberties of America. 
 
 6'^ That it is the duty of every American to oppofe this 
 attempt. 
 
 7'^ That whoever fhall, dire6lly or indire6tly, countenance 
 this attempt, or in any wife aid or abet in unloading, re- 
 ceiving or vending the tea fent or to be fent out by the 
 Eaft India Company, while it remains fubjedl to the pay- 
 ment of a duty here, is an enemy to America. 
 
 8"' That a committee be immediately chofen to wait on 
 
298 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 thofe gentlemen, who, it is reported, are appointed by the 
 Eaft India Company to receive and fell faid tea, and requeft 
 them, from a regard to their own chara6lers, and the peace 
 and good order of this Town and Province, immediately to 
 refign their appointments. 
 
 And the following gentlemen, viz., the Moderator, Mr. 
 Henderfon Inches, Benjamin Auflin, Efq'^- and the Sele6l 
 men of the Town, were appointed a committee accordingly. 
 
 At the fame time, the Town paffed the following refolves, 
 viz. : 
 
 Whereas, the merchants of this Continent, did enter into 
 an agreement to withhold the importation of teas until the 
 duty laid thereon fhould be repealed, which agreement, as we 
 are informed, has been pun6lually obferved by the refpedlable 
 merchants in the Southern Colonies, while, by reafon of the 
 peculiar circumftances attending the trade of this place, 
 some quantities, tho' very fmall in proportion to what had 
 been ufual before faid agreement, have been imported by 
 fome of the merchants here. And whereas, it now appears 
 probable to this Town, that the Britifh adminiftration have 
 taken encouragement, even from fuch fmall importations, to 
 grant licenfes to the Eaft India Company, as aforefaid, 
 therefore, — 
 
 Refolved, That it is the determination of this Town, by 
 all means in their power, to prevent the fale of teas ex- 
 ported by the Eaft India Company, and as the merchants 
 here have generally oppofed this meafure, it is the juft ex- 
 pe6lation of the inhabitants of this town that no one of 
 them will, upon any pretence whatever, import any tea that 
 fhall be liable to pay the duty from this time, and until the 
 A6i impofmg the fame fhall be repealed. 
 
t/^2y^ny^ u^o^a^^n^ . 
 
 Governor Gage, through Col. Fenton, to Samuel Adams, 1773. 
 
 " Mr. Adams, ynu have displeased His Majesty, made yourself liable to be sent to England, and tried 
 for treason. Change your political course, you will receive personal advantages, and also make your peace 
 with the King." 
 
 Mr. Adams' Reply: "I have long since made my peace with the King of Kings. No personal consider- 
 ation shall induce me to abandon the righteous cause of my country-. Tell Gov. Gage_ it is the advice of 
 Samuel .'\dams, to liim, no longer to insiilt the feelings of an already exasperated people." 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 301 
 
 And then the Town adjourned till three o'clock in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 At 3 o'clock, there was again a very full affembly, and 
 the committee reported to the Town that they had waited 
 on Richard Clarke, Efq"^- and Son, and Benjamin. Faneuil, 
 Efq""' faid to be fadlors of the Eaft India Company, and 
 communicated to them the refolve of the Town, whereby 
 they were requefted, immediately, to refign their appoint- 
 ment, and that faid gentlemen informed the committee, that 
 as Meffrs. Thomas & Elifha Hutchinfon, (who are alfo re- 
 ported to be fa6lors of the faid Company,) were at Milton, 
 and not expe61ed in town 'till Saturday evening, and as 
 they chofe to confult them, they could not return an anfwer 
 to the Town 'till Monday morning. 
 
 Then another committee was chofen viz., Mr. Samuel 
 Adams, Mr. Wm. Molineux and Dr. Jofeph Warren, to 
 acquaint Meffrs. Clarke & Faneuil, that as they were not 
 joint fa6lors for the Eaft India Company with the Hutchin- 
 fon's, it was fuppofed they could determine for themfelves, 
 and therefore it was the expectation of the Town that they 
 return an immediate anfwer to the meffage, and this com- 
 mittee reported to the Town that an anfwer might be 
 expe6led in half an hour. 
 
 A motion was then made that a committee be appointed 
 to repair to Milton, and acquaint Meffrs. Thomas and 
 Elifha Hutchinfon, with the requeft of the Town, that they 
 immediately refign their appointment, and John Hancock, 
 Efq-"' Mr. John Pitts, Mr. Samuel Adams, Mr. Samuel 
 Abbott, Dr. Jofeph Warren, Mr. Wm. Powell, and Mr. Nath' 
 Appleton, were appointed for that purpofe. 
 
302 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 A letter was brought into the hall, figned by Richard 
 Clarke & Son, & Benjamin Faneuil, for himfelf & Jofhua 
 Winflow, Efq"^' and dire(5led to the Moderator, to be com- 
 municated to the Town, viz : 
 
 " Bofton, 5'*" Novm'-' 1773. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 It is impoffible for us to comply with the requeft 
 of the Town, fignified to us this day by the committee, as 
 we know not what terms the tea, if any part of it fhould 
 be fent to our care, will come out on, and what obliga- 
 tions, either of a moral or pecuniary nature, we may be 
 under, to fulfil the truff that may be devolved on us. When 
 we are acquainted with thefe circumflances, we fhall be 
 better qualified to give a definitive anfwer to the requeft of 
 the Town. We are, fir. 
 
 Your moft h'ble ferv'-- 
 
 Richard Clarke & Son, 
 Benjamin Faneuil, for felf & Joshua Winslow, Efq'- 
 
 Hon'ble John Hancock, Efq'- 
 
 Moderator of a Town Meeting, alTembled at Faneuil Hall." 
 
 This letter was read, and unanimoufly voted to be not 
 fatisfactory to the Town, and then the meeting adjourned 
 'till the next day, at eleven o'clock, to receive the report of 
 the committee appointed to wait on the Hutchinfons. 
 
 The Town met by adjournment, on Saturday, (the meeting 
 flill continuing very full,) and the committee reported, that 
 they had feen Mr. Thomas Hutchinfon only, (his brother 
 being neither at Milton or Bofton,) and that the Town might 
 expe6l an anfwer from him immediately. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 303 
 
 The following letter was foon after fent in to the Moder- 
 ator, figned Thomas Hutchinfon, which was read, and unani- 
 moufly voted to be an unfatisfactory anfwer, viz. : 
 
 "Sir: 
 
 I know nothing relative to the teas referred to in 
 the requeft or vote of the Town, except that one of my 
 friends has fignified to me by letter, that part of it, he had 
 reafon to believe, would be configned to me and my brother 
 jointly. Under thefe circumftances, I can give no other 
 anfwer to the Town at prefent, than that if the teas fhould 
 arrive, and we fhould be appointed factors, we fliall then 
 be fufficiently informed to anfwer the requeft of the Town. 
 I am, for my brother and felf, fir. 
 
 Your h'ble ferv'' 
 
 Thos. Hutchinson, Jun'- 
 Hon'ble John Hancock, Efq""' 
 
 Moderator of a Town Meetingr, now affembled. 
 
 It was then voted, that the letter, fiarned Richard Clarke 
 & Son, Benjamin Faneuil, for felf and Jofhua Winflow, Efq""' 
 and alfo the letter fiorned Thomas Hutchinfon, which had 
 been read, were daringly affrontive to the Town, and the 
 meeting was immediately diffolved. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF TEA IMPORTED AT BOSTON, 
 
 Referred to above, in Mr. Clarke s Letter, from the fame. 
 
 Mr. Draper : 
 
 Pleafe to publifli the following account of the im- 
 portation of teas from Great Britain, from the commence- 
 
304 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 ment of the year 1768, to the prefent time, for the informa- 
 tion of fuch of your readers as defire to be acquainted 
 therewith : 
 
 Chests. 
 
 In 1768, . . , . . 942 by 82 diff' perfons. 
 1769, 
 1770, 
 
 i77i> 
 
 1772, 
 
 N. B. — The merchants in London, not having executed 
 the orders for tea this fall, on account of the expe6led ex- 
 portation from the Eaft India Company, greatly leffens the 
 quantity of the prefent year. 
 
 Q. 
 
 340 
 
 33 
 
 d°- 
 
 167 
 
 22 
 
 d° 
 
 890 
 
 103 
 
 d°- 
 
 375 
 
 70 
 
 d°- 
 
 378 
 
 61 
 
 d°- 
 
 HALIFAX. 
 
 Mr. Michell prefents his compliments to Mr. 
 Watfon, and by order acquaints him, that the Court of 
 Directors of the Eaft India Company have agreed that the 
 Company's teas, which may be reje(5led at Bofton, and other 
 places in America, fhould be fent to Halifax, in the manner 
 with which Mr. Watfon was acquainted by the Committee, 
 with whom he this day conferred, and Mr. Michell is to 
 defire Mr. Watfon will, as foon as may be, name to him the 
 other houfe here, which is to join in that bufmefs, and the 
 other gentleman at Halifax, to be concerned in the agency 
 there with Mr. John Butler, that the neceffary difpatch may 
 be given to the advices, to go from hence tomorrow, at 10 
 in the forenoon, to the plantation office, and be there for- 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 305 
 
 warded to America. He is alfo to requeft Mr. Watfon, 
 will by that time, convey hither fuch letters as he intends 
 fhould go under the Company's cover, by the fame difpatch 
 to Halifax, relating to this bufmefs 
 Eaft India Houfe, 
 
 Friday evening, f^ Jan^- 1774. 
 
 Jofhua Mauger, Efq"-- Member of Poole, in / 10,000. 
 
 Brook Watfon, / r t 1 1 
 
 Rob^ Raflileigh,! London, merchants, and m ^10,000. 
 
 Joint fecurity for the due execution of the commiffion for 
 the difpofal of the Company's teas by John Butler, Efq""- and 
 Tho^ Cochran, of Halifax. 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 THE AGENTS OF NEW YORK, THEIR PETITION 
 TO THE GOVERNOR, 
 
 Referred to in their Letter of the i'^ Dec''' 
 
 To His Excellency William Tryon, Esq-- Captain-General 
 AND Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New 
 York, and Territories depending thereon, in America, 
 Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same. 
 
 The Memorial of Henry White, Adra'" Lott, & Benj'" Booth, 
 of the City of New York, tnerchants. 
 
 Humbly fheweth : 
 
 That your memorialifls have, by the laft packet, 
 received advices of their being appointed agents by the Eaft 
 34 
 
3o6 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 India Com^' for the fale of certain teas by them fhipped and 
 daily expe6ted to arrive in this port. 
 
 That your memoriaHfls are informed by letter from the 
 Directors of the faid Company, that they have given fecurity 
 in double the value of the tea, that a certificate of its being 
 duly landed fhall be returned to the cuftom houfe, in London. 
 
 That as the faid tea, on its importation, will be fubject to 
 the American duty, and as there is on that account a gen- 
 eral and fpirited oppofition to its being fold, and being well 
 convinced from the nature of the oppofition, that fo con- 
 fiderable a property of the Company will not be fafe unlefs 
 Government takes it under prote6lion, your memorialifts 
 therefore humbly pray that your Excellency will be pleafed 
 to dire(ft fuch steps to be taken for the prefervation of the 
 faid tea, as your Excellency in your wifdom fhall think moft 
 conducive to that end. 
 
 Henry White.^ 
 Abr" Lott. 
 Benj'* Booth. 
 New York, ifl Dec'* 1773. 
 
 ^ Henry White was an eminent and 
 wealthy merchant of New York, a mem- 
 ber of the Council, and an original 
 member and finally president, of the 
 New York Chamber of Commerce. He 
 acted for a time as commissary, while 
 the royal army occupied that city, and 
 being a pronounced loyalist, his estate 
 
 was confiscated. After the peace he 
 went to England, and died in London, 
 December 23, 1786. Eve, his widow, 
 died in New York, in 1836, at the great 
 age of ninety-eight. Of his sons, John 
 Chambers White, became a vice-admiral 
 in the British navy, and Frederick Van 
 Cortland, became a general in the army 
 
:f^7ty 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 309 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
 Proceedings of the inhabitants of the town of Bofton, on 
 the iS^*" Nov'-' 1773, referred to by the agents in their letter 
 of the 2^ Dec^' are miffing, fuppofed to be tranfmitted to 
 Lord Dartmouth.^ 
 
 PETITION OF THE AGENTS, & PROCEEDINGS 
 OF THE COUNCIL OF BOSTON THEREON, 
 
 Referred to by the Agents in their Letter of the 2^ Decern^- 
 
 To His Excellency the Governor and the Hon'ble His 
 Majesty's Council. 
 
 The Petition of Rich^ Clarke & Sons, of Benj" Fanetiil, & 
 Tho'- & ElifJia Hutchinfon. 
 
 That the Hon'ble Eaft India Company, in London, have 
 fliipped a confiderable quantity of tea for the port of Bofton, 
 and as your petitioners are made to underftand, will be con- 
 figned to their addrefs for fale. 
 
 That fome of your petitioners have in confequenee of this 
 been cruelly infulted in their perfons and property ; that they 
 have had infulting and incendiary letters left and thrown 
 into their houfes in the night ; that they have been re- 
 peatedly attacked by a large body of men ; that one of the 
 houfes of your petitioners was affaulted in the night by a 
 
 ^ See D. XXXV.. ante. 
 
3IO LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 tumultuous and riotous affembly of people, and violent 
 attempts made to force the houfe for the fpace of two 
 hours, that have greatly damaged the fame ; that they are 
 threatened in their perfons and property, and further with 
 the deftru6lion of the faid tea on its arrival into the port ; 
 and that the refolves and proceedings of the Town, in their 
 meetings on the 5'^ and 18'^ infl., are intended to be expref- 
 five of the general fenfe of the Town, to which we beg leave 
 to refer your Excellency and the Honorable Board. 
 
 Your petitioners therefore beg leave to refign themfelves, 
 and the property committed to their care, to your Excellency 
 and Honors, as the guardians and protedlors of the people, 
 humbly praying that meafures may be dire6ted to, for the 
 landing and fecuring the teas, until your petitioners can be 
 at liberty, openly and fafely, to difpofe of the fame, or until 
 they can receive dire6tions from their conflituents. 
 
 Signed, Rich'' Clarke, 
 
 Benj" Faneuil, Jun'- 
 Tho^- & Elisha Hutchinson. 
 A true copy from the original. 
 Petition on file. Atteft: 
 
 Signed, Tho' Flucker, Sec^- 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL THEREON, 
 
 At a Council held at the Council Chamber, in Bojlon, upon 
 
 Friday, Nov^ ig, i^ys. 
 
