The Virginia Gazette

NEW YORK, August 30.

Extract of a letter from a merchant in Rhode Island to his correspondent in this city.

NEWPORT, Aug. 21, 1770.

As you are a signer of the New York non-importation agreement, you may be willing to know what part the Boston committee have been lately acting here. In the beginning of last week we had information that the Boston committee were coming to inspect into the conduct of our committee, and satisfy themselves whether we had really stored any goods or not. This intelligence exasperated the inhabitants so much that nothing was heard or talked of but tarring and feathering of Molineux and his party. They arrived the end of the week, but came with a moderate spirit indeed, and they so soothed and softened our committee that they were allowed to return unhurt. However, they were sufficiently alarmed; for although they had bespoke dinner, and proposed to have stayed two or three days, yet they put off in the first boat that returned to Providence, which was about one o'clock, so that they were only a few hours in this town.

A meeting of the trade, as they call themselves, assembled yesterday forenoon, at our court house, and renewed their agreement of non-importation; and the same day, in consequence of this, the committee here wrote and forwarded a letter to the committee at Boston, requesting that they would use their interest with the southern provinces, and recommend them to an open trade with them as formerly. The meeting was composed of merchants that trade to the West Indies, a few traders to Philadelphia, and the lower class of mechanics, who, after insisting that all the nails should be delivered up, carried all before them. None of our importers thought it necessary to oppose this, having been promised great indulgencies by our committee. Broad hints were given them that there would be two doors to the store that should receive their goods; a fore door to receive them, and a back door to redeliver them. This hint was taken by our committee from Molineux, and the two gentlemen who came from Boston with him. In short, we have agreed to act the same double part they have ever acted at Boston; and now while our importers can thus receive their goods, and expose them to market as formerly, no one gives himself any trouble about the matter. These are fine times for the importers here; no kind of goods remains long on hand, and we put an advance of 15 or 20 per cent. on all goods beyond our former profits. Our stores are often open, and many thousands of dollars are taken from Connecticut, and country customers, in the night time.

At Providence, the Boston committee could do nothing; and after they had tried every method, without success, they told one of the B's, who are merchants there, and high sons of liberty, that if this colony, and the neighbouring seaport towns round Boston, did not aid by them, they must give up: for their party was become very low at Boston, and the call for importation very high.