CHAPTER XI
 

THE SECOND NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT, AND  THE COMMITTEES
OF   CORRESPONDENCE  AND  OBSERVATION

1769-1775

HERE still was a feeling of uneasiness at the threatening
measures of the ministry, which needed little to stimulate
it into expression or activity. This was brought about
by the action of the Boston merchants. On March 31,
1769, an anonymous advertisement in Holt's "New-York Journal"
gave notice that a letter had been received from a committee of Bos¬
ton merchants to the merchants of New-York which would be sub¬
mitted to such as would gather that evening at Bolton and Sigell's
(Fraunces') Tavern. A few gentlemen met
as requested, but not in sufficient num¬
bers to warrant action, and a second ad¬
vertisement followed calling a meeting at
the same place on the evening of April 7.
Meanwhile a strong appeal, signed "A
New-Yorker," urged an agreement to pre¬
vent the importation of European goods
as before. This appeared on April 2,
though sent to the journal for publication
the week previous. It seems that at this
second meeting a committee was appoint¬
ed to arrange a second " non-importation
agreement." This was in the form of a
" voluntary engagement to each other that
they will not sell on their own account or
 

on commission, nor buy or sell for any
 

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person whatsoever, any goods [save a few
enumerated articles] which shall be shipped from Great Britain
after the first day of October next, until the Act of Parliament im¬
posing duties on paper, glass, etc., be repealed; provided Boston
and Philadelphia adopt similar resolutions by the first of June next."
The committee of merchants who passed this agreement found hardly
an importer who was not willing to subscribe.