 Prefent : 
 
 His Excellency Thomas Hutchinfon, Efq""" Governor. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 311 
 
 Ifaac Royal/ 
 John Erving, 
 Wm. Brattle," 
 
 James Bowdoin, ] James Pitts, 
 Efq--^- James Ruffell, ^ Efq^^ 
 
 James Otis, j Sam' Dexter, Efq' 
 
 His Excellency reprefented to the Council the tumults 
 and diforders prevailing in the town of Boflon, and required 
 their advice upon meafures proper for preferving the peace, 
 and for fupporting the authority of Government. Whilft 
 the Council were debating on the fubje(5t, a petition from 
 Rich^ Clarke, Benj" Faneuil, and Meffrs. Tho^- and Elifha 
 Hutchinfon, to the Governor and Council was prefented, 
 fetting forth that the Hon'ble Eaft India Com^- in London, 
 have fhip'd a confiderable quantity of tea for the port of 
 Bofton, which they are made to underfland, will be configned 
 to their addrefs, for fale, and that fome of them have, in 
 confequence of this, been cruelly infulted in their perfons and 
 
 1 Isaac Royal, of Medford, died in 
 England, in October, 1781. He was a 
 representative from Medford to the 
 General Court, and for twenty-two years 
 a member of the Council. In 1774, he 
 was appointed a Councillor under the 
 writ of mandamus, but was never sworn 
 into office. Appointed a brigadier- 
 general in 1 761, and the first who bore 
 that title here. He left the country 
 April 16, 1775; was proscribed in 1778, 
 and his estate was confiscated. He 
 bequeathed upwards of two thousand 
 acres of land in Worcester County, Mass., 
 to found the first law professorship of 
 Harvard University, and his bequests for 
 other purposes were numerous and 
 liberal. 
 
 2 William Brattle, F. R. S., lawyer, 
 
 preacher, physician, soldier and legis- 
 lator, son of Rev. William, minister, of 
 Cambridge, died in Halifax, N. S., in 
 October, 1776; aged seventy-four. He 
 was graduated at Harvard University, in 
 1722; was distinguished both for his 
 talents and eccentricities ; was a repre- 
 sentative from Cambridge, and many 
 years a member of the Council ; a mem- 
 ber of the Stamp Act Congress in 1 765 ; 
 a major-general of militia, and was a 
 member of every profession, and emi- 
 nent in all. For many years he pleased 
 both the Government and the people, 
 but finally forfeited the good will of the 
 Whigs, and accompanied the British 
 soldiers to Hahfax on the evacuation of 
 Boston, and died there a few months 
 after his arrival. 
 
312 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 property. They therefore beg leave to refign themfelves, 
 and the property committed to their care, to the Governor 
 and Council, as the guardians and prote6lors of the people, 
 and pray that meafures may be directed to, for the landing 
 and fecuring the teas, until they can be at liberty, openly and 
 fafely, to difpofe of the fame, or until they can receive 
 dire6lions from their conftituents. After long debate, it was 
 propofed and agreed that his Excellency be defired to ap- 
 point a future day for the Council to fit, and he appointed 
 the 2Tf^ infl., and the Council adjourned the further con- 
 fideration to that time accordingly. 
 
 November 23*^' 1773. Prefent in Council: His Excellency 
 Tho^- Hutchinfon, Efq'" Governor. 
 
 Ifaac Royal, 1 p^ „. James Bowdoin, 1 James Pitts, 
 
 John Erving, J James Ruffell, !- Efq"- John Winthrop, 
 
 James Otis, j Efq""^' 
 
 His Excellency directed the Council to proceed in the 
 confideration of the petition of Rich'' Clarke, Efq""' and 
 others, as entered the 19"' infl., for which purpofe he had 
 ordered them to fit at this time, and a debate being had 
 thereupon, it was moved to his Excellency that the Council 
 might fit on a further day, there being only a bare quorum 
 prefent, to which his Excellency agreed ; advifed that all 
 thofe members of the Council who live within 40 miles of 
 the town of Bofton be fummoned then to attend, which was 
 done accordingly, to meet on Saturday, the 27"^ infl. 
 
 Novem' 27"'- Prefent in Council : His Excellency Tho^- 
 Hutchinfon, Efq''' Governor. 
 
THOMAS C;A(;K, THK last k()\AI, COVKkNOR. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 315 
 
 Samuel Danforth/ James Ruffel, James Humphrey, 
 Ifaac Royal, James Pitts, Artemas Ward, 
 
 John Erving, Samuel Dexter, John Winthrop, Efq"- 
 
 James Bowdoin. George Leonard. 
 
 His Excellency, after reprefenting to the Council the dif- 
 orders prevailing in the town of Bofton, recommended to 
 them to proceed on the petition of Rich'* Clarke, and others, 
 relative to thofe diforders, and required their advice. After 
 a long debate, it was moved to his Excellency that a Com'?'' 
 of the Council be appointed to prepare the refult of the faid 
 debate, to be laid before his Excellency, to which he con- 
 fented, and James Bowdoin, Sam? Dexter, and John Win- 
 throp, Efq'"' were appointed accordingly. Mr. Bowdoin 
 made a report, which was confidered and debated by the 
 Council, and it was moved to his Excellency that he would 
 adjourn the Council to a future day for further confideration, 
 and he appointed Monday, the 29'^' for that purpofe. 
 
 Novem"" 29'''' 1773. Prefent in Council: His Excellency 
 Tho^- Hutchinfon, Efq""' Governor. 
 
 Samuel Danforth, Efq'- James Bowdoin, Geo. Leonard, 
 Ifaac Royal, James Ruffell, Artemas Ward, 
 
 John Erving, James Pitts, John Winthrop, 
 
 Samuel Dexter, Efq'* 
 
 ^Samuel Danforth, son of Rev. John, Register of Probate, 1731-45; Judge of 
 
 of Dorchester, died in Boston, at the Probate, 1745-75 ; and Judge of the 
 
 house of his son, Dr. Samuel Danforth, Court of Common Pleas, 1741-75. At 
 
 27th October, 1777; aged about eighty- the Revolution he passed out of office, 
 
 one. He was graduated at Harvard but was so quiet in his deportment that, 
 
 University, in 1715; taught school; was though understood to be a loyalist, he 
 
 a Selectman in 1733-39; representative was not disturbed in the possession of 
 
 1734-38; member of the Council 1739- his property. He was distinguished for 
 
 1774, and several years its president ; his love of the natural sciences. 
 
3l6 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 His Excellency dire6led that the Council proceed upon 
 the bufinefs for which it (lands adjourned. After debate 
 upon the report of the Com'''-'' the queftion whether it fhould 
 be accepted was put, which paffed unanimoufly in the 
 afifirmative as the advice of the Council to his Excellency, 
 in the words following, viz. : 
 
 Previous to the confideration of the petition before the 
 Board, they would make a few obfervations occafioned by 
 the fubje(?t of it. The fituation of things between Great 
 Britain and the Colonies has been for fome years paft very 
 unhappy. Parliament, on the one hand, has been taxing 
 the Colonies, and they, on the other hand, have been peti- 
 tioning and remonftrating againft it, apprehending they have 
 conftitutionally an exclufive right of taxing themfelves, and 
 that without fuch a right, their condition would be but little 
 better than ilavery. 
 
 Poffeffed of thefe fentiments, every new meafure of Parlia- 
 ment tending to eftablifh and confirm a tax on them renews 
 and increafes their diftrefs, and it is particularly encreafed by 
 the A61 lately made, empowering the Eaft India Company 
 to fhip their tea to America. This A61, in a commercial 
 view, they think introdu6live of monopolies, and tending to 
 bring on them the extenfive evils thence arifmg. But their 
 great obje6lion to it is from its being manifeftly intended 
 (tho' that intention is not expreffed therein,) more effectually 
 to fecure the payment of the duty on tea, laid by an A6i 
 of Parliament paffed in the f^ year of his prefent Majefly, 
 entitled, " An A6f: for granting certain duties in the Britifli 
 colonies and plantations in America," which A61 in its 
 operation deprives the colonics of the right above mentioned 
 (the exclufive right of taxing themfelves), which they hold to 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 317 
 
 be fo effential a one that it cannot be taken away or given 
 up, without their being degraded, or degrading themfelves 
 below the chara6ler of men. 
 
 It not only deprives them of that right, but ena6ls that 
 the monies arifmg from the duties granted by it may be 
 applied " as his Majefty or his fucceffors fhall think proper 
 or neceffary for defraying the charges of the adminiftration 
 of juftice and the fupport of the civil government, in all or 
 any of the faid colonies or plantations." 
 
 This claufe of the A6i has already operated in fome of 
 the colonies, and in this colony in particular, with regard to 
 the fupport of civil government, and thereby has operated 
 in diminution of its charter rights to the great grief of the 
 good people of it, who have been and ftill are greatly 
 alarmed by repeated reports, that it is to have a further 
 operation with refpecft to the defraying the charge of the 
 adminiflration of juftice, which would not only be a further 
 diminution of thofe rights, but tend in all conflitutional 
 queftions, and in many other cafes of importance to bias 
 the judges againft the fubje6l. They humbly rely on the 
 juftice and goodnefs of his Majefty for the reftitution and 
 prefervation of thofe rights. 
 
 This fhort ftatement of fa(5ls the board thought it neceffary 
 to be given to fhew the caufe of the prefent great uneafmefs 
 which is not confined to this neighbourhood, but is general 
 and extenfive. The people think their exclufive right of 
 taxing themfelves by their reprefentatives, infringed and 
 violated by the A61 above mentioned. That the new A61 
 empowering the Eaft India Company to import their tea 
 into America confirms that violation, and is a new effort, 
 not only more effectually to fecure the payment of the tea 
 
 35 
 
31 8 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 
 
 duty, but lay a foundation for enhancing it, and in a like 
 way, if this fhould fucceed, to lay other taxes on America. 
 That it is in its attendants and confequences ruinous to the 
 liberties and properties of themfelves and their pofterity ; 
 that as their numerous petitions for relief have been reje6led, 
 the faid New A6i demonflrates an indifpofition in minif- 
 try that Parliament fhould grant them relief ; that this is 
 the fource of their diftrefs, a diftrefs that borders upon 
 difpair, and that they know not where to apply for relief. 
 
 Thefe being the fentiments of the people, it is become 
 the indifpenfible duty of this Board to mention them that 
 the occafion of the late demands on Mr. Clarke and others, 
 the agents of the Eafl India Company, and of the confe- 
 quent difturbances, the authors of which we have advifed 
 fliould be profecuted, but to give a jufl: idea of the rife of 
 them. 
 
 On this occafion, juftice impels us to declare that the 
 people of this Town and Province, tho' they have a high 
 fenfe of liberty derived from the manners, the example and 
 conftitution of the mother country, have, 'till the late parlia- 
 mentary taxation of the Colonies, been as free from dif- 
 turbances as any people whatever. 
 
 This reprefentation the Board thought neceffary to be 
 made prior to their taking notice of the petition of the 
 agents above mentioned, to the confideration of which they 
 now proceed. 
 
 The petitioners beg leave " to refign themfelves, and the 
 property committed to their care, to his Excellency and the 
 Board, as guardians and protestors of the people, praying 
 that meafures may be dire6ted to for the. landing and fecur- 
 ing the tea," &c. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 319 
 
 With regard to the perfonal prote6lion of the petitioners, 
 the Board have not been informed that they have applied 
 for it to any of the juftices of the peace, they being vefted 
 by law with all the authority neceffary for the protection of 
 his Majefty's fubje6ts. In the principal inftance of abufe of 
 which they complain, the Board have already advifed that 
 the authors of it fhould be profecuted according to law, and 
 they do advife the fame in the other inftances mentioned 
 in their petition. 
 
 With regard to the tea committed to the care of the 
 petitioners, the Board have no authority to take either that 
 or any other merchandize out of their care, and fliould they 
 do it, or give any order or advice concerning it, and a lofs 
 enfue, they apprehend they fhould make themfelves refponfi- 
 ble for it. With refpe6t to the prayer of the petition, that 
 meafures may be dire6led to " for the landing and fecuring 
 the tea," the Board would obferve on it, that the duty on the 
 tea becomes payable, and muft be paid or fecured to be 
 paid on its being landed, and fhould they dire6l or advife to 
 any meafure for landing it, that would of courfe advise to a 
 meafure for procuring the payment of the duty, and therefore 
 by advifmg to a meafure inconfiffent with the declared fenti- 
 ment of both houfes in the laft winter feffion of the General 
 Court, which they apprehend to be altogether inexpedient 
 and improper. 
 
 The Board, however, on this occafion affure your Excel- 
 lency that as they have feen, with regret, fome late dif- 
 turbances, and have advifed to the profecuting the authors 
 of them, fo they will in all legal methods endeavor to the 
 utmoff of their power to prevent them in future. 
 
 Whereupon advifed that his Excellency renew his orders 
 
320 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 to his majefty's juftices of the peace, fheriffs, and other 
 peace officers, to exert themfelves to the utmoft for the 
 fecurity of his Majefty's fubje6ts, the prefervation of peace 
 and good order, and for preventing all offences againft the 
 laws. 
 
 His Excellency thereupon demanded of the Council 
 whether they would give him no advife upon the diforders 
 then prevailing in the town of Bofton, and it was anfwered 
 in general that the advife already given was intended for 
 that purpofe. 
 
 A true copy from the minutes of the Council. 
 
 Atteft: 
 
 Tho^- Fi.ucker, Sec'"' 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON ON 
 
 THE 29^" & 30^" NOVEMB^' 1773, 
 
 Referred to by the Agents there, in their Letter of the 
 2"* December, ///J. 
 
 At a meeting of the people of Bofton and the neighbour- 
 ing towns, in Faneuil Hall, in faid Bofton, on Monday, 29''' 
 Novem""' 1773, nine o'clock, a.m., and continued by adjourn- 
 ment to the next day, for the purpofe of confulting, advifmg, 
 and determining upon the moft proper and effe6lual method 
 to prevent the unloading, receiving or vending the deteftable 
 tea fent out by the Eaft India Company, part of which 
 being juft arrived in this harbour, in order to proceed with 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 321 
 
 due regularity, it was moved that a moderator be chofen, 
 and Jonathan Williams, Efq""* was then chofen moderator of 
 the meeting. # 
 
 A motion was made, that as the Town of Boflon had 
 determined, at a late meeting, legally affembled, that they 
 would, to the utmofl of their power, prevent the landing of 
 the tea, the queftion being put whether this body be abfo- 
 lutely determined that the tea now arrived, in Cap' Hall's 
 ihip, fhall be returned to the place from whence it came, 
 at all events, and the queftion being accordingly put, it 
 paffed in the affirmative, neni. con. 
 
