into _America_, is charged with a duty imposed by parliament for the purpose of raising a revenue, without the consent of the people, it ought not to be used by any person who wishes well to the constitutional rights and liberty of British America. And _whereas_ the _India Company_ have ungenerously attempted the ruin of _America_ by sending many ships loaded with tea into the colonies, thereby intending to fix a precedent in favor of arbitrary taxation, we deem it highly proper, and do accordingly recommend it strongly to our countrymen, not to purchase or use any kind of _East India_ commodity whatsoever, =except saltpetre and spices=, until the grievances of _America_ are redressed. We are further clearly of opinion, that an attack, made on one of our sister colonies to compel submission to arbitrary taxes, is an attack made on all British America, and threatens ruin to the rights of all, unless the united wisdom of the whole be applied. =And for this purpose it is recommended to the Committee of Correspondence, that they communicate, with their several corresponding committees, on the expediency of appointing deputies from the several colonies of British America, to meet in general congress, at such place _annually_ as shall be thought most convenient; there to deliberate on those general measures which the united interests of America may from time to time require.=[121] _f. Letters from the Virginia Committee of Correspondence, according to direction above_ _Journals of the House of Burgesses, 1773-1776_, 138. At a Committee of Correspondence held in Williamsburg on Saturday the 28th May, 1774. Present The honorable _Peyton Randolph_, Esquire _Robert C. Nicholas_, _Richard Bland_, _Edmund Pendleton_, _Benjamin Harrison_, _Richard Henry Lee_, _Dudley Digges and Thomas Jefferson_, Esquires. _Ordered_, that Letters be prepared to the several Committees of Correspondence requesting their Sentiments on the Appointments of Deputies from the several Colonies to meet annually in general Congress. ... A Letter was accordingly prepared to the Committee of Correspondence for _Maryland_, which being read and approved of the Committee is as follows: Williamsburg, May 28th 1774. Gentlemen.