224 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



Mr. Hamilton having attended, and it appearing by the oath of John 

 Taylor, the clerk, that the tea was sold in Mr, Hamilton's absence at 

 Philadelphia, contrary to the express orders given by him in his store 

 since the first of March instant ; and Mr. Hamilton, upon knowing of the 

 said tea being sold, immediately disapproved of the sale thereof. And 

 Mr. Hamilton himself, upon oath, declaring that ever since the first of 

 March, instant, his orders in the store have been to his clerk, that they 

 should sell no tea whatsoever, and that the said sale was in his absence, 

 and that he disapproves thereof. Upon consideration of the premises by 

 the Committee, it is their unanimous opinion, that Mr. Hamilton stands 

 acquitted of the charge against him, and that he hath not counteracted 

 the association of the Continental Congress. 



"I, Charles Hamilton, of the borough of Lancaster, shopkeeper, do 

 hereby declare and assert, that I utterly disapprove of the sales of any 

 tea in my store since the first day of March, instant, and it is and always 

 hath been my fixed intention and determination to adhere inviolably to 

 the association of the American Continental Congress, being fully con- 

 vinced that the measures proposed thereby are the only probable modes 

 of rescuing America from British Parliamentary despotism. Witness 

 my hand, the thirtieth day of March, A. D. one thousand seven hundred 

 and seventy-five. (Signed) 



"Charles Hamilton." 



Edward Shippen, Esq., George Ross, Esq., Jasper Yeates, Esq., William 

 Atlee, Esq., Adam Simon Kuhn, Esq., and William Bausman, Esq., or 

 any four of them, are appointed a standing Committee of Correspondence 

 for the county of Lancaster. 



The members of the Committee for the county of Lancaster, now 

 present, taking into consideration the conduct of George Ross, Esq., in 

 the late interesting dispute in the House of Assembly of this province, 

 respecting the answer given to his honor, the Governor's message, re- 

 commending a separate petition to his Majesty from the said House of 

 Assembly, do unanimously approve of the active part taken by the said 

 Mr. Ross in opposition to that measure, as the same would tend to intro- 

 duce disunion amongst the colonies ; and do return the thanks of the 

 committee to Mr. Ross, and the other worthy members of the honorable 

 house, who have so steadily adhered to the true welfare of their constit- 

 uents in opposing a deep-laid plan to disunite us. 



May 1st: The association of the freemen and inhabitants of the county 

 of Lancaster, the 1st May, 1775. 



Whereas, the enemies of Great Britain and America have resolved by 

 force of arms to carry into execution the most unjust, tyrannical, and 

 cruel edicts of the British Parliament, and reduce the freeborn sons of 

 America to a state of vassalage, and have flattered themselves, from our 