 It appearing that the hall could not contain the people 
 affembled, it was voted that the meeting be immediately 
 adjourned to the Old South meeting-houfe, leave having 
 been obtained for this purpofe. 
 
 The people met at the Old South, according to adjourn- 
 ment. 
 
 A motion was made, and the queftion put, viz. : Whether 
 it is the firm refolution of this body, that the tea fhall not 
 only be fent back, but that no duty fhall be paid thereon, 
 and paffed in the affirmative, netn. con. 
 
 It was moved, that in order to give time to the con- 
 fignees to confider and deliberate before they fent in pro- 
 pofals to this body, as they had given reafon to expedl 
 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 purpofe. 
 
 Three o'clock, p.m. Met according to adjournment. 
 
 A motion was made whether the tea non arrived in Cap* 
 
322 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Hall's fhip, fliall be fent back in the fame bottom. Faffed 
 in the affirmative, nein. con. 
 
 Mr. Rotch, the owner of the veffel, being prefent, in- 
 formed that body that he fhould enter his protefl againft 
 their proceedings. 
 
 It was then moved and voted, ncm. con., that Mr. Rotch 
 be dire6led not to enter this tea, and that the doing of it 
 will be at his peril. 
 
 Alfo voted, that Cap'- Hall, the mafter of the fhip, be in- 
 formed that, at his peril, he is not to fuffer any of the tea 
 brought by him, to be landed. 
 
 A motion was made, that in order for the fecurity of 
 Cap' Hall's fhip and cargo, a watch may be appointed, and 
 it was voted that a watch be accordingly appointed, to con- 
 fift of 25 men. 
 
 Cap'- Edward Pro6for was appointed by the body to be 
 cap^- of the watch for this night, and the names were given 
 in to the moderator of the townfmen who were volunteers 
 upon the occafion. 
 
 It having been obferved to the body that Governor Hutch- 
 infon had required the juftices of the peace in this town 
 to meet and ufe their endeavours to fupprefs any routs, or 
 riots, &c., of the people, that might happen, it was moved 
 and the queftion put, whether it be not the fenfe of this 
 meeting that the Governor's condu6l herein carries a defigned 
 refle6lion upon the people here met, and is folely calculated 
 to ferve the views of adminiftration. Faffed in the affirma- 
 tive, nem. con. 
 
 The people being informed by Colonel Hancock that Mr. 
 Copley, fon-in-law to Mr. Clarke, fen"^-' had acquainted him 
 that the tea confignees did not receive their letters from 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 323 
 
 London 'till lalt evening, and were fo difperfed that they 
 could not have a joint meeting early enough to make their 
 propofals at the time intended, and therefore are defirous of 
 a further fpace for that purpofe. 
 
 [It is neceffary to note that Mr. Copley, and fome others, 
 our friends informing us, that to prevent immediate outrage, 
 it was neceffary for us to fend fomething in writing to the 
 Sele^l men, which we then did, abfolutely refufmg to do what 
 they had before informed us the people expelled ; but Mr. 
 Copley, on his return to town, fearing the moft dreadful 
 confequences, thought beft not to deliver our letter to the 
 Sele6t men, he returned to us at night reprefenting this. 
 We then wrote the letter you fee printed in this paper.] 
 
 The meeting, out of great tendernefs to thefe perfons, and 
 from a ilrong defire to bring this matter to a conclufion, 
 notwithftanding the time they had hitherto expended upon 
 them, to no purpofe, were prevailed upon to adjourn to the 
 next morning, 9 o'clock. 
 
 Thurfday morning, nine o'clock. 
 
 Met according to adjournment. 
 
 The long-expedled propofals were at length brought into 
 this meeting, not directed to the moderator, but to John 
 ScoUay, Efq'-' one of the Seledl men. It was, however, 
 voted that the fame fhould be read, and they were, as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 "Monday, Nov' 29"'' 1773. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 We are forry that we could not return to the Town 
 fatisfadlory anfwers to their two. late .meffages to us refpe6l- 
 
324 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 ing the teas. We beg leave to acquaint the gentlemen, 
 Sele6i: men, that we have fmce received our orders from the 
 Hon'ble Eafl India Com'' 
 
 We ftill retain a difpofition to do all in our power to give 
 fatisfa(5lion to the Town ; but, as we underftood from you 
 and the other gentlemen, Sele(5l men, at Meffrs. Clarke's 
 interview with you lall Saturday, that this can be effe6ted 
 by nothing lefs than our fending back the teas, we beg 
 leave to fay that this is utterly out of our power to do, but 
 we do now declare to you our readinefs to flore the teas 
 until we fhall have an opportunity of writing to our con- 
 ftituents, and fhall receive their further orders refpe(5ling 
 them, and we do moft fmcerely wifh that the Town, con- 
 fidering the unexpe(5led difficulties devolved upon us, will be 
 fatisfied with what we now offer. We are, fir, 
 
 Your moil humble fervants, 
 
 Tho^- & Elisha Hutchinson.^ 
 Benj** Faneuil, Jun'' for felf and 
 Joshua Winslow, Efq^' 
 Richard Clarke & Sons. 
 
 To John Scollay, Efq^" 
 
 ^ Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, 
 sons of Governor Hutchinson, were 
 merchants and partners in business, and 
 consignees of one-third of the tea 
 shipped to Boston. I have seen no 
 evidence of a pecuniary interest in this 
 shipment on the part of the Governor, 
 as is asserted by the historian Bancroft. 
 Their names were given to the East 
 India Company by a London corre- 
 
 spondent, who solicits the consignment 
 for them, without mentioning their con- 
 nection with the Governor. Thomas, jr., 
 born in Boston, in 1740, was a man- 
 damus Councillor and Judge of Probate, 
 and was proscribed and banished. When 
 the condition of the country became un- 
 pleasantly hostile, he left the mansion 
 house at Milton, and took shelter in 
 Boston, but left all the furniture, silver 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 325 
 
 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 affembled, might be read, and it was accordingly 
 read. 
 
 Whereupon it was moved, and the queftion put, whether 
 the flieriff fhould be permitted to read the proclamation, 
 which paffed in the affirmative, nem. con. 
 
 The proclamation is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " Maffachufetts Bay. By the Governor. 
 
 To Jonathan Williams, Efq''" ailing as Moderator of an 
 ajfembly of people, in the Town of Boflon, and to the 
 people fo af/emdled : 
 
 Whereas, printed notifications were on Monday, the 29**" 
 infl., pofted in divers places in the town of Bofton, and 
 publifhed in the news papers of this day, calling upon the 
 people to affemble together for certain unlawful purpofes, in 
 fuch notifications mentioned ; and whereas, great numbers 
 of perfons belonging to the town of Bofton, and divers 
 others belonging to feveral other towns in the Province, did 
 
 plate, &c., expecting to be able to pass died at Blurton Parsonage, Trentham, 
 
 and repass at pleasure. When Boston Staffordshire, 'England, in November, 
 
 was evacuated, he and his family, and 1824. His wife, Mary, daughter of Col. 
 
 Peter Oliver and family, embarked for George Watson, of Plymouth, Mass., 
 
 London, in the " Lord Hyde" packet. died at Birmingham, England, in 1803. 
 
 He settled at Heavitree, near Exeter, " Neither of my sons," wrote the Gover- 
 
 in Devonshire, and died there in 1811. nor, in March, 1774, "have dared to 
 
 His wife was Sarah Oliver. appear in Boston since the latter part 
 
 Elisha, his brother, born in 1745, of November, to the total neglect and 
 
 graduated at Harvard University, in ruin of their business." 
 1762; was proscribed and banished, and 
 
 36 
 
326 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 affemble in the faid town of Bofton, on the faid day, and 
 did then and there proceed to chufe a moderator, and to 
 confult, debate, and refolve upon ways and means for carry- 
 ing fuch unlawful purpofes into execution, openly violating, 
 defying and fetting at naught the good and wholefome laws 
 of the Province, and the conftitution of government under 
 which they live ; and whereas, the people thus affembled, 
 did vote or agree to adjourn, or continue their meeting to 
 this the 30*'' inft., and great numbers of them are again met 
 or affembled together for the like purpofe, in the faid town 
 of Bofton : 
 
 In faithfulnefs to my trufl, and as his Majefty's reprefenta- 
 tive within the Province, I am bound to bear teflimony 
 againft this violation of the laws, and I warn and exhort you 
 and require you, and each of you thus unlawfully affembled 
 forthwith, to difperfe and to furceafe all further unlawful 
 proceedings at your utmoft peril. 
 
 Given under my hand, at Milton, in the Province afore- 
 faid, the 30*'' day of Nov""- 1773, and in the fourteenth year 
 of his Majefly's reign. 
 
 T. Hutchinson. 
 
 By his Excellency's command. 
 
 Tho" Flucker, Sec^" 
 
 And the fame being read by the flieriff,^ there was, im- 
 mediately after, a loud and very general hifs. 
 
 A motion was then made, and the queftion put whether 
 the affembly would difperfe and furceafe all further proceed- 
 
 1 Stephen Greenleaf, sheriff of Suffolk 1776. He died in Boston, in 1795 ; aged 
 County, was arrested by the Council of ninety-one. 
 Massachusetts as a loyalist, in April, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 327 
 
 ings, according to the Governor's requirement. It paffed 
 in the neg^' nem. con. 
 
 A propofal of Mr. Copley was made, that in cafe he 
 could prevail with the Meffrs. Clarkes to come into this 
 meeting, the queftion might now be put, whether they fliould 
 be treated with civility while in the meeting, though they 
 might be of different fentiments with this body, and their 
 perfons be fafe, until their return to the place from whence 
 they fliould come. And the queftion being accordingly put, 
 paffed in the afBrmative, ^lem. coji. 
 
 Another motion of Mr. Copley's was put, whether two 
 hours fliall be given him, which alfo paffed in the affirmative. 
 
 Adjourned 'till two o'clock, p.m. 
 
 Two o'clock, P.M. Met according to adjournment. A 
 motion was made and paffed, that Mr. Rotch and Capt" 
 Hall be defired to give their attendance. Mr. Rotch ap- 
 peared, and upon a motion made, the queffion was put, 
 whether it is the firm refolution of this body, that the tea 
 brought by Capt" Hall fliall be returned by Mr. Rotch to 
 England, in the bottom in which it came, and whether they 
 accordingly now require the fame, which paffed in the 
 affirmative, nem, con. 
 
 Mr. Rotch then informed the meeting, that he fhould 
 proteft againft the whole proceedings, as he had done againft 
 the proceedings on yefterday, but that, tho' the returning 
 the tea is an a6l in him, he yet confiders himfeif as under 
 a neceffity to do it, and fhall therefore comply with the 
 requirement of this body. 
 
 Captain Hall being prefent, was forbid to aid or affift in 
 unloading the teas at his peril, and ordered, that if he con- 
 
328 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 tinues mafter of the veffel, he carry the fame back to Lon- 
 don, who repUed, he fhould comply with thefe requirements. 
 
 Upon a motion, refolved, that John Rowe, Efq""- owner of 
 part of Cap'- Bruce's iliip, expe6led with tea, as alfo Mr. 
 Timmins, fadlor for Cap'- Cofifin's brig, be dehred to attend. 
 
 Mr. Ezekiel Cheever was appointed captain of the watch 
 for this night, and a fufBcient number of volunteers gave in 
 their names for that fervice. 
 
 Voted, that the captain of this watch be defired to make 
 out a lift of the watch for the next night, and fo each 
 captain of the watch for the following nights, until the 
 veffels leave the harbour. 
 
 Upon a motion made, voted, that in cafe it fhould happen 
 that the watch fhould be any ways molefted 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 fix perfons be appointed, to be in readinefs, 
 to give due notice to the country towns, when they fhall be 
 required fo to do, upon any important occafion, and fix per- 
 fons were accordingly chofen for that purpofe. 
 
 John Rowe, Efq""- attended, and was informed that Mr. 
 Rotch had engaged, that his veffel fhould carry back the 
 tea fhe brought, in the fame bottom, and that it was the 
 expe6lation of this body that he does the fame by the tea, 
 expedled in Cap'- Bruce, whereupon he replied, that the fhip 
 was under the care of the faid mafter, but that he would 
 ufe his utmoft endeavor, that it fhould go back as required 
 by this body, and that he would give immediate advice of 
 the arrival of faid fhip. 
 
 Voted, that it is the fenfe of this body, that Cap'- Bruce 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 329 
 
 fhall, on his arrival, ftridlly conform to the votes paffed 
 refpe6ting Cap'- Hall's velTel, as they had all been paffed in 
 reference to Cap'- Bruce's fliip. 
 
 Mr. Timmins appeared and informed, that Cap'- Coffin's brig 
 expe6ted with tea, was owned in Nantucket. He gave his word 
 of honor that no tea fhould be landed while flie 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 fatisfa6tory to the body. 
 
 Mr. Copley^ returned, and acquainted the body, that as 
 he had been obliged to go to the caftle, he hoped that if 
 he had exceeded the time allowed him, they would confider 
 the difficulty of a paffage by water at this feafon, as an 
 apology. He then further acquainted the body, that he 
 had feen all the confignees, and though he had convinced 
 them that they might attend this meeting with fafety, 
 and had ufed his utmoft endeavors to prevail on them to 
 give fatisfadlion to the body, they acquainted him, that be- 
 lieving nothing would be fatisfa6lory fliort of refhipping 
 the tea, which was out of their power, they thought it 
 beft not to appear, but would renew their propofal of 
 floring the tea, and fubmitting the fame to the infpedlion 
 of a committee, and that they could go no further with- 
 out incurring their own ruin ; but as they had not been 
 a(5live in introducing the tea, they fliould do nothing to 
 obftru6l the people in their procedure with the fame. 
 
 1 John Singleton Copley, a famous self-taught artist, and after painting 
 
 painter, son-in-law of Richard Clarke, many portraits in Boston, settled in 
 
 and father of Lord Lyndhurst, was born London in 1775, and acquired a high 
 
 in Boston, July 3, 1737, and died in reputation. 
 London, September 9, 1813. He was a 
 
330 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 It was then moved, and the queftion put whether the 
 return made by Mr. Copley from the confignees be in the 
 leaft degree fatisfactory to this body. It paffed in the 
 negative, ^letn. con. 
 
