OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 223 



from England confirming the accounts that the Parliament of Great 

 Britain are determined by force of arms to compel the colonies to an 

 abject submission to the late acts of the British Parliament, calculated 

 to deprive the inhabitants of the colonies of their inestimable rio-hts and 

 privileges; and that a formidable fleet and army are preparing to invade 

 the colonies or some of them ; it is therefore thought proper to request 

 a general meeting of the Committee for this county, to consult and de- 

 termine upon such measures as may be necessary to be pursued at this 

 alarming crisis; and it is unanimously agreed that handbills be immedi- 

 ately printed and distributed throughout the county, requesting the 

 members of the Committee to meet at the house of Adam Reigart, in 

 the borough of Lancaster, on Monday, the first day of May next, at two 

 o'clock in the afternoon for those purposes ; and Mr. Bailey is requested 

 to print a sufficient number of handbills for this purpose, in the follow- 

 ing words, to wit : 



The members of the Committee of Observation for the respective dis- 

 tricts and townships, are desired to meet at the borough of Lancaster, 

 at the house of Adam Reigart, in the said borough, on Monday, the first 

 day of May next, at two o'clock in. the afternoon, to consult and deter- 

 mine upon proper and necessary measures to be taken for the general 

 good in the present alarming situation of afi:airs. 



At the request of the committe of observation, in the borough of Lan- 

 caster. (Signed.) ' Edward Shippen, Chairman. 



Lancaster, the 27th April, 1775. 



At a meeting of the Committee of Observaton, at the house of Adam 

 Reigart, the thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thou- 

 sand seven hundred and seventy-five. 



Present, George Ross, Esq., Jasper Yeates, Esq., Wm. Atlee, Esq., 

 Adam Reigart, William Bausman, Esq., Charles Hall, Casper Shaffner, 

 Samuel Bare, Eberhart Michael, James Cunningham, Alexander Martin, 

 Wm. Smith : — George Ross, Esq., chosen chairman ; George Ross, jr., 

 chosen clerk. 



A complaint being made to the Committee, that Charles Hamilton had 

 sold tea contrary to the association of the Continental Congress. Or- 

 dered that notice be given to said Charles Hamilton. Thereupon a copy 

 of the following notice was sent to Mr. Charles Hamilton. 



"Sir: You are charged before the Committee for this county of having 

 vended a quantity of tea since the first instant, contrary to the Associa- 

 tion of the Continental Congress. The committee arc now sitting at Mr. 

 Adam Reigart's, and desire your attendance to answer to the charge." 

 (Signed) "Geo. Ross, jun., Clerk." 



"To. Mr. Charles Hamilton, shopkeeper. 



"March 30, 1775." 



