The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Your inserting the following Letter sent on Monday to the Honorable Andrew Oliver, Esq; Commissioner for distributing stamps in this Province, with the Proceedings occasioned thereon, will oblige The true Sons of Liberty.

Hanover-Square, Dec. 16. 1765

SIR,

The respectable Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, observe your Answer to an anonymous Letter published in Messrs Edes and Gill's News-Paper of To-day. which we don't think satisfactory : therefore desire you would To-morrow, appear under Liberty-Tree, at 12 o'Clock, to make a public Resignation. Your Non-compliance, Sir, will incur the Displeasure of The true-born Sons of Liberty. N. B. Provided you comply with the above you shall be treated with the greatest Politeness and Humanity. If not--.!

And yesterday Morning was found posted up in the most public Part of this Town, an Advertisement, of which the following is a true Copy :

" St--p! Sr--p! St--p! No.

Tuesday Morning, Dec. 17th,. 1765.

The true-born Sons of Liberty are desired to meet under Liberty Tree at 12 o'Clock this Day, to hear the Public Resignation, under Oath, of Andrew Oliver, Esq; Distributor of Stamps for the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay

A Resignation ? Yes."

In Consequence of which Mr. Secretary Oliver, about 11 o'Clock Yesterday Morning, Sent his Compliments to a Number of Gentlemen, Merchants, &c. with a Desire that they would attend upon him at the Time appointed; and accordingly, the Gentlemen Selectmen of the Town, with the Merchants and principal Inhabitants of the Town, to the amount of upwards of 2000, assembled at the Tree of Liberty at the Time appointed; and when there, received a Note from Mr. Secretary, of which the following is an exact Copy.

" Mr. Oliver presents his Compliments to the Gentlemen assembled at the Tree of LIBERTY, and acquaints them that it has been proposed to him to make his Resignation at the Town- House. If this be agreeable to them, he will meet them there at 12 o'Clock : If not, he will come up, as was first proposed, and give them all the Satisfaction they can desire.

Tuesday 11 8'Clock."

But this not being satisfactory to the Assembly, it was desired he would come up under the TREE, and there declare it: upon the Return of the Messenger, he came up, at the Time appointed, and declared as follows, viz.

Whereas a Declaration was yesterday inserted in my Name and at my Desire, in some of the Boston News-Papers, that I would not act as Distributor of the Stamps, within this Province, which Declaration I am informed, is not satisfactory ;

DO hereby in the most explicit and unreserved Manner declare, that I have never taken any Measures, in Consequence of my Deputation for that Purpose, to act in the Office ; and that I never will, directly or indirectly, by myself or any under me, make use of the said Deputation, or take any Measures for enforcing the Stamp-Act in America ; which is so grievous to the people.

ANDREW OLIVER,

Boston, 17 Dec. 1765.

Copy

Suffolk, .
Boston Dec 17th. 1765.

The Honorable Andrew Oliver, Esq; Subscriber to the above Writing, made Oath to the same.

(Signed) RI: DANA. Jus. Pacis.

After which three Cheers were given; and then Mr. Secretary made a short Speech to the following Purport, viz. " That he had an utter Detestation of the Stamp-Act. and would do all that lay in his Power to serve this Town or Province ; and desired that they would no longer look on him as an Enemy, but as another Man."

After which three Cheers were again given him -and Hanover-Square was clear in Ten Minutes.