 Whereas, a number of merchants in this Province have 
 inadvertently imported tea from Great Britain, while it is 
 fubjedl to the payment of a duty, impofed upon it by an 
 A61 of Parliament, for the purpofe of raifmg a revenue in 
 America, and appropriating the fame, without the confent of 
 thofe who are required to pay it, Refolved, that in thus im- 
 porting faid tea, they have juftly incurred the difpleafure of 
 our brethren in the other Colonies. 
 
 And refolved further, that if any perfon or perfons fliall 
 hereafter import tea from Great Britain, fliall take the fame 
 on board, to be imported to this place, until the faid un- 
 righteous A6t fliall be repealed, he or they fhall be deemed 
 by this body an enemy to his country, and we will prevent 
 the landing and fale of the fame, and the payment of any 
 duty thereon, and we will effe6t the return thereof to the 
 place from whence it fliall come. 
 
 Refolved, that the foregoing vote be printed and fent to 
 England, and all the fea ports in this Province. 
 
 Upon a motion made, voted that fair copies be taken of 
 the whole proceedings of this meeting, and tranfmitted to 
 New York and Philadelphia, and that Mr. Samuel Adams, 
 Hon'ble John Hancock, Efq"' William Phillips, Efq""- John 
 Rowe, Efq''-' Jonathan Williams, Efq""- be a committee to 
 tranfmit the fame. 
 
 Voted, That it is the determination of this body to carry 
 their votes and refolutions into execution, at the risque of 
 their lives and property. ' 
 
 1 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 331 
 
 Voted, That the committee of correfpondence for this 
 town be defired to take care, that every other veffel with 
 tea that arrives in this harbour, have a proper watch ap- 
 pointed for her; alfo. 
 
 Voted, That thofe perfons who are defirous of making a 
 part of thefe nightly watches, be defired to give in their 
 names at Meffrs. Edes & Gill's printing office. 
 
 Voted, That our brethren in the country be defired to 
 afford their affiftance upon the firft notice given, efpecially 
 if fuch notice be given upon the arrival of Capt° Loring, in 
 Mr. Clarke's brigantine. 
 
 Voted, That thofe of this body who belong to the town 
 of Boflon, do return their thanks to their brethren who 
 have come from the neighbouring towns, for their counte- 
 nance and union with this body, in this exigence of our 
 affairs. 
 
 Voted, That the thanks of this meeting be given to 
 Jonathan Williams, Efq""' for his good fervices as moderator. 
 
 Voted, That this meeting be diffolved, and it was accord- 
 ingly diffolved. 
 
 LETTER ADDRESSED TO GEO. DUDLEY, Esq''' 
 
 Enclojing j news papers and an advertifement, in the name 
 of the people, threatening vengeance on thofe zvho favored 
 the tea fcheme. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 The fhate and condition of the Hon'ble Company's 
 tea in America is as you will find in the enclofed papers. 
 
33^ LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Unlefs the Tea A6i is repealed, no tea can be fold in 
 America. Repeal the A6i, and you may difpofe of all your 
 teas. The Americans will not be flaves, neither are they 
 to be trapped under the notion of cheap teas. Death is 
 more defirable to them than flavery, — it is impoffible to 
 make the Americans fwallow the tea. The miniftry may 
 amufe the Company, by telling them their tea fliall be fold, 
 and the A6t preferved, but they are groffly miftaken. None 
 of it is yet landed, neither fhall it be. 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 
 Anglo Americanus. 
 Bofton, New England, 
 
 Dec' 13"'' 1773. 
 
 The papers enclofed contain an account of the proceed- 
 ings of the town of Boflon, on the 29*^ & 30"" November, 
 and of the refolves of fome of the neighboring towns. (The 
 papers are in the mifcellany bundle.) 
 
 LETTER ADDRESSED TO GEO. DUDLEY, Esq-^' 
 Ejiclojing a Bojion nczus paper of the 16^^ Dec""' I'/'/S- 
 
 Boflon, New England, 17*^ Dec''" 1773. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Your tea is deftroyed, which was brought in three 
 fliips. Cap'"- Bruce, Hall and Coffin, and the brig with tea 
 is caff away. If the tea is got on fhore, it will fhare the 
 fame fate. Every poffible means has been ufed to fend it 
 home fafe again to you, but the tea confignees would not 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 333 
 
 fend it ; then application was made to the commiffioners 
 of the cuftoms to clear out the veffel, — they would not do 
 it, then to the Governor to grant a pafs, which he refufed, 
 and finally the people were obliged to deftroy it, (fe defen- 
 dendo,) or elfe, by an unlawful unrighteous A6i;, impofing a 
 duty this tea would have deftroyed them. This whole 
 province, of fome hundred thoufand people, and the other 
 provinces on the continent, are determined neither to ufe it, 
 or fuffer it to be landed, nor pay the duty. Force can never 
 make them, and if the Company can ever expe6l to fell any 
 tea in America, they muft ufe all their intereft to get this 
 Tea A61 repealed, otherwife they will never fell one ounce. 
 There is the utmoft deteftation of tea ; even fome of our 
 country towns have collected all the tea they had by them, 
 and burnt it in their public common, as fo much chains 
 and flavery. Get the Tea A61 repealed, and you'll fell all 
 your tea, otherwife you muft keep all. The people will rifk 
 life and fortune in this affair, — the very being of America 
 depends on it. I am forry the Company are led into fuch 
 a fcrape by the miniftry, to try the American's bravery, at 
 the expence of their property. The artifice of the miniftry 
 is to difpofe of your tea, and preferve the vile Tea A61 ; but 
 they'll mifs their aim, — the Americans will not fwallow 
 cheap tea, which has a poifon in the heart of it. They fee 
 the hook thro' the bait. I am a well wifher to the Com- 
 pany, and alfo to America ; but death to an American is 
 more defirable than flavery. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, with all due refpe(5l, 
 
 Your honors moft obedient, humble fervant, 
 
 Anglo Americanus. 
 37 
 
334 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 
 TEA AT BOSTON, 
 
 As contamed in the Bojlon news paper of the i6^'' Dec'' 
 
 Bofton, Thurfday, Dec' i6'^' 1773. 
 
 It being underftood that Mr. Rotch, owner of the fliip 
 Dartmouth, rather lingered in his preparations to return her 
 to London, with the Eaft India Company's tea on board, 
 there was, on Monday laft p.m., a meeting of the committee 
 of the feveral neighboring towns in Bofton, and Mr. Rotch 
 was fent for and enquired of, whether he continued his refo- 
 lution to comply with the injunctions of the body on 
 Monday and Tuefday preceding. Mr. Rotch anfwered that 
 in the interim he had taken the advice of the befl counfel, 
 and found that in cafe he went on of his own motion to 
 fend that fliip to fea in the condition flie was then in, it 
 mufh inevitably ruin him, and therefore he mufl beg them 
 to confider what he had faid at that meeting to be the 
 effe6l of compulfion, and unadvifed, and in confequence that 
 he was not holden to abide by it, when he was now affured 
 that he mufh be utterly ruined in cafe he did. Mr. Rotch 
 was then afked whether he would demand a clearance for 
 his fhip in the cuftom houfe, and in cafe of a refufal enter 
 a proteft, and then apply in like manner for a pafs, and 
 order her out to fea 1 To all which he anfwered in the 
 negative. The committee, doubtlefs informing their con- 
 flituents of what had paffed, a very full meeting of the body 
 was again affembled at the Old South meeting-house, on 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 335 
 
 Tuefday afternoon, and Mr. Rotch being again prefent, was 
 enquired of as before, and a motion was made and feconded 
 that Mr. Rotch be enjoined forthwith to repair to the col- 
 le6lors and demand a clearance for his fhip, and ten gent" 
 were appointed to accompany him, as witneffes of the 
 demand. Mr. Rotch then proceeded with the committee to 
 Mr. Harrifon's lodgings, and made the demand. Mr. Harri- 
 fon obferved he could not give an anfwer 'till he had con- 
 fulted the comptroller, but would, at office hours next 
 morning, give a decifive anfwer. On the return of Mr. 
 Rotch and the committee to the body with this report, the 
 meeting was adjourned to Thurfday morning, at ten o'clock. 
 
 Thurfday. 
 
 Having met on Thurfday morning at ten o'clock, they 
 fent for Mr. Rotch, and afked him if he had been to the 
 collector, and demanded a clearance. He faid he had ; but 
 the collector faid that he could not, confiflent with his duty, 
 give him a clearance 'till all the dutiable articles were out 
 of his fhip. They then demanded of him whether he had 
 protefted againfl the colle6lor ; he faid he had not. They 
 ordered him, upon his peril, to give immediate orders to the 
 captain, to get his fhip ready for fea to-day, enter a proteft 
 immediately againft the cuftom houfe, and then proceed 
 dire6lly to the Governor, (who was at his feat at Milton, 7 
 miles off,) and demand a pafs for his fhip to go by the 
 caftle. They then adjourned 'till three o'clock, p.m., to wait 
 Mr. Rotch's return. 
 
 Having met according to adjournment, there was the 
 fulleft meeting ever known. (It was reakoned that there 
 
336 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 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 uneafy, called for a diffolution of the meeting, 
 and finally obtained a vote for it. But the more moderate 
 part of the meeting, fearing what would be the confe- 
 quences, begged that they would reconfider their vote, and 
 wait 'till Mr. Rotch's return, for this reafon, that they ought 
 to do everything in their power to fend the tea back, 
 according to their refolves. 
 
 They obtained a vote to remain together one hour longer. 
 In about three-quarters of an hour Mr. Rotch returned, his 
 anfwer from the Governor was, that he could not give a 
 pafs 'till the fhip was cleared by the cuftom houfe. The 
 people immediately, as with one voice, called for a diffolu- 
 tion, which having obtained, they repaired to Griffin's wharf^ 
 where the tea veffels lay, proceeded to fix tackles and hoifl 
 the tea upon deck, cut the cheffs to pieces, and threw the 
 tea over the fide. There were two fhips and a brig, Capt'- 
 Hall, Bruce and Coffin, each veffel having 114 chefls of tea 
 on board. They began upon the two fliips firfi, 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 fmall part of her cargo out. The captain 
 of the brig begged they would not begin with his veffel, 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 fhould be hurt. 
 They immediately proceeded to remove the goods, and then 
 to difpofe of the tea. 
 
eC^J^j^i^^ 
 
 (See png^e Lvn.J 
 
 { 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 339 
 
 Mr. PownalP prefents his compliments to Mr. 
 Wheler, and fends him, by Lord Dartmouth's diredlions, 
 extra6l of a letter received yefherday 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, icf" Jan., 1774. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GOV. BULL,^ 
 
 Dated Charles Town, 24 Dec'' ' ///J, to the Earl of 
 
 Dartmouth. 
 
 On the 2^ infl.. Cap'- Curling arrived here with 257 chefts 
 of tea, fent by the Eaft India Company, with the fame in- 
 
 1 John Pownall, many years Clerk of the 
 Reports, Secretary of the Board of Trade 
 (1754-68,) Deputy Secretary of State 
 (1768-76,) and afterwards a Commissioner 
 of the Board of Customs, a Magistrate 
 and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, died 
 in London, July 1 7, 1 795 ; aged seventy. 
 His brother, Thomas, Governor of 
 Massachusetts in 1757-60, afterwards, 
 while a member of Parliament, opposed 
 the American policy of the Government. 
 
 2 William Bull, M. D., Lieutenant- 
 Governor of South Carolina, from 1764 
 to 1776, was the son of William, who 
 held the same office from 1738 to 1743, 
 
 and who was the son of Stephen, one 
 of the early settlers of South Carolina, 
 and Surveyor-General of the Province. 
 William studied medicine at the Uni- 
 versity of Leyden, and was the pupil 
 of the celebrated Boerhaave. He settled 
 in practice in his native Province ; be- 
 came a member of the Council in 1751, 
 and in 1763 was Speaker of the As- 
 sembly. Faithful to the Crown, he 
 accompanied the British troops to Eng- 
 land, on their departure in 1782, and 
 died in London, July 4, 1791 ; aged 
 eighty-one. 
 
 ( 
 
340 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 ftrudlions to agents appointed here as at Bofton, New York 
 and Philadelphia. The fpirit which had been raifed in 
 thofe towns with great threats of violence to hinder the 
 landing and difpofmg 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 
 confider of meafures to effect the like prohibitions here, but 
 tho' the warmth of fome were great, many were cool, and 
 fome differed in the reafonablenefs and utility thereof. The 
 gentlemen who were appointed agents for the Eafl India 
 Com^ were prevailed upon by threats and flattery to decline 
 the truft, and in imitation of the northern towns, declarations 
 were made that it fhould not be landed. 
 
 The tea was all this time kept on board the fhip, the cap- 
 tain being apprehenfive of fome violence on his attempting 
 to land it, and there being no perfons empowered to take 
 charge of it. When the period of 20 days after his arrival 
 approached, at which time the colle6lor of his Majefty's 
 cufloms, by his inftru6fions, is required to feize goods liable to 
 pay duty, to fecure the payment thereof, tho' the merchants 
 of the town had generally difagreed to this meafure of pro- 
 hibiting the landing the tea, yet fome warm, bold fpirit, took 
 the dangerous meafure of fending anonymous letters to Cap*- 
 Curling and fome of his friends, and the gentleman who 
 owned the wharf where the fhip lay, requiring Curling to 
 carry his fhip from the wharf to the middle of the river, 
 threatening great damages on failure. 
 
 Thefe letters being communicated to me, I fummoned his 
 Majefty's council, that I might do everything in my power 
 to prevent any fuch dangerous attempts to difturb the public 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 341 
 
 peace, and interrupt the feizure and landing and ftoring by 
 the colle(5lor. I accordingly, by their advice, gave orders 
 to the fheriff to be ready at the call of the collector, (but 
 not to move without,) with all his officers, to fupport the 
 colledior, in landing it, and to feize and to bring to juftice 
 any perfons who fhould dare to interrupt him in the execu- 
 tion of his duty. It being known that fome meafures were 
 taken, tho' the extent thereof was carefully concealed, the 
 colle6lor, on the 22''' feized, landed, and flored the teas in 
 flores under the Exchange, without one perfon's appearing to 
 oppofe him. The tea is to remain in ftore 'till the colle6lor 
 fhall receive further orders relative thereto. 
 
