The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

WINDHAM, (Connecticut) June 4, 1770.

The committee of inspection here received intelligence that two of the traders in town, viz. Mellieus James Flint, and Shubael Abbe, had purchased at Providence, and were bringing into this place sundry articles of Merchandize, imported in the sloop Tristram, Capt. Shand. contrary to the agreement of the patriotic Merchants in America; being parts of the goods which last winter were stored in the care of the committee in Providence, there to remain till the revenue acts were repealed; but now by the baseness and perfidy of the Merchants in that place have been delivered up to the disposal of the several owners. Upon this information the said Flint and Abbe were immediately desired to appear before the committee of this Town, and exhibit the reasons of their conduct. At which meeting the mischievous tendency of such measures, and their threatning aspect upon the rights of America were set forth.--It was then urged, that the body of Merchants in Providence had violated their explicit agreement, counteracted the spirit and sense of the country relative to non-importation, basely betrayed their trust, and sold their birthright privileges for a mess of pottage; that all intercourse and connexion with them ought to cease till they recovered their senses, and would observe some degree of consistency in their conduct ;---that if such dissimulation & duplicity in dealing was countenanced by the people in general, we should soon be grasped in the iron arms of oppression ---kick'd about by the tools of arbitrary power, and plundered of every thing dear or valuable in life--Upon which the said Flint and Abbe freely and chearfully delivered up their goods; part of which are stored in care of the committee; the remainder sent back to Providence from whence they came,excepting few trifling articles which are sold and cannot be recovered: they have plighted their faith and honor to adhere strictly to the non-importation agreement for the future, and not to transgress it upon any occasion whatever until a general importation, or total repeal of the revenue acts shall take place.