"_Voted_, That a Com^tee be immediately chosen to wait on those gentle^n who, it is reported, are appointed by the East India Com^y to receive and sell said tea, and request them, from a regard to their own character, and the good order and peace of the town and province, immediately to resign their appointments. And the following gent^m, viz.: the Moderator of the Meeting, Mr. Henderson Inches, Benj^n Austin, Esq^r., and Mr. John Mason, & the select men of the town, were appointed a com^tee accordingly." These gent^m, all except Mr. Mason, came to our house about one o'clock, P.M., but not having an authenticated copy of the Town's vote, we desired to be favored with one, which was accordingly sent us, in a short time, from the moderator, John Hancock, Esq^r., to which we returned the following answer, viz.:-- "Boston, Nov^r 5, 1773. Sir: It is impossible for us to comply with the request of the Town, signified to us this day by their Com^tee, as we know not on what terms the tea, if any of it should be sent to our care, will come out, nor what obligations, either of a moral or pecuniary nature, we may be under to fulfil the trust that may be devolved on us. When we are acquainted with these circumstances, we shall be better qualified to give a definite answer to the request of the Town. We are, sir, your most humble servants, RICH^D CLARKE & SONS, BENJ^N FANEUIL, FOR SELF & JOSHUA WINSLOW, Esq^r. Hon'ble John Hancock, Esq^r., Moderator of a Town Meeting at Faneuil Hall." [Illustration: Signature, John Hancock JOHN HANCOCK'S REPLY TO WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO CONGRESS, RECOMMENDING THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON. "It is true, sir, nearly all the property I have in the world is in houses and other real estate in Boston; but if the expulsion of the British army from it and the liberties of our country require their being burnt to ashes, issue the order for the purpose immediately."]