 Various were the opinions of men on the fubje6l ; fome 
 were for drinking no tea that paid duty, and were confident 
 of a fupply of fuch ; others were for putting every dutied 
 article on the fame footing, as wine, &c. ; but others con- 
 fidered wine as a neceffary of life. It is my opinion that if 
 the merchants who viewed this meafure of importing tea in 
 a commercial rather than in a political light, had fhewn 
 their difapprobation of the intended oppofition to land it, by 
 a6lion rather than by a refufal to fubfcribe to a propofed 
 affociation, and a contempt of the public meetings on this 
 occafion, and the agents of the Eaft India Company had 
 not been fo hafty in their declining to accept their trufls, 
 all might have gone on well, according to the plan of the 
 Eaft India Company, and to our benefit in purchafmg that 
 article, now become one of the neceffaries of life, at a much 
 cheaper rate than at prefent. 
 
342 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 COPY OF A LETTER FROM Mr. JOHN MORRIS, 
 
 At Charles Town^ South Carolina, to his Brother, 
 at London. 
 
 Charles Town, 22^ Dec'" 1773. 
 Dear Brother : 
 
 Cap' CurHng arrived here the 2^ inft., with 257 
 chells of tea. There were many meetings of the merchants 
 and planters, but by the refult they came to no determina- 
 tion ; the gentlemen that the tea was configned to refufe 
 receiving it. The tea ffaid on board 20 days. We then 
 gave the captain a permit to land it by funrife. In the 
 morning I went on board, and called the captain out of his 
 bed, begged he would begin to get the tea out of his velTel. 
 I expe61ed that he would not have been permitted to land 
 it, but we immediately got fix chefts into the warehoufe, and 
 the failors hard at work hoifling out the reft. We began 
 about 7 o'clock, and had by 12 about half the tea in the 
 warehoufe, and the reft before the door. There was not 
 the leaft difturbance ; the gentlemen that came on the wharf 
 behaved with their ufual complaifance and good nature to 
 me, and I believe the fame to the reft of the officers that 
 were there. I thought it my duty to exert myfelf on this 
 occafion, which I did with great pleafure, (as I was ferving 
 my old mafters,) as well as doing my duty as a revenue 
 oilficer. 
 
 I am, &c., &c., 
 
 Corbyn Morris, Efq'^' John Morris.^ 
 
 Cuftom Houfe. 
 
 ^John Morris, Comptroller of Customs November, 1775, on account of his im- 
 at Charleston, S. C, was permitted, in paired health, " to pass and repass to 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 343 
 
 LETTER FROM Cap- ELLIS, 
 Of the New York E/labli/kment, to the Chairman. 
 
 Cox & Mair's Office, 4'^^ Feby- 
 
 Sir: 
 
 By the Englifh papers I learn you are fully apprifed 
 of the proceedings of the people of Philadelphia and Bofton, 
 and the refolves of the New Yorkers. I have, notwithftand- 
 ing, fent you the lateft papers. The fhip with the teas 
 bound to Charles Town, is made the property of the 
 cufloms, having negleaed the ufual forms of office in that 
 port. This intelligence I had by a fhip from Carolina to 
 New York, the ift Jan'^' and may be depended on. I left 
 New York the 2^ ultimo; the fhip bound to that port was 
 not then arrived. 
 
 I have the honor to be, fir. 
 
 Your very humble fervant, 
 
 J. J. Ellis, 
 
 18'^ Regt. 
 
 his Island," during the pleasure of the ships. He went to England, and died 
 Provincial Congress, on condition of there in 1778. 
 parole, to keep away from the King's 
 
 38 
 
 { 
 
344 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
 Castle William, 7'^ Dec'" 1773. 
 
 QUESTIONS PROPOSED BY FRANCIS ROTCH, 
 
 AN Owner, and 
 JAMES HALL, Master of the Ship Dartmouth, 
 
 WJio has now the Tea on board, conJig7ied to MeJJrs. Richard 
 Clarke & Sons, Mr. Benj" Faneuil, MeJJ'rs. Tho'- & Eli/Iia 
 Hutchinson, and Mr. Jqfliua Wiujlow, with the Anfwers 
 of the ConJig7iees, except Mr. Winjlow, who was abfcnt. 
 Referred to by the Confignees in their Letter of the y^'' 
 Jan., iy'/4. 
 
 Question i^'^- 
 
 By Cap*- Hall and F. Rotch, to the gentlemen, confignees, 
 
 in writing : 
 
 We are now ready to deliver the tea, and beg to know if 
 you, gentlemen, are ready to receive it, and will produce the 
 requifites ufual and necefTary to the landing or delivering 
 the faid tea alongfide the lliip, either in your own perfons 
 or by your agents ? 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Gentlemen : We underftand that there was a large body 
 of people affembled in-Bofton on the 29"' & 30*'' November, 
 who voted that the tea fliipped by the Eaft India Company, 
 and configned to us, fhould not be landed ; that the duty 
 fhould not be paid, and that the tea fliould be returned in 
 the fame fliip that brought it out. It alfo appears by the 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 345 
 
 printed proceedings of that affembly, that you confented it 
 fhould go back in your fliip. We alfo underftand that 
 there is continually on board your fhip a number of armed 
 men, to prevent it being landed. We therefore judge it 
 out of our power to receive it at prefent, but when it fliall 
 appear to us to be pra6licable, we will give the neceffary 
 orders refpedling it. 
 
 Question 2°- 
 
 As your reply to our firft queftion, gent"' appears to us 
 not to the point, we muft and do demand a categorical 
 anfwer whether you will or will not immediately, either by 
 yourfelves or your order, or otherwife, qualify any other 
 perfon or perfons to receive the teas configned to you now 
 on board our fhip, as we are now entirely ready, and will, 
 if in our power, deliver the faid teas immediately, if applica- 
 tion is made } 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Gentlemen : It appears to us that the anfwer we have 
 made to your firfl queftion is a full reply to the fecond. 
 
 Question 3''- 
 
 As you, gentlemen, by the tenor of your firft and fecond 
 reply, refufe to give us a dire6t anfwer to our queftions, 
 whether you will or will not receive the teas mentioned 
 therein, we now demand our bill of lading given by Cap*- 
 Hall, in confequence of his receiving thofe teas on board in 
 London River, and the amount of the freight of the faid 
 tea, fay ninety-one pounds feven fhillings and feven pence 
 lawful money ? 
 
 ( 
 
346 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Gentlemen : We fhall not deliver up Captain Hall's bill 
 of lading, nor pay the freight of the teas until we can re- 
 ceive them. 
 
 [Copy.] Francis Rotch, 
 
 James Hall. 
 
 Tho^- & Elisha Hutchinson. 
 Richard Clarke & Sons. 
 Benj" Faneuil, Jun"*- 
 
 [Copy.] At Castle William, in New England, 
 
 1 1"" Dec""' 1773. 
 
 QUESTIONS PROPOSED BY JAMES BRUCE, 
 
 Majier of the JJiip Eleanor, burthen about 2^0 tons, now 
 lying iji the harbour of Boflon, in New England, with 
 part of her cargo, from London, confifling of one hu7idred 
 and fourteen chefls of tea, configned to Mef/rs. Richard 
 Clarke & Sons, Tho'- & ElifJia Hutchhifon, Benj" Faneuil 
 and Jofhua Winflow, of f aid Boflon, Merchants. 
 
 Question i^'^- by Cap" Bruce, to the Consignees aforesaid, 
 in behalf of himself and owners. 
 
 Gentlemen : I am now ready to deliver the tea configned 
 to you on board my fhip, and beg to know if you, gentle- 
 men, are ready and willing to receive it, as I can produce 
 the requifites ufual and neceffary for landing or delivering 
 the faid teas alongfide the fhip, either by yourfelves, your 
 agents or affigns ; and as my cargo of lumber is ready for 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 347 
 
 fhipping on difcharge of the faid tea, I demand an immedi- 
 ate and pofitive anfwer to my queftion. 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Sir: It appearing by the printed accounts of a number 
 of people affembled, at Bofton, on the 29**" and 30**" Nov'" 
 that they voted the teas (hipped by the Eaft India Company 
 fhould not be landed, but that they fliould be returned to 
 England in the fame bottoms in which they came. And it 
 further appearing that John Rowe, Efq""' part owner of the 
 fhip of which you are commander, was prefent at faid meet- 
 ing, and did promife to ufe his utmoft endeavors that the 
 teas brought in your veffel fliould be fent back, and was alfo 
 chofen one of a com'-® by the faid meeting, and as you now 
 tell us that you have received orders from certain perfons, 
 called a com*-^ of fafety, not to land any part of faid tea, 
 and that a number of armed men have been and ftill are 
 kept aboard or near your veffel. We reply, that for the 
 reafons mentioned, we think it at prefent out of our power 
 to receive the teas, but that as foon as it fhall appear 
 pracfticable, we will give the neceffary orders for doing it. 
 
 2° Question. 
 
 As I have no control upon, nor influence with, the peo- 
 ple in Bofton who may oppofe the landing of the teas, I 
 cannot be chargeable with their condu6l. My bufmefs is 
 with you, gentlemen, and it is to you only I can and do 
 make application for dire6lions how to difpofe of the faid 
 teas, and you will oblige me and my owners, and I defire 
 you would let me know whether you will or will not receive 
 or difpofe of the faid tea, either on fhore or otherwife .? 
 
 \ 
 
34^ LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Answer. 
 
 As we fee nothing in your fecond queftion effentially 
 different from your firft, we muft refer you to our anfwer 
 already given. 
 
 3^5? Question. 
 
 Will you, gentlemen, or either of you, deliver the bills of 
 lading, which I figned for faid tea at London, and pay me 
 the freight for bringing it to Bofton ? 
 
 Answer. 
 
 Sir : We will not deliver the bills of lading, nor pay the 
 freight of the teas, until we can receive them. 
 
 ^&' 
 
 [Copy.] Jas. Bruce. 
 
 Rich'' Clarke & Sons. 
 
 ThO^- & ElISHA HuTCHINSOk 
 
 Witnefs : Benj'' Faneuil, Jun"- 
 
 Signed, Jn°- Munro, Not. Pub. 
 
 PROTEST. 
 
 Cap* James Bi'iice, of the Eleanor, againjl the Cojijignees, for 
 refufing to receive the teas at Boflon, in Nezv England, on 
 the 11*^' day of December, I'/'/J, and in the fourteenth year 
 of His Majeflys reign. 
 
 Perfonally appeared before me, John Monro, Notary Pub- 
 lic, by royal authority, duly admitted and fworn. James 
 Bruce, mafter of the fliip Eleanor, burthen about two 
 hundred and fifty tons, then lying at Griffin's wharf, with 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 349 
 
 part of her cargo from London on board, amongft which 
 were eighty whole and thirty-four half chefls of tea, conr 
 figned to Meffrs. Richard Clarke & Sons, Thomas & Eliflia 
 Hutchinfon, Benjamin Faneuil, and Jofliua Winflow, of faid 
 Boffcon, merchants. And the faid James Bruce, having 
 requefted me, the faid Notary Public, to attend him to 
 Caftle William, in the harbour of faid Bofton, we went on 
 the faid day, and then and there, the annexed queftions and 
 anfwers were entered. Written queftions were put by the 
 faid James Bruce, and the refpe6live anfwers were made in 
 writing (alfo annexed) by the confignees then prefent, and 
 in my prefence, and in the prefence of each other, inter- 
 changeably fubfcribed and delivered by the faid James 
 Bruce and the faid Richard Clarke & Sons, Thomas and 
 Elifha Hutchinfon, and Benjamin Faneuil, and declared by 
 them to be their fentiments and determinations. 
 
 Wherefore, the faid James Bruce, on behalf of himfelf, 
 and all others concerned, did, and I, the faid Notary Public 
 at his requeft, and on behalf as aforefaid, do by thefe pref- 
 ents, folemnly proteft againft the faid confignees, and fuch 
 of them aforefaid, for all and all manner of damages what- 
 foever, already fuffered, and which may, can or fhall be 
 fuffered, by their negle6ling and refufmg to receive, demand 
 and take poffeffion of the tea aforefaid, agreeable to his re- 
 queft, made and written, and annexed to thefe prefents. 
 
 Thus done, protefted and given under my notarial feal of 
 office, in prefence of Robert Garland Cranch and John 
 Dyer. 
 
 In teftimoniam Veritas, 
 
 Signed, Signed, Jn°- Monro, 
 
 Jas. Bruce. (p!\ Not. Pub., 11^'^ Jan^- 1774. 
 
 i 
 
350 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 LETTER FROM Mr. ROTCH TO THE 
 CONSIGNEES, 
 
 Referred to in their Letter of the 8^^ of JanP'' i'/y4. 
 
 Bofton, 6'^ Jan^" 1774. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Annexed you have an account of the freight of 80 
 whole and 34 half chefts of tea, fhipped by the Hon'ble 
 Eaft India Company, on our fhip Dartmouth, James Hall, 
 mafter, from London, configned to you, with the damages 
 we have fuftained by the faid tea being kept in our fhip by 
 your not giving the necelTary orders or dire6fions about it, 
 or by your not qualifying yourfelves, or otherwife, for receiv- 
 ing the fame. 
 
 The charge of demurrage of the fhip, &c., may poffibly at 
 firft fight appear extravagant, but when you confider the 
 confequences of a fhip regularly eftabliflied in any trade, 
 (which, in the prefent cafe will, I expe6f, eventually be of 
 near two hundred guineas damage,) by the lofs of freight 
 from London in the fpring, when you confider this, with 
 the extra lofs on a perifhable commodity, as hers was of 
 oil, the extra ftowage of three-quarters of that cargo, and the 
 difference of advance of the feafon, I cannot but think you 
 mufl be reconciled to the propriety of the charges I have 
 made. 
 
 I enclofe you a copy of Cap'- Cooke's and our cooper's 
 requefts, to fupport the charges of demurrage of the floop 
 Triton, and the wages and expences of thofe coopers, and 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 351 
 
 beg to know by the bearer (who will wait your anfwer) 
 whether you will or will not pay the amount of this account, 
 fay ^289 19s. 6d. lawful money. 
 
 I am, very refpe(5lfully, 
 
 Your affured friend, 
 
 T^ T?, r> o Francis Rotch. 
 
 To Richard Clarke & Sons, 
 
 Thos. & Elisha Hutchinson, 
 
 Benjamin Faneuil, Junr., and 
 
 Joshua Winslow. 
 
 Owners, Shippers, Confignees, or concerned in 80 whole and 
 34 halfchejls of Teas, /hipped from London by the Hon' die 
 Eafl India Compa^ty, for Boflon, confzgned to Richard 
 Clarke & Sons, Thomas & ElifJta Hutchinfon, Bejtj- 
 Faneuil, Jun"-- and Jofhua Winflow. 
 
