Protest Against Tea Tax, 1770

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We the Subscribers being chosen to consider of and report upon certain articles in the warrant¹ for the last Town meeting and a vote then Passed do report as follows (viz²)

Whereas the Parliament of Great Britain lately passed an Act Imposing a Duty³ on Tea and other Articles Imported into America for the express Purpose of raising a revenue⁴ in America, which Articles the Americans are not allowed to Import⁵ from any other Part of the World and Where there has been but a Partial repeal⁶ of the Said Act the Duty on Tea Still Remaining which we esteem a Great Grievance and an infringement⁷ on our Charter Rights & Priveleges, wherefore we are of Opinion that the Inhabitants of this Town do all that is in their Power to Suppress8 the Importation of Goods from Great Britain agreeable to the Sentiments of the Merchants in America in General and that they do not Trade With any such Imposters and that they do all in their power to discourage the use of Foreign Tea in the Families and that the Subscription herewith Presented be shewn to the Inhabitants of this Town that they may shew their United Sentiments with a regard thereto and there be a Committee consisting of a Suitable number of Persons to shew the same to the inhabitants of this Town that they may have an opportunity of Subscribing the Same and also to Inspect the conduct of all Such as shall not fully comply therewith.

Beverly July 3^rd 1770

James Lovett
Robt. Hale Jr.
Samuel Goodridge

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1 Warrant = agenda or plan
2 Viz = therefore
3 Duty = tax
4 Revenue = money
5 Import = bring in
6 Repeal = taking back
7 “Grievance and infringement” = hardship
8 Suppress = hold in or back