Big stink about salt ----- Original Message ----- From: Susan McIntyre To: glcrooks@bcpl.net Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 5:30 PM Subject: Robert Alexander - 1775 March 29, 1775 The Pennsylvania Gazette Extracts from the proceedings of the Committee of Observation at Baltimore, March 6, 1775. Present 42 Members. Captain William Moat, of the brig Sally, from Bristol, appeared and reported his cargoe on oath, consisting of 100 tons of British salt, and 24 indented servants. The Captain further reports, that he took in his salt before the 12th day of December, and on or about that day he fell down the river with his vessel to a place called Rowland Ferry, there to take in his servants; that he continued there until the 23d, and sailed from King Road the 24th of December. On Motion made by Doctor John Stevenson (to whom Capt. Moat vessel and cargoe were addressed) that he might have liberty, from the Committee, to land the said cargoe of salt, alledging it ought only to be considered as ballast, and was not intended to be prohibited by the Association of the Continental Congress. The Committee took into consideration the state of the said brig Sally, Capt. William Moat. - Resolved unanimously, That the salt imported in the said brig be not landed. Extracts from the proceedings of said Committee, at Baltimore, March 13, 1775. Present 48 Members. Capt. Henry Tickle, of the brig Henry and Joseph, from Liverpool (addressed to Mr. George Woolsey) appeared and reported on oath his cargoe, consisting of 5133 bushels of British salt, six half crates of earthen ware, and one hogshead of rum for ship stores; and further made oath, that he had not broken bulk, or landed any part of his cargoe since his arrival in this province. Capt. George Woolsey, the consignee of the aforesaid vessel, made oath, that he had not, nor hath any person, by his order or with his privity or consent, unladen or taken out any part of the cargoe imported in said vessel since her arrival. Ordered, That notice be given to Doctor John Stevenson, that the Committee request his attendance with Capt. William Moat, of the brig Sally, at 2 o, P. M. The Committee proceeded to consider the state of the Brig Henry and Joseph, and of the cargoe imported in the same, whereupon Resolved unanimously, That the said cargoe be not landed. Upon motion made by Captain Woolsey to the Committee, for leave to re-ship the cargoe of the brig Henry and Joseph, and on Captain Woolsey engaging, that the said cargoe shall not be landed in any part of North America between Nova Scotia and Georgia, and on his further engagement, that the master of the vessel in which the said cargoe is to be re-shipped, shall engage, on oath, that he will not (unless compelled so to do by stress of weather) land the same within the parts before limited, and he will produce a certificate from the place where the said cargoe shall be landed, of the landing of the same. Resolved, That leave be given agreeable to the above. Dr. John Stephenson, with Captain William Moat, attending, agreeable to notice, the Chairman acquainted them, that information was made to the Committee, that the cargoe of salt imported in the Brig Sally, or part thereof, had been unladen, contrary to the resolutions of the Committee, made the 6th instant. Dr. Stephenson declared, that apprehending the resolution entered into by the Committee, on the 6th instant, did not prohibit him from shipping the salt to any other part of this province, or Virginia, he had, in consequence of such opinion, shipped a quantity on board four Bay crafts, to be disposed of for his account; that no part of the said salt had been landed in Baltimore county; that he will deliver in to the Committee the names of the skippers of the several craft, and will return an account of the proceeds of the salt, and the same will freely give for the relief of the poor of Boston. And that the remainder of the salt now on board the said Brig shall not be landed in any part of America between Nova Scotia and Georgia. And Captain William Moat having declared, on oath, that the remainder of the salt now on board the said brig, shall not be landed within the limits aforesaid. Resolved by the Committee, That the said apology be accepted. Information being made to the Committee, that many misrepresentations of the proceedings of the Continental Congress had been made, with a view to lessen the influence which the association drawn, entered into, and recommended by them, justly merited, and had almost universally obtained. And it appearing to the Committee, that such misrepresentations are made by artful, designing and wicked men, to divide the people and defeat the measures wisely pursued for the preservation of American liberty. Resolved unanimously, That it is the duty of this Committee and every member thereof, and that we will, collectively and separately, persevere to carry strictly into execution the association of the Continental Congress, and enforce an observance of the same. And that any attempt to defeat such purpose, shall, with its author, be exposed to the public. The Congress, by the third article of the association, having recommended the disuse of all East India TEAS, the Committee request, that their constituents, in their several families, will strictly adhere to this resolution; and however difficult the disuse of any article which custom has rendered familiar (and to many almost necessary) may be, yet they are induced to hope the Ladies will chearfully acquiesce in this self-denial, and thereby evince to the world, a love to their friends, posterity and country. A very extraordinary arrangement having been lately made in the Magistracy of this county; the Committee reflecting on the conclusions which may probably be drawn from it in distant parts, to the disadvantage of the Gentlemen superceded, chearfully embrace the opportunity afforded by the present meeting, to testify in favour of their conduct while they were in office. From personal acquaintance we know them to have been irreproachable in private, faithful and impartial in public life, and deservedly intitled to the thanks of the whole county, for the conscientious discharge of the trust reposed in them. Resolved, therefore, unanimously, That this Committee ought, and we hereby do, in our own names, and in the names of our constituents, sincerely thank those worthy Gentlemen, whose abrupt dismission, with all the circumstances attending it, does them the greatest honour. They return to a private station with the general approbation of the country, and the pleasing satisfaction of having honourably acquitted themselves of their obligation, during their continuance in office. Their dismission is a real loss: It is the more to be regretted, as from the manner of it, we can hardly expect that any of equal worth and character will hereafter be prevailed on to undertake the troublesome, unprofitable employment, now rendered distasteful to men of independent spirit and firmness, and evidently exposing them to unmerited insult. A true Copy from the Minutes. Robert Alexander, Clk.