 To the Owners of the Dartmouth, James Hall, Dr. 
 
 To freight of 80 whole and 34 half chefls of 
 
 tea from London, . . . • ^91 17 7 
 
 To demurrage of the Ihip from 7 to 20 Dec^' 
 
 1 3 days. 
 Dedua 2 days for grav^ the fhip, 2 days, 11 at 
 
 '^^^' • • • • . . 132 o o 
 
 To Cap'- James Hall, and his mate's wages, 1 1 
 
 ^^y^' • • • • . ' . 3 18 3 
 
 To demurrage floop Triton, from 9 to 20 Dec^' 
 
 12 days, at 48s., . . . . 28 16 o 
 39 
 
 i 
 
352 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 To the captain's wages, 6 days, . . 12 o 
 
 To the mate's and 4 hands' wages and vidluals, 
 
 12 days each, . . . . ,798^ 
 
 To J as. Smith and 2 journeymen coopers from 
 
 Dartmouth, their wages and expences from 
 
 'j^^ to 20*'' December, 13 days, at 6s., . 11 14 o 
 
 To cafh paid Samfon, S. Blowers,^ and John 
 
 Adams, Efq"^'^ advice, . . . .740 
 
 To wharfage the fhip and floop, 23 days, at 
 
 6s. 8d. per week, . . . .120 
 
 To cafh paid for Protefls, &c., ^3 19s. 6d. 
 
 fterHng, . . . . . .560 
 
 ^289 19 65^ 
 
 Bofton, 31'* December, 1773. 
 
 Errors excepted. 
 In behalf of myfelf and the owners of the fhip. 
 
 Francis Rotch. 
 
 ^ Sampson Salter Blowers, a distin- 
 guished lawyer and jurist, a native of 
 Boston, and a graduate of Harvard 
 College, (1763,) was, in 1778, proscribed 
 and banished as a loyalist. In 1770, 
 he was associated with John Adams 
 and Josiah Quincy in behalf of the 
 British soldiers who were on trial for 
 their agency in the Boston Massacre. 
 He settled in Halifax, N.S. ; became suc- 
 cessively Attorney-General and Speaker 
 
 of the nduse ; Chief Justice of the 
 Supreme Court, and a member of the 
 Council, retiring from public life in 1833. 
 Judge Blowers was born March 22, 1742, 
 and died in Halifax, N.S., October 25, 
 1842, being over one hundred years of 
 age. The fact that he never wore an 
 overcoat in his life, told us on good 
 authority, does not satisfactorily account 
 for his great longevity. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 353 
 
 PROTEST. 
 
 Mr. Francis Rotcli, Pardon Cook, and Wm. Hayden, againji 
 Conjignees and Tea, at Bojlon, in New England, on the 
 10^'' day of December, in the year of our Lord ly/J, and 
 in the fourteenth year of His Majcflys reign. 
 
 Perfonally appeared before me, John. Monro, Notary- 
 Public by royal authority, duly admitted and fvvorn. Pardon 
 Cook, mafter, and Wm. Hayden, mate of the floop Triton, 
 burthen about feventy-five tons, and Francis Rotch, one of 
 the owners of the faid floop, and they, the faid Pardon, 
 Will"^. and Francis, being by the people called Quakers, 
 folemnly aiBrmed, and each of them for himfelf, doth affirm 
 in manner following, that is to fay, the faid Pardon and 
 William affirm and fay they failed from Dartmouth, in 
 New England, with the faid veffel, on the 28**" day of laft 
 month, then loaded with fpermaceti oil, and bound for faid 
 Boflon, where they arrived on the 8"' inft., and made appli- 
 cation to the faid Francis to have the faid cargo difcharged 
 on board the fhip Dartmouth, as agreeable to their orders 
 and dire6lions. And the faid Francis Rotch affirms that 
 he could not in perfon, nor by his fervants, or any other, 
 unload and refhip the faid cargo of oil on board the fhip 
 aforefaid by reafon of her not being cleared of a certain 
 quantity of teas (hipped at London, and configned to Meffrs. 
 Richard Clarke & Sons, Thomas and Elifha Hutchinfon, 
 Benj" Faneuil and Jofhua Winflow, of faid Boflon, merchants, 
 who have all and each of them, except Jofhua Winflow, 
 negle61ed to demand and refufed to accept the faid teas, by 
 
 { 
 
354 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 which the faid fhip is detained in the harbour of faid Bofton, 
 and unfit to receive the faid oil as intended by the faid 
 owner, mafter and mate ; wherefore, the faid Francis Rotch, 
 and the mafter aforefaid, did, on behalf of themfelves and all 
 others concerned, and I, the faid Notary Public, at their 
 requeft, and on behalf aforefaid, do by thefe prefents folemnly 
 proteft againft the faid confignees, and each of them, and 
 againfl: the faid tea, and againft all others concerned, for all 
 and all manner of damages already fuffered, and to be 
 fuffered, on account of the faid oils not being fhipped as 
 aforefaid, contrary to the intention and ftridl meaning of the 
 faid owner and mafter, &c. 
 
 Thus done, protefted, and given under my notarial feal of 
 office, in prefence of Robert Garland Cranch and John 
 Dyar. 
 
 In teftimoniam Veritas, 
 
 Jn° Monro, 
 
 Not. Pub., II Jan., 1774. 
 Francis Rotch. 
 Pardon Cook. 
 Wm. Hayden. (^l.s!^ 
 
 PROTEST. 
 
 Cap^- James Bruce, of the Eleanor, agamji the Committee at 
 Bojlon, and others, who Prevented the Landing the Teas. 
 
 At Bofton, in New England, on the ii"" day of Decem""' 
 in the year of Our Lord 1773, and in the 14''' year of his 
 Majefty's reign, perfonally appeared before me, John Monro, 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 355 
 
 Notary Public by royal authority, duly admitted and fworn, 
 James Bruce, mafter of the fliip Eleanor, burthen about 250 
 tons, and he being fworn on the Holy Evangelifts of Al- 
 mighty God, depofed and doth depofe and fay, that on the 
 i^' day of this inftant Decem"^' he arrived with the faid fhip 
 at Boflon aforefaid, then loaded with fundry goods or mer- 
 chandize from London, amongft which were 84 whole and 
 34 half chefts of tea, configned to Meffrs. Richard Clarke & 
 Sons, Tho^- and Elifha Hutchinfon, Benjamin Faneuil and 
 Jofhua Winflow of Bofton, merchants, that on the 2^ inffc., 
 the deponent was ordered to attend at 1 1 o'clock in the 
 forenoon of the next day, on a committee of the people of 
 the faid town, and he having attended accordingly, was then 
 and there commanded by Mr. Samuel Adams and Jonathan 
 Williams, Efq""' in prefence of, and affembled with, John 
 Rowe, John Hancock, Wm. Phillips and John Pitts, Efq""?-- 
 and a great number of others, in Faneuil Hall, not to land 
 any of the faid tea at his peril, but to proceed to Griffin's 
 wharf, in faid Bofton, and there difcharge the refl of his 
 cargo. And that the faid deponent was obliged to comply 
 with the faid orders, and was and is nightly watched by 25 
 armed men on board the faid fhip, appointed, as he fuppofes 
 and verily believes, to prevent the faid teas from being 
 landed. 
 
 Wherefore, the faid James Bruce, on behalf of himfelf and 
 all others concerned in the faid fhip or cargo, did, and I, 
 the faid notary public, at his requeft, and on behalf as afore- 
 faid, do by thefe prefents folemnly proteft againft the faid 
 committee and each of them above mentioned, and againfl 
 all others voluntarily a6ting, watching, and proceeding by 
 their dire6lions, and all perfons whatfoever oppofing and 
 
356 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 forbidding the landing the tea aforefaid for all, and all 
 manner of damage and damages fuffered and to be fuffered, 
 by means of the commands, watchings, oppofition and pro- 
 hibition aforefaid. Thus done, protefted, and given under 
 my notarial feal, in the prefence of Rob*- Garland Cranch 
 and John Dyar. 
 
 In teftimoniam Veritas, 
 
 Jn° Monro; 
 
 T TD /'"^ Not. Pub., II Jan., 1774. 
 
 James Bruce. (l.s.) -' ' ' 1^ 
 
 PROTEST OF Cap^ JAMES BRUCE,i 
 
 Of the Eleanor^ againjl the Dcjlroyers of the Tea. 
 
 At Boflon, in New England, on the 17*'' day of December, 
 in the year of our Lord, 1773, and in the 14''' year of his 
 Majefly's reign, perfonally appeared before me, John Monro, 
 Notary Public by royal authority, duly admitted and fworn, 
 James Bruce, mafler, Ja^- Bruce, jun""' mate, and John Tinney, 
 boatfwain, of the fliip Eleanor, burthen about 250 tons, and 
 the faid James Bruce, jun""' and John Tinney, being fworn 
 on the Holy Evangelifts of Almighty God, feverally depofed, 
 and each of them doth depofe and fay, that on the evening 
 of the 1 6th inft,, they, thefe deponents, were on board the 
 faid fhip, then lying at Griffin's wharf, at faid Bofton, and 
 part of her cargo from London on board, amongft which 
 
 ^ Captain Bruce was a loyalist of name was living at Shelburne, N. S., 
 Boston, and as such was proscribed about the year 1805. — Sabine. 
 and banished. A loyalist of the same 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 357 
 
 were 80 whole chefts and 34 half chefls of tea, configned to 
 Meffrs. Rich^ Clarke & Sons, Tho" and Elifha Hutchinfon, 
 Benj" Faneuil, and Jofhua Winflow, of faid Bofhon, mer- 
 chants. That about the hours of 6 or 7 o'clock in the 
 fame evening, about one thoufand unknown people came 
 down the faid wharf, and a number of them came on board 
 the faid fliip, fome being dreffed like Indians, and they hav- 
 ing violently broke open the hatches, hoifled up the faid 
 chefts of tea upon deck, and then and there ftove and threw 
 the faid chefts with their contents overboard into the water, 
 where the whole was loft and deftroyed. Wherefore, the 
 faid James Bruce, mafter of the faid fhip, on behalf of him- 
 felf and owners of the faid fhip, and all others concerned, 
 did, and I, the faid notary public, at his requeft, and on 
 behalf as aforefaid, do by thefe prefents folemnly proteft 
 againft the faid unknown perfons or people, and againft all 
 others whatfoever and however concerned, for all and all 
 manner of damage or damages already fuffered, and which 
 hereafter may, can, or fhall be fuffered by the violence and 
 proceedings of the faid unknown people, and the deftruftion 
 of the tea as aforefaid. 
 
 Thus done, protefted, and given under my notarial feal of 
 office, in prefence of Robert Garland Cranch and John 
 Dyar. 
 
 In teftimoniam Veritas, 
 
 (Signed,) 
 
 Jn°- Monro, 
 
 Not. Pub., II Jan., 1774. 
 James Bruce. 
 
 James Bruce, Jun'- 
 loHN X Tinney. ('l.S^ 
 
 ■' mark. \_y 
 
 i 
 
358 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Cap'' Hezekiah Coffin,^ Mafter Jethro Coffin, mate, and 
 Mr. Wm. Hewkey, manner, of the brig Beaver, and Mr. 
 Francis Rotch, part owner, James Hall, mafter, and Alex""- 
 Hodgdon, mate of the Dartmouth, made the like proteft, 
 which are among the American papers. 
 
 LETTER FROM THE AGENTS AT NEW YORK, 
 TO Cap- LOCKYER, 
 
 Referred to in their Letter of the 2f^ Dec''' Ty/j. 
 
 New York, Dec' 27, 1773. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 It is our intention that this letter Ihould meet you 
 below, at the Hook, that you may be apprifed of the danger 
 of bringing your fhip into this port. 
 
 All the tea fliipped by the Hon'ble Eaft India Company 
 to Boflon has been deflroyed on board the veffels that 
 brought it. The fhip Poll}^ Cap*- Ayres, arrived lately at 
 Philadelphia with the tea deflined for that port, and was 
 compelled to return with it without being fuffered to come 
 into the harbour, and there are advices in town that Charles 
 Town has made the fame determination with refpe^l to the 
 tea arrived at South Carolina, and you may be affured the 
 inhabitants of this city have adopted the fame fentiments, 
 and are fully determined to carry them into execution. 
 
 ^ Captain Hezekiah Coffin, of Nan- from the destruction of his cargo, tea 
 tucket, married Abigail Cohnan, and enough to enable him to purchase a set 
 died in 1779. It is said that he saved of silver spoons. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 359 
 
 We therefore think it is a duty we owe to the faid Com- 
 pany, as we can neither receive the tea or pay the duty, to 
 apprize you of your danger, and to give you our opinion, 
 that for the fafety of your cargo, your veffei, and your per- 
 fons, it will be moft prudent for you to return, as foon as 
 you can be fuppHed with fuch neceffaries as you may have 
 occafion for on the voyage. Certain we are that you would 
 fully concur with us in the propriety of this advice were 
 you as well acquainted with the peoples fentiments as we 
 are, which you will learn from the enclofed papers. We 
 fhall be glad to hear from you in anfwer hereto, and to 
 render you any fervices we can in your critical fituation. 
 
 We are, your mofl obd' ferv'"' 
 
 Henry White, 
 Abraham Lott & Co. 
 PiGou & Booth. 
 
 To Cap*- Benj° Lockyer, of the fhip Nancy. 
 
 LETTER FROM Cap- LOCKYER TO THE AGENTS, 
 TENDERING THE CARGO, 
 
 With their Reply, referred to in their Letter of 
 the 22'^' April, i'/'/4. 
 
 New York, April 20*^' 1774. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 Having confidered the circumflances mentioned in 
 your letters, which I received on my arrival, I have left the 
 40 
 
 K 
 
360 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 (hip and cargo at Sandy Hook, for their fafety. Have now 
 waited on you with a tender of the cargo of tea fhipped by 
 the Hon'ble Eafl India Company, and configned to you. I 
 am therefore ready to deliver the faid cargo according to 
 the bill of lading, I am, &c., 
 
 Benjamin Lockyer. 
 Meffrs. White, Lott & Booth. 
 
