Source 4b: Letter from William Legge

Transcript

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Twenty Second

That this committee repeatedly sent for the owner of the Ship Dartmouth requesting him to comply with the request of the Town and send his ship with the Tea back to England. In excuse for his refusal, he said that he could not obtain a clearance from the Custom house, whereupon notification were again posted up upon the 14th December for another meeting of the Inhabitants, which was accordingly held in the afternoon. That at this Meeting, it was determined that the owner should demand at the Custom house a clearance of the Teas for England, which was accordingly done in the presence of twelve Persons appointed to see it done.

That, upon the refusal of the Custom house to grant such clearance, the meeting was adjourned to the next day, in order to consider what was to be done, when the said owner was required to demand a Permit from the naval officer to pass the Castle, which was also refused, he was ordered to apply to the Governor in person for such a Permit, which being also refused, he returned and made his report to the meeting, whereupon numbers of People cried out a ‘Mob’ a ‘Mob’ and immediately a body of men disguised like Indians, and encouraged by Mr. John Hancock, Samuel Adams and others repaired to the wharf where three vessels having tea on board, lay aground, took possession of the said vessels, and in two hours, the whole of the tea was destroyed…