The Virginia Gazette

CHARLESTOWN. December 6.

Last evening anchored off the Town over the Bar the Ship London, with no less than 259 Chests of Tea on Board, which were shipped by the East India Company in London, and consigned to Roger Smith, Esq; and Messrs. Leger and Greenwood, Merchants here, to be by them received and disposed of in this Province, after the Payment of a Duty of 3d. Sterling a Pound, imposed (in the Year 1767) by the very same Act of Parliament of Great Britain which also laid the since repealed Duties on Paper, Paints, and Glass, for the express Purpose of raising a Revenue in America, without our Consent, and which Duty on Tea was by the Ministry expressly declared to be retained, not for the Sake of the Revenue it might produce, but merely to establish a Precedent, to confirm the Power assumed by the same Parliament, in the declaratory Act, to pass Laws binding upon the Colonies in all Cases whatsoever; which, if admitted in America, will be acknowledging an equal Power to raise Money on, and to tax the Colonies for even the Light of Heaven, and render Representatives of their Choice merely nominal.

Handbills being next Day stuck up at all the usual and publick Places, inviting the Inhabitants without Exception, particularly the Landholders, to assemble in the great Hall over the Exchange, at three o'Clock on Friday Afternoon, there was a very great Meeting accordingly, when a worthy and honourable Gentleman was appointed Chairman. After some Time spent in calm Deliberation, it appeared to be the Sense of the People that the Gentlemen in Trade should be requested to enter immediately into a written Agreement not to import any more Teas that would pay Duties, laid for the unconstitutional Purpose of raising a Revenue upon us, without our Consent; which Sense being declared by Mr. Chairman, the Form of a proper Agreement was called for, approved of, and signed, by several of the Gentlemen present, and runs in the following express Words:

"We the under written do hereby agree not to import, either directly or indirectly, any Teas that will pay the present Duty, laid by an Act of the British Parliament for the Purpose of raising a Revenue in America."

It was next proposed, and agreed to, that the Gentlemen to whom the East India Company's Tea had been consigned should be desired to attend, and that Mr. Chairman should acquaint them that the receiving the said Tea, subject to a Duty which they apprehend to be unconstitutionally laid, would be exceedingly disagreeable to their Fellow Citizens, and the Body of Inhabitants of this Province, and that therefore it was requested they would not accept the said Commission, but return the Tea to the Proprietors thereof, in the same Bottom that brought it.

Mr. Smith, and Messrs. Leger and Greenwood, accordingly attended; and Mr. Chairman having delivered what he had in Charge, those Gentlemen severally showed the Regard they had for their Country by declining to receive the Tea, as the People had requested; and Mr. Smith added, to his lasting Honour, that he had determined, some Weeks before it arrived, not to have any Concern in a Business which his Countrymen conceived to have so fatal a Tendency. This was followed by repeated Thanks, and loud Shouts of Applause.

Captain Curling apprehending himself involved in some Difficulties by this Determination, then desired to be informed how he should extricate himself from them. He was answered, "by keeping all the Tea on Board his Vessel, and returning with it to England."

The establishing of Tea Warehouses in America, by the India Company, it is said, is intended to pave the Way for introducing large Factories for other Goods at all the principal Ports, and then to bring in an Honourable Board of Excise.