 New York, April 20, 1774. 
 Sir: 
 
 We have received your letter of this date, tender- 
 ing to us the cargo of tea fhipped on board the Nancy, 
 under your command, by the Hon'ble Eaft India Company, 
 to our addrefs, in reply to which we have only to obferve 
 that we fome time ago acquainted the Hon'ble Court of 
 Directors how violently oppofed the inhabitants in general 
 were to the landing or vending the tea in this Colony, while 
 fubje6l to the American duty, and that any attempts in us, 
 either to effe6l one or the other would not only be fruit- 
 lefs, but expofe fo confiderable a property to inevitable 
 deftruction. Under thefe circumftances it would be highly 
 imprudent in us to take any fteps to receive your cargo, 
 and therefore we cannot take charge of the fame, or any 
 part thereof, under our cafe. We are, fir, 
 
 Your mofl obed' ferv'*' 
 
 Henry White. 
 Abr" Lott & Co. 
 PiGou & Booth. 
 Cap'- Benj" Lockyer. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 361 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
 INHABITANTS OF PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 On the Meafure of the Company's Exporting Tea to that Place. 
 
 [ Taken from a Philadelphia news paper. ] 
 
 Monday' Dec'' 27, 1773. 
 
 Upon the firft advice of this meafure a general dif- 
 fatifadlion was expreffed, that at a time when we were 
 ftrugghng with this oppreffive a6l, and an agreement fubfift- 
 ing not to import tea while fubje(5l to the duty, our fellow 
 fubje6ls in England fhould form a meafure fo dire6lly tend- 
 ing to enforce the A61, and again embroil us with our 
 parent ftate. When it was alfo confidered that the propofed 
 mode of difpofmg of the tea tended to a monopoly, ever 
 odious in a free country, a univerfal difapprobation fhewed 
 itfelf through the city. A public meeting of the inhabitants 
 was held at the State Houfe, on the 18'^ 06lober, at which 
 great numbers attended, and the fenfe of the following 
 refolves (which are entered in page 296, the people of Bofton 
 having formed the fame refolutions). 
 
 In confequence of thefe refolutions, a committee waited 
 upon the gentlemen in this city who had been appointed 
 confignees of the expe6led cargo. They reprefented to 
 them the deteflation and abhorrence in which this meafure 
 was held by their fellow citizens, the danger and difficulties 
 which muff attend the execution of fo odious a tafk, and 
 
362 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 expreffed the united defire of the city that they would 
 renounce the commiffion, and engage not to intermeddle 
 with the tliip or cargo in any fliape whatever. Some of 
 the commiffioners refigned in a manner that gave general 
 fatisfa61ion, others in fuch equivocal terms as defired further 
 explanation. However, in a few days the refignation was 
 complete. In this fituation things remained for a few days. 
 
 In the mean time the general fpirit and indignation rofe 
 to fuch a height that it was thought proper to call another 
 general meeting of the principal citizens to confider and 
 refolve upon fuch further fteps as might give weight and 
 fecure fuccefs to the unanimous oppofition now formed. 
 Accordingly a meeting was held for the above purpofe, at 
 which a great number of refpe(5lable inhabitants attended, 
 and it appeared to be the unanimous opinion that the entry 
 of the fhip at the cuftom houfe, or the landing any part of 
 her cargo would be attended with great danger and difficulty, 
 and would dire6tly tend to deflroy that peace and good 
 order which ought to be preferved. An addition of twelve 
 other gentlemen was then made to the foruxer committee, 
 and the general meeting adjourned 'till the arrival of the 
 tea-fliip. Information being given of that, the price of tea 
 was foon advanced, though this was owing to a general 
 fcarcity of that article, yet all the poffeffors of tea, in order 
 to give flrength to the oppofition, readily agreed to reduce 
 the price and fell what remained in their hands at a reafon- 
 able rate. 
 
 Nothing now remained but to keep up a proper corre- 
 fpondence and connedlion with the other Colonies, and to 
 take all prudent and proper precautions on the arrival of 
 the tea-fhip. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 363 
 
 It is not eafy to defcribe the anxiety and fufpense of the 
 city in this interval ; fundry reports of her arrival were 
 received, which were premature, but on Saturday evening 
 lafl an exprefs came up from Chefler to inform the town 
 that the tea-fhip, commanded by Cap'- Ayres, with her 
 detefted cargo, was arrived there, having followed another 
 fliip up the river fo far. The committee met early the 
 next morning, and being apprized of the arrival of Mr. 
 Gilbert Barkley, the other confignee, who came paffenger 
 in the fhip, they immediately went in a body to requeft 
 his renunciation of the commiffion. Mr. Barkley politely 
 attended the committee at the firft requeft, and being made 
 acquainted with the fentiments of the city, and the danger 
 to which the public liberties of America were expofed by 
 this meafure, he, after expreffmg the particular hardihip of 
 his fituation, alfo refigned the commiffion in a manner that 
 affe6led every one prefent. 
 
 The committee then appointed three of their members to 
 go to Chefler, and two others to Gloucefter Point, in order 
 to have the earliefl; opportunity of meeting Cap*- Ayres, and 
 reprefenting to him the fenfe of the public refpe6ting his 
 voyage and cargo. The gentlemen who had fet out for 
 Chefler receiving intelligence that the veffel had weighed 
 anchor about 12 o'clock, and proceeded to town, returned. 
 About 2 o'clock fhe appeared in fight of Gloucefler Point, 
 where a number of the inhabitants from the town had af- 
 fembled, with the gentlemen from the committee, and as fhe 
 paffed along fhe was hailed, and the captain requeued not 
 to proceed further, but to come on fhore. This the captain 
 complied with, and was handed thro' a lane made by the 
 people to the gentlemen appointed to confer with him. 
 
 i 
 
364 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 They reprefented to him the general fentiment, together 
 with the danger and difficulties that would attend his refufal 
 to comply with the wiflies of the inhabitants, and finally 
 defired him to proceed with them to town, where he would 
 be more fully informed of the temper and refolution of the 
 people. He was accordingly accompanied to town by a 
 number of perfons, where he was foon convinced of the 
 truth and propriety of the reprefentations that had been 
 made to him, and agreed that, upon the defire of the in- 
 habitants being publicly expreffed, he would condu6t himfelf 
 accordingly. Some fmall rudenefs being offered to the cap'- 
 afterwards in the ftreet by fome boys, feveral gentlemen 
 interpofed and fuppreffed it, before he received the leaft 
 injury. Upon an hour's notice this morning, a public meet- 
 ing was called, and the State Houfe not being fufficient to 
 hold the numbers affembled, they adjourned into the fquare. 
 This meeting is allowed by all to be the moft refpe6lable, 
 both in number and rank of thofe who attended, it that has 
 been known in this city. After a fhort introdu6lion, the 
 following refolutions were not only agreed to, but the public 
 approbation teftified in the warmeft manner : 
 
 Refolved i^'- That the tea on board the fhip Polly, Cap'' 
 Ayres, fhall not be landed. 
 
 2^- That Cap'- Ayres fhall neither enter nor report his 
 veffel at the Cuflom Houfe. 
 
 3*^- That Cap'- Ayres fhall carry back the tea immediately. 
 
 4""- That Cap'- Ayres fhall immediately fend a pilot on 
 board his veffel, with orders to take charge of her, and pro- 
 ceed with her to Reedy Ifland, next high water. 
 
 5""- That he fhall be allowed to flay in town 'till to- 
 morrow, to provide neceffaries for his voyage. 
 
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 365 
 
 6"'- That he fliall then be obhged to leave the town and 
 proceed to his veffel, and make the befl of his way out of 
 our river and bay. 
 
 f^- That Cap*- Heyfham, Cap'- R. White, Mr. Benjamin 
 Loxley and Mr. A. Donaldfon be a committee to fee thefe 
 refolutions carried into execution. 
 
 The captain was then afked if he would conform himfelf 
 to thefe refolutions. He anfwered that he would. 
 
 The affembly were then informed of the fpirit and refo- 
 lution of New York, Charles Town, South Carolina, and the 
 condu6l of the people in Boflon, whereupon it was unani- 
 moufly refolved : 
 
 8""- That this affembly highly approve of the condu(5l and 
 fpirit of the people of New York, Charles Town and Bofton, 
 and return their hearty thanks to the people at Bofton for 
 their refolution in deftroying the tea rather than fuffer it to 
 be landed. 
 
 The whole bufmefs was condu(fted with a decorum and 
 order worthy the importance of the caufe. Cap'- Ayres 
 being prefent at this meeting, folemnly and publicly engaged 
 that he would literally comply with the fenfe of the city, as 
 expreffed in the above refolutions. 
 
 A proper fupply of neceffaries and frefh provifions being- 
 then procured in about 2 hours, the tea-fhip weighed anchor 
 from Gloucefter Point, where fhe lay within fight of the 
 town, and proceeded with her whole cargo on her return to 
 the Eaft India Com^- 
 
 The public think the condu6t of thofe gentlemen whofe 
 goods are returned on board the tea-fhip, ought not to pafs 
 unnoticed, as they have upon this occafion generoully facri- 
 ficed their private intereft to the public good. 
 
366 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 
 
 Thus this important affair, in which there has been fo 
 glorious an exertion of public virtue and fpirit, has been 
 brought to a public iffue, by which the force of law, fo 
 obftinately perfifted in, to the prejudice of the national com- 
 merce, for the fake of the principle on which it is founded, 
 (a right of taxing the Americans without their confent,) has 
 been effe6lually broken, and the foundation of American 
 liberty more deeply laid than ever. 
 
 N. B. — It was computed by two different perfons, un- 
 known to each other, that there were 8000 perfons affembled, 
 befides many hundreds who were on their way, but did not 
 reach the meeting in time, owing to the fhortnefs of the 
 notice. Cap'- Ayres and Mr. Barkley, late one of the con- 
 fignees, left Arch wharf on board a pilot boat (having been 
 46 hours in town,) to follow the fhip to Reedy Ifland. They 
 were attended to the wharf by a concourfe of people, who 
 wifhed them a good voyage. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 JOHN SPURR (see p. 164). 
 
 John Spurr was, after the Revolution, a prominent citizen 
 of Charlton, Mass., and often represented the town in the 
 State Legislature. He married the daughter of Rev. Elijah 
 Dunbar, and left two sons ; Elijah Dunbar Spurr, and 
 Samuel Danforth Spurr. The widow of the latter, who 
 is now living, is the mother of the first wife of Senator 
 George F. Hoar. 
 
 THOMAS MELVILL. 
 
 MelvilVs Tea Relic, as seen on page l^l. 
 
 The publisher, in collecting illustrations for Tea Leaves, 
 found one or more New England Societies claiming posses- 
 sion of some of this tea. Therefore it was necessary to 
 look up the original Melvill stock of Bohea. 
 
 We show an illustration of it (full size), copied from a 
 
 photograph (made by special request,) from a relative living 
 
 in Illinois (since deceased), from whom we learn it has been 
 
 handed down to the present generation, and has never been 
 
 owned out of the family, and is now in possession of Mrs. 
 
 Thomas Melvill's son, Galena, Illinois, to whom we are 
 
 indebted for its use on this occasion. 
 
 A. o. c. 
 
 4> 
 
INDEX 
 
 Samuel Adams, 
 Annapolis Tea-Ship Burned, 
 Biographical Notices of the Tea Party, 
 Biographical Sketches ; 
 
 Ancrum, Wm. . 
 
 Appleton, Nathaniel 
 
 Blowers, S. S. . 
 
 Brattle, Wm. . 
 
 Bruce, Capt. 
 
 Bull, Wm. 
 
 Cheever, Ezekiel 
 
 Church, Dr. Benjamin 
 
 Clarke, R. 
 
 Coffin, Capt. 
 
 Cooper, Sir C rev- 
 Cooper, William 
 
 Copley, John S. 
 
 Crafts, Thomas 
 
 Curtis, Obadiah 
 
 Danforth, Samuel 
 
 Edes, Benjamin 
 
 Erving, John 
 
 Faneuil, Benj. . 
 
 Hall, Capt. James 
 
 Hatch, Nathaniel 
 
 Hewes, Daniel . 
 
 Hodgdon, Alex. 
 
 Hutchinson, Thos. & Elisha 
 Ballads of the Tea Part) 
 Boston. Opposition to the Tea Act, 
 Tea Party, 
 
 Destruction of the Tea, 
 Proceedings of the Town, 
 Proceedings of the Council, 
 
 and List of its Members, . 
 
 21 
 
 85 
 92-171 
 
 208 
 30 
 
 3ii 
 356 
 
 339 
 46 
 26 
 210 
 358 
 212 
 
 43 
 329 
 
 25 
 
 49 
 315 
 
 25 
 226 
 
 294 
 245 
 285 
 
 49 
 
 79 
 
 324 
 
 Johonnot, Gabriel 
 Kelly, Wm. 
 Knox, Thomas, Jr., 
 Lloyd, Henry 
 Lott, Abraham 
 Lovering, Joseph 
 Morris, John 
 Pownall, John 
 Quincy, Josiah 
 Rotch, Francis 
 Rowe, John 
 Royal, Isaac 
 Savage, Samuel Phillips 
 Scollay, John 
 Tileston, Thomas 
 Wallace, Hugh and Alex 
 Walpole, Thomas 
 Watson, Brook 
 Wendell, Oliver . 
 Wharton, Thomas 
 White, Henry 
 Williams, Jonathan 
 Williams, Thomas 
 Winslow, Joshua . 
 
 27 
 269 
 
 '49 
 227 
 226 
 
 49 
 342 
 339 
 
 6[ 
 
 41 
 
 ^'3 
 
 3'! 
 
 57 
 
 37 
 
 SO 
 
 233 
 
 204 
 
 203 
 
 43 
 
 273 
 
 306 
 
 43 
 230 
 
 223 
 
 I72-!7f) 
 
 19-23, 260-66, 278, 303 
 64-82, 89-94, 95-171 
 
 58-94, 336-357 
 
 279-303, 320-36 
 
 309-20 
 
 i 
 
Z70 
 
 IN DEX. 
 
 Clarke R. & Sons, Attack on Warehouse of . 
 
 Residence mobbed, . , . . 
 
 Letter to chairman East India Company, 
 East India Company, 
 Franklin, Benjamin 
 (ireen Dragon Tavern, 
 Hutchinson, Thomas 
 Lamb, John 
 Letters and Documents, 
 
 PAGE 
 28, 266, 284 
 
 34 
 
 . 279-91 
 
 II, 189 
 
 . 185 
 
 66 
 
 20 
 
 19 
 
 189, 370 
 
 Letter from Mr. Wm. Palmer, enclosing Extracts of several Letters from 
 Boston, &c., to show the state of the Tea Trade in America, and 
 estimates of the advantages that will attend the Company's carrying 
 on that trade to that place, . . . . . .189 
 
 Memorial of Mr. Gilbert Barkley, recommending a Plan for carrying on 
 the Tea Trade to America, and offering himself, and Mr. John Inglis, 
 Merchant, of Philadelphia, as agents, . . . . .199 
 
 Letter from Mr. Brook Watson, to Daniel Wier, Esq., recommending Mr. 
 John Butler, of Nova Scotia, and Messrs. Faneuil and Winslow, of 
 Boston, as agents, ........ 202 
 
 A Proposal of the Hon. Mr. Walpole's, for sending Tea to Philadelphia, 203 
 
 Plan of Mr. Palmer, for Exportation of Tea to America, . . . 205 
 
 Letter from Messrs. Greenwood & Higginson, recommending Messrs. 
 Andrew Lord, and William and George Ancrum, of South Carolina, 
 as Agents, and offering their ship, the " London," Capt. Curling, to 
 carry Tea to that place, ....... 208 
 
 Letter from Mr Fred'k Pigou, Jun., Esq., recommending Pigou & Booth, 
 of New York, and James & Drinker, of Philadelphia, as Agents, and 
 offering vessels for those places, ...... 208 
 
 Letter from Mr. Jonathan Clarke, offering Richard Clarke & Sons, of 
 
 Boston, as Agents, ........ 209 
 
 Letter from Grey Cooper, Esq., recommending Mr. Barkley as an 
 
 Agent, ..... .... 211 
 
 Letter from Messrs. Roberts & Co., recommending Messrs. Willing, 
 
 Morris & Co., of Philadelphia, as Agents, . . . .212 
 
 Letter from Mr. Benjamin Harrison, offering himself as an Agent for 
 
 Virginia, . . . . • • • • -213 
 
 Letter from Mr. George Browne, recommending Mr. Jonathan Brown, of 
 
 Philadelphia, as an Agent, . . . . . . .214 
 
 Letter from Mr. Wm. Palmer, offering to advance the amount of 200 
 
 chests of Tea, on terms therein mentioned, . . . .215 
 
371 
 
 for 
 
 for 
 
 Letter to several American Merchants to meet the Committee, 
 
 Letter from Mr. Gilbert Barkley, offering some further thoughts upon 
 
 the Exportation, ........ 
 
 Letter from Samuel Wharton, Esq., offering an Apologyy for not attending 
 
 the Committee, ........ 
 
 Some Thoughts upon the Company's sending out Teas to America, 
 Letter from Messrs. Watson & Rashleigh, reciting terms on which the 
 
 Tea Agency may be conducted, and offering Security for their 
 
 recommendation, .... 
 
 Letter from Mr. Jonathan Clarke, on the same. 
 Letter from Mr. Kelly, on the same, and recommending several persons 
 
 of the different Colonies, as Agents, .... 
 
 Letter from Mr. Harrison, that Mr. Kelly will give his Proposals, . 
 Letter from Mr. John Blackburn, with an offer of Terms, . 
 Letter to Samuel Wharton, Esq., to meet the Committee, 
 Request of Mr. Walter Mansell, for the Agency to South Carolina, 
 Letter from Messrs. Roberts & Co., offering Terms and Security 
 
 Willing, Morris & Co., ...... 
 
 Letter from Messrs. Pigou & Booth, offering Terms and Security 
 
 Messrs. James & Drinker, ...... 
 
 Letter from Mr. John Nutt, recommending Mr. Roger Smith, of South 
 
 Carolina, as an Agent, 
 Letter from Messrs. Bourdieu & Chollet, recommending several persons 
 
 as Agents, ........ 
 
 Letter from Messrs. Gale, Fearon & Co., recommending Mr. Danie 
 
 Stephenson, of Maryland, as an Agent, 
 Letter from Messrs. Davidson & Newman, declining 
 
 on the present state of the Tea affair, .... 
 Letter to several American Merchants to meet the Committee, 
 Letter from Mr. Palmer, upon the Rate of Exchange from Boston, 
 Letter from Messrs. Bourdieu & Chollet, declining to offer any furthe 
 
 proposals, ........ 
 
 Letter to sundry American Merchants to meet the Committee, 
 
 Letter to sundry American Merchants, advising the quantities of Tea 
 
 ordered to be shipped for the several Colonies, and requesting the 
 
 firm of the houses they have recommended, , . . . 
 
 Letter from Messrs. Watson & Rashleigh, advising the firm of their 
 
 recommendation, ........ 
 
 Securities offered for Mr. Barkley and Mr. Mansell, 
 
 Letter from Mr. Pigou, with the firm of his recommendation, 
 
 Letters from Mr. Wharton, Mr. Browne, and Mr. Kelly, 
 
 any propositions 
 
 PAGE 
 
 216 
 
 217 
 218 
 
 222 
 224 
 
 225 
 227 
 228 
 229 
 229 
 
 231 
 
 231 
 
 233 
 
 234 
 
 23 s 
 235 
 236 
 
 236 
 237 
 
 238 
 238 
 
 240 
 
372 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Mr. Palmer's Opinion in what mode to ship Tea to America, . . 241 
 
 Letter from Mr. Clarke, with the firm of his house, and offering the 
 
 "William" for freight, ....... 243 
 
 Letters to Geo. Hayley, Esq., Thos. Lane, Esq., and Alexander Champion, 
 
 Esq., to know if they have any constant traders to Boston or South 
 
 Carolina, ready to sail, ....... 244 
 
 Letter to Mr. Palmer, to point out what sorts of Tea are proper to be 
 
 sent to Boston and South Carolina, ..... 244 
 
 Mr. Palmer's Assortment of Teas for America, .... 245 
 
 Weight of Tea Exported to America, ...... 245 
 
 Letters from several Persons concerning Vessels for Carrying the Tea 
 
 to America, ......... 245 
 
 Petition to the Lords of the Treasury, for Licence to Export Teas to 
 
 America, ......... 246 
 
 Licence from the Lords of the Treasury to Export Teas to America, . 247 
 
 Letters from Sundry Gentlemen relating to Vessels to carry Tea to 
 
 America, . . . . . . . . .251 
 
 Letter from Mr. Settle to Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Kelly, to come and 
 
 Execute the Bond, ........ 255 
 
 Letters from Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Kelly, in reply, . . . 255 
 
 Sundry Freight Bills, for Tea Shipped, ..... 256 
 
 So far concents the outset of the Tea. 
 
 Note from Lord Dartmouth to the Chairman, to attend at Whitehall, on 
 
 the subject of some Advices from America, respecting the Teas, 
 Letters to American Merchants to communicate what Advices they may 
 
 have received, ....... 
 
 Letters from American Merchants, in reply, .... 
 
 Letter from Mr. Jonathan Clarke to Mr. Wheler, advising his arrival at 
 
 Boston, ........ 
 
 Letter to Abram Dupuis, to communicate advice, referred in Mr. Clarke's 
 
 Letter, ......... 
 
 Messrs. Clarke & Son's Letter to Mr. Dupuis, 
 
 Mr. Faneuil's Letter to Mr. Watson, mentioned in Messrs. Clarke's, 
 
 Proceedings of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, on the 5th 
 
 and 6th November, referred to in Messrs. Clarke's and Faneuil's 
 
 Letters, ........ 
 
 Note from the Secretary to Mr. Brook Watson, advising the Tea is 
 
 ordered to Halifax, and desiring the names of the Consignees, 
 Security offered for Messrs. Butler & Cochran, consignees at Halifax, 
 
 258 
 
 25S 
 259 
 
 260 
 
 279 
 279 
 292 
 
 295 
 
 304 
 
 305 
 
INDEX. 
 
 373 
 
 The Agents at New York's Petition to the Governor, referred to in their 
 
 letter ist December, ....... 
 
 Petition of the Agents at Boston, and the Proceedings of the Governor 
 
 and Council thereon, ....... 
 
 Proceedings of the Town of Boston on the 29th and 30th November, 
 Letter signed " Anglo Americanus," addressed to Geo. Dudley, Esq., 
 enclosing newspapers, ........ 
 
 Letter signed " Anglo Americanus," addressed to Geo. Dudley, Esq., 
 
 advising the Tea's being destroyed, . . . . . 
 
 Note from Mr. Pownall, to communicate Advices, and enclosing Letter 
 
 from Lieut.-Gov. Bull, of Charles Town ; also, Lieut.-Gov. Bull's 
 
 Letter, ........ 
 
 Letter from Mr. Jo. Morris, to Corbyn Morris, Esq., advising of the Tea's 
 
 being seized at South Carolina, .... 
 Letter from Capt. Ellis, advising of the Tea's being seized at South 
 
 Carolina, ....... 
 
 Questions proposed to the Boston Consignees, respecting landing the 
 
 Teas, ........ 
 
 Protest of Capt. Bruce against said Consignees, for refusing to receive 
 
 the Teas, ....... 
 
 Letter from Mr. Rotch, to said Consignees, with an account of Charges 
 
 and a Protest, ....... 
 
 Protests of the several Captains against the Destroyers of the Tea, 
 Letters from the Agents at New York, &c., to Capt. Lockyer, and one from 
 
 him to them, ....... 
 
 Proceedings of the Inhabitants of Philadelphia, on the measure 
 porting Tea to that place, ..... 
 
 Liberty Tree, ....... 
 
 Long Room (Whig) Club, ..... 
 
 New York. Opposition to the Tea Act, 
 
 Arrival of Tea, ..... 
 
 Petition of the Consignees to the Governor, 
 
 Letter from the Agents to Capt. Lockyer, 
 North-End Caucus, .... 
 
 Philadelphia lends Opposition to Tea Act, 
 
 Tea sent back, 
 
 Proposed Tea Depot in America, 
 
 Opposition to the Tea Act, 
 
 Resolves and Proceedings of October 18, 
 St. Andrew's Masonic Lodge of Boston, 
 
 of Ex 
 
 16-19, 
 
 309 
 320 
 
 33 » 
 332 
 
 339 
 
 342 
 
 343 
 
 344 
 
 346 
 
 350 
 353 
 
 359 
 361 
 
 24 
 
 66 
 
 269-271 
 
 84-5 
 
 305 
 
 358-60 
 
 23, 67 
 
 17 
 
 84 
 
 203 
 
 272-277 
 
 361-65 
 
 66 
 
374 INDEX. 
 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Sons of Liberty, . . . . . , . . i8, 24, 26 
 
 South Carolina, Proceedings at . 
 
 Spurr, John, 
 
 Tea Act, .... 
 
 
 
 
 
 84-85, 339-43 
 
 . 164 
 
 12 
 
 Introduced into New England, 
 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 Consignees, . 
 
 Guard on Boston tea-ship, 
 
 
 
 
 
 23, 36, 51-53 
 • 45-50 
 
 State of Tea Trade in America, 
 
 
 
 
 
 191-98 
 
 Shipments to America, 
 Warren, Gen. Joseph 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 256-7 
 . 178 
 
 Additions, 
 
 367 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Tea Leaves, on cover, ..... 
 
 Destruction of the Tea in Boston Harbor, 
 
 Diagram Showing the Route from the Old South Church to 
 
 Melvill's Tea Relic, ..... 
 
 Edward Proctor's Proclamation, 
 
 Lord North Forcing the Tea down the Throat of America, 
 
 Location of Tea Wharf, ..... 
 
 Plan of Boston, 1775, and the Burning of Charlestown, 
 
 Frontispiece. 
 Griffin's Wharf, 75 
 
 131 
 148 
 
 155 
 173 
 264 
 
 PORTRAITS. 
 
 Adams, Samuel . 
 
 Bradlee, Nathaniel 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin 
 
 Gage, Gov. Thomas 
 
 Hancock, John 
 
 Hutchinson, Gov Thomas 
 
 Hewes, George Robert Twelves 
 
 Kennison, David . 
 
 Lovering, Thomas 
 
 Melvill, Thomas . 
 
 299 
 
 97 
 
 185 
 
 313 
 288 
 
 308 
 "7 
 
 182 
 133 
 
 Melvill, Thomas, Hat on 
 
 North, Lord 
 
 Pitts, Lendall 
 
 Purkitt, Henry 
 
 Revere, Paul 
 
 Rotch, Francis 
 
 Rowe, John 
 
 Savage, Samuel Phillips 
 
 Sprague, Samuel . 
 
 Warren, Joseph . 
 
 180 
 
 249 
 142 
 
 151 
 
 ^S7 
 
 40 
 
 62 
 
 338 
 
 164 
 
 48 
 
INDEX. 
 
 375 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS. 
 
 Adams, Samuel . 
 
 299 
 
 Bradlee, Nathaniel 
 
 97 
 
 Bradlee, David 
 
 97 
 
 Bass, Henry 
 
 96 
 
 Church, Benjamin 
 
 26 
 
 Cheever, Ezekiel 
 
 46 
 
 Chase, Thomas 
 
 102 
 
 Clarke, Benjamin , 
 
 103 
 
 Crane, John 
 
 108 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin 
 
 185 
 
 Faneuil, Benjamin, Jr., . 
 
 294 
 
 Frothingham, Nathaniel . 
 
 III 
 
 Green, Nathaniel 
 
 114 
 
 Grant, Moses 
 
 113 
 
 Gore, Samuel 
 
 113 
 
 Hodgdon, Alexander 
 
 79 
 
 Hancock, John 
 
 288 
 
 Hutchinson, Thomas 
 
 308 
 
 Inches, Henderson 
 
 27 
 
 Kennison, David . 
 
 122 
 
 Lovering, Joseph . 
 
 182 
 
 Lincoln, Amos 
 
 125 
 
 Lee, Joseph 
 
 124 
 
 Molineux, William 
 
 137 
 
 Melvill, Thomas . 
 Newell, Eliphelet 
 Purkitt, Henry 
 Prentice, Henry . 
 Pitts, Lendall, 
 Peck, Samuel 
 Palmer, Joseph P. 
 Proctor, Edward . 
 Russell, John 
 Revere, Paul 
 Rowe, John 
 Rotch, Francis 
 Swan, James 
 Sprague, Samuel . 
 Sloper, Samuel 
 Shed, Joseph 
 Sessions, Robert . 
 Savage, Samuel Phillips 
 Urann, Thomas . 
 Winslow, Joshua . 
 Williams, Jonathan 
 Warren, Joseph . 
 Wyeth, Joseph 
 
 135 
 138 
 ISO 
 146 
 
 1 45 
 140 
 
 139 
 149 
 
 159 
 154 
 63 
 41 
 168 
 164 
 162 
 161 
 160 
 
 57 
 169 
 223 
 
 43 
 
 30 
 
 171 
 
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