His Excellency represented to the Council the tumults and disorders prevailing in the town of Boston, and required their advice upon measures proper for preserving the peace, and for supporting the authority of Government. Whilst the Council were debating on the subject, a petition from Rich^d Clarke, Benj^n Faneuil, and Messrs. Tho^s. and Elisha Hutchinson, to the Governor and Council was presented, setting forth that the Hon'ble East India Com^y, in London, have ship'd a considerable quantity of tea for the port of Boston, which they are made to understand, will be consigned to their address, for sale, and that some of them have, in consequence of this, been cruelly insulted in their persons and property. They therefore beg leave to resign themselves, and the property committed to their care, to the Governor and Council, as the guardians and protectors of the people, and pray that measures may be directed to, for the landing and securing the teas, until they can be at liberty, openly and safely, to dispose of the same, or until they can receive directions from their constituents. After long debate, it was proposed and agreed that his Excellency be desired to appoint a future day for the Council to sit, and he appointed the 23^d inst., and the Council adjourned the further consideration to that time accordingly. November 23^d, 1773. Present in Council: His Excellency Tho^s. Hutchinson, Esq^r., Governor. Isaac Royal, } Esq^rs. James Bowdoin, } James Pitts, John Erving, } James Russell, } Esq^rs. John Winthrop, James Otis, } Esq^rs. His Excellency directed the Council to proceed in the consideration of the petition of Rich^d Clarke, Esq^r., and others, as entered the 19^th inst., for which purpose he had ordered them to sit at this time, and a debate being had thereupon, it was moved to his Excellency that the Council might sit on a further day, there being only a bare quorum present, to which his Excellency agreed; advised that all those members of the Council who live within 40 miles of the town of Boston be summoned then to attend, which was done accordingly, to meet on Saturday, the 27^th inst. * * * * * Novem^r 27^th. Present in Council: His Excellency Tho^s. Hutchinson, Esq^r., Governor. [Illustration: THOMAS GAGE, THE LAST ROYAL GOVERNOR.] Samuel Danforth,[51] James Russel, James Humphrey, Isaac Royal, James Pitts, Artemas Ward, John Erving, Samuel Dexter, John Winthrop, Esq^rs. James Bowdoin. George Leonard.