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Committee Chamber, Norfolk, Va., March 21, 1775. To the Publick
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We, the Committee for Norfolk Borough, find ourselves under the disagreeable necessity of publishing to the world the conduct of Captain Sampson, Master of the Snow Elizabeth, from Bristol. It is not in one instance alone that he has discovered his opposition to the measures adopted for the security of our rights and liberties, nor can
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he, on any account, justify his repeated prevarications. It is not our business to take notice of his passionate and disrespectful behaviour towards this Committee, nor his indiscreet conduct without doors. We shall confine ourselves to the relation of the following facts: On the 13th day of February he informed the Committee of his arrival with a quantity of Salt, that his Snow wanted repairs, and as he should find it necessary to heave her down here, he demanded the consent of this Committee to store the Salt till the Snow could be refitted. The Committee, after careful inquiries, (some of his answers to which we find to be false,) did, at length, consent, upon condition the Salt should be taken on board again as soon as possible, which Captain Sampson promised to do, Thus matters rested till the 8th of March, when this Committee were surprised with information, that he had given bond at the Custom-House, and was taking in Lumber without the Salt. He was sent for, and after discovering a great degree of heat, did, at length, give his repeated promise to take the Salt on board as soon as possible, and that he would begin the next day. More than a week, however, has elapsed, and he has as yet complied with no part of his promise, nor taken any of the Salt on board again, but has actually applied for protection to the Ship-of-War now in this harbour, under whose stern the Snow lies, where it appears he intends to load with Grain. We, the Committee, do therefore declare. Captain Sampson a violