LANCASTER COUNTY. 301 



said Charles Hamilton. Thereupon a copy of the follow- 

 ing notice was sent toMr. 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 association of the continental 

 Congress. The committee are 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. 



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, declar- 

 ing 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 conside- 

 ration of the premises by the committee, it is their unani- 

 mous 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 inviola- 

 bly to the association of the American continental Con- 

 gl^ss, being fully convinced that the measures proposed 

 thereby are the only probable modes of rescuing America 



