The Philadelphia Counterpart of the Boston Tea Party: (As shown by the correspondence of James & Drinker.) Conclusion

Abstract

THE LONDON COFFEE HOUSE (SEEPAGE4*) PHILADELPHIA TEA PARTY, 17732? much for the settlement of Church Government there, if not opposed by these three Precedent Sects, and although they be all three of different pretensions, yet they all concur together in one common cause to prevent anything that will be chargeable to them, as they allege Church Government will be if once establisht by Law; and another great discouragement these poor people have is a Governor [Thomas Cary] who does not in the least countenance them in this business, but rather discourage them." THE PHILADELPHIA COUNTERPART OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. (As shown by the correspondence of James & Drinker.) CONCLUSION. BY THOMAS B. TAYLOR. New York, 3rd November 1773. Sirs,— We duly received your favour of the 29th ultimo. Since our last we have carefully collected the sentiments of people in general, and we can now congratulate you on a complete victory gained over the opposition here. The Smugglers find they cannot appear themselves without being pointed out, and no other persons will take the lead; they have in vain attempted to do it themselves, for they find nobody will follow them; so that on comparing the sentiments of people in general, with the Governor's, and the Agents themselves, we are of opinion that if the Tea should arrive to-morrow, and the duty be paid here, it would be landed and sold with very little opposition. There is not one impartial person in the City but what now says the Tea should have been imported, and the Duty paid, when it was first complied with by the other Colonies, and that it was prevented only by a junto of smugglers for their own private, sinister purposes; had this been done at first, the East India Company would never have thought of the present measure, and tho' they conceive it to be a dangerous monopoly, and big with the greatest mischiefs to the commerce of America, they see no way of preventing it, but are very ready in laying the blame where it ought to be, at the door of the Smugglers . We shall now be as glad to see the Tea arrive here first, as we 22BULLETIN OF FRlENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY heretofore wished it might be first with you, so very short is human foresight in matters which the most nearly concerns us. We are, Sirs, Your most hble Serv'ts Pigon & Booth. To Messrs. James & Drinker Merchants in Philadelphia. New York, 3rd Norember, 1773, from Pigon & Booth. Philadelphia, nth Mo. 6th, 1773. Esteemed Friends,— We have to own your two favours of 28th ult. & 3rd Instant. In the present state of things, and what appears to be the Temper of the people of your place & ours, we sincerely join you in wishing the Ship intended for your port with Teas may arrive there so long before that bound to this place, as to give us timely & full information of the reception you give the Ship & your whole proceedings in the matter. Such is our situation, that to avoid Heats & Clamour, we carefully refrain entering upon the subject, only with a number of our cool & assured Friends, who have united with us in believing & expecting that a little time would produce a material alteration among the sensible & judicious & that we might then freely enter into a deliberate discussion of the affair. Altho' this seems to be coming forward slowly, yet a number now say the proceedings & sentiments of the People about the Time of the Town Meeting were hasty & undefensible, nevertheless it is out of our Power to say the turn things will take should the Ship arrive, but this we are clear on, that the longer we are continued in a state of suspence & the more time that is given to the late heated Spirits to cool & Reflect, the less opposition will be given. Could we be satisfied that you are right in your judgment on the late Act of Parliam't. that is, that the paym't of all Duties on both sides the Water is as much suspended as if the Act was totally repealed, we should be perfectly easy, but it has not as yet upon a careful perusal of the whole Act...