137 



These representations were fiillowed b}- a letter of Mr. Oliver, secre- 

 tary ot" Massachusetts, to Mr. Jackson, the colonial agent, written in 

 June, 1765, by order of the general court, which, as showing that the 

 evils apprehended were not imaginary, I insert entire : " By several of 

 the papers directed to be delivered to you by Mr. Mauduit, the late 

 agent," says the secretary, " you will observe the oj)ini()n ol the two 

 houses with regard to some of the probable ill effects of the last year's 

 acts of Parliament for granting certain duties in the colonies, and some 

 of them, with respect to trade, have been already verified, as will ap- 

 pear liy the peiitions and statements of Messrs. Patrick Tracy, Thomas 

 Boylslon, and Fortesque Vernon, merchants within this province. In 

 consequence of said act, three vessels, belonging to them severally, 

 have been seized and condemned ;* with respect to which matter, they, in 

 their petitions in general, declare that their vessels sailed hence betbre 

 said act took place, viz : before September last ; that no bond was re- 

 quired of them at the respective custom-houses at which their vessels 

 were cleared out, and that said act did not require any liond ; that 

 said vessels proceeded to the French islands and loaded with molasses ; 

 :;liat, on return, they were forced, by stress of weather, two of them 

 into New Providence, and the other into Bermuda; that these were 

 the first English ports which Trac}' and Bovlston's had put in at after 

 saihiig hence ; that Wilham Vernon's vessel had only touched at Bar- 

 badoes, and sailed again before the 29th of September; that at Provi- 

 dence and Bermuda said vessels were seized and, with their cargoes, 

 by the court of admiralty, finally adjudged and condemned — forfeited 

 for a want of certificates; that bonds had been given, pursuant to said 

 acts ; that the vessels and cargoes were appraised at a rate much l^e- 

 low their value, with a view (they say) that, in case they should be 

 able to reverse the decree, they should, notwithstanding, recover a 

 small part of the value of their vessels and cargoes. This is a brief 

 representation they make, as you will see by their petitions. If their 

 re]jrest ntation be just, their case is really hard, and merits the notice of 

 those who have the power to relieve them." 



A detailed account of the seizures of French and Spanish molasses, 

 which, contrary to the acts of Parliament, was continually imported — 

 or, to speak the exact truth, srniig(rhd — would occu{)y too much space ; 

 yet, as the "molasses excitement" was one of the earliest in the revo- 

 lutionary controversy, some further notice of the course of events can- 

 not well be onutted. The mercliants, determined to maintain inter- 

 course with the interdicted islands, devised a plan, finally, which for 

 a time enabled them to accomj)lish their purpose, and still avoid the 

 ])enalties of the law. This j)lan was simply to lade their vessels with 

 molasses at the French islands, as usual, but to purchase clt^arances, 

 " sii^ncd witli the name, if not the hiindwriting, ot" the governor olAn- 

 guilla, who acted also as collector." This isl.ind was so small as not 

 to aff()rd a cargo for a single vessel, as was well known to the collect- 

 ors of the customs in New P^ngland ; yet they permitted vessels fur- 



* The aft wiiicli iinpoRcd n duty of sixpi'iico the nallon upon nil foreran ihdUissi's iniport«'d 

 hito tlif (•(ilniiics cuvf (iiit'-fliird jiart of tin' proceeds of foil'citiiri'K to the croHii, for tlie use of 

 ttii' colony wlicrr tlio forfeiture occurrcil, onc-tliiiii to the (,'overnor of tliiif cidoiiy, and ou©- 

 third t<i tlio iuforiuer. " Tlio act," says Ilutcliiusoii, " was always doeiuud a griovaucu.'" 



