274 History of Hingham. 



" Fifthly, That the resolution lately come into by the East India Com- 

 pany, to send out their teas to America subject to the payment of duties 

 on its being landed here, is an open attempt to enforce the ministerial 

 plan, and a violent attack on the liberties of America. 



" Sixthly, That it is the duty of every American to oppose this 

 attempt. 



" Seventhly, That it affords the greatest satisfaction to the inhabitants 

 of this town to find that his Majesty's subjects in the American colonies, 

 and of this province in particular, are so thoroughly awakened to a sense 

 of their danger, arising from encroachments made on their constitu- 

 tional rights and liberties, and that so firm a union is established among 

 them ; and that they will ever be ready to join their fellow subjects 

 in all laudable measures for the redress of the many grievances we 

 labor under." 



August 17, 1774. the town adopted the following agreement 

 as reported by a committee : — 



"We the subscribers, taking into our serious consideration the present 

 distressed state of America, and in particular of this devoted province, 

 occasioned by several late unconstitutional acts of the British Parliament 

 for taxing Americans without their consent — blocking up the port of 

 Boston — vacating our charter, that solemn compact between the king 

 and the people, respecting certain laws of this province, heretofore enacted 

 by our general court and confirmed by his majesty and his predecessors, 

 we feel ourselves bound, as we regard our inestimable constitution, and 

 the dutv we owe to succeeding generations, to exert ourselves in this 

 peaceable way, to recover our lost and preserve our remaining privileges, 

 yet not without grief for the distresses that may hereby be brought upon 

 our brethren in Great Britain. We solemnly covenant and engage to and 

 with each other, viz. : 1st. That we will not import, purchase, or consume, 

 nor suffer any person or persons to. by, for or under us to import, pur- 

 chase, or consume in any manner whatever, any goods, wares, or mer- 

 chandise which shall arrive in America, from Great Britain, from and 

 after the first day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy- 

 four, until our charter and constitutional rights shall be restored ; or until 

 it shall be determined by the major part of our brethren in this and the 

 neighboring colonies, that a new importation, or a new consumption 

 agreement will not effect the desired end : or until it shall be apparent 

 that a new importation or new consumption agreement will not be entered 

 into by this and the neighboring colonies, except drugs and medicines and 

 such articles, and such only, as will be absolutely necessary in carrying on 

 our own manufactures. 



" 2dly, That in order to prevent, as far as in us lies, any inconveniences 

 that may arise from the disuse of foreign commodities, we agree that we 

 will take the most prudent care for the raising and preserving sheep, flax, 

 &c, for the manufacturing all such woollen and linen cloths as shall be 

 most useful and necessary ; and that we will give all possible support and 

 encouragement to the manufactures of America in general." 



In September Colonel Lincoln was chosen to attend a Provin- 

 cial Congress at Concord, and in October the town " recommended 



