ing or
vending the tea in this Colony, while subject to the
American duty, and that any attempts in us, either to effect
one or the other would not only be fruitless, but expose so
considerable a property to inevitable destruction. Under
these circumstances it would be highly imprudent in us to
take any steps to receive your cargo, and therefore we
cannot take charge of the same, or any part thereof, under
our case. We are, sir,

Your most obed^t serv^ts,

HENRY WHITE.
ABR^M LOTT & CO.
PIGOU & BOOTH.

Cap^t. Benj^n Lockyer.

_PHILADELPHIA._

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE INHABITANTS OF PHILADELPHIA,

_On the Measure of the Company's Exporting Tea to that Place._

[Taken from a Philadelphia news paper.]

Monday Dec^r 27, 1773.

Upon the first advice of this measure a general dissatisfaction was
expressed, that at a time when we were struggling with this oppressive
Act, and an agreement subsisting not to import tea while subject to the
duty, our fellow subjects in England should form a measure so directly
tending to enforce the Act, and again embroil us with our parent state.
When it was also considered that the proposed mode of disposing of the
tea tended to a monopoly, ever odious in a free country, a universal
disapprobation shewed itself through the city. A public meeting of the
inhabitants was held at the State House, on the 18^th October, at which
great numbers attended, and the sense of the following resolves (which
are entered in page 296, the people of Boston having formed the same
resolutions).

In consequence of these resolutions, a committee waited upon the
gentlemen in this city who had been appointed consignees of the expected
cargo. They represented to them the detestation and abhorrence in which
this measure was held by their fellow citizens, the danger and
difficulties which must attend the execution of so odious a task, and
expressed the united desire of the city that they would renounce the
commission, and engage not to intermeddle with the ship or cargo in any
shape whatever. Some of the commissioners resigned in a manner that gave
general satisfaction, others in such equivocal terms as desired further
explanation. However, in a few days the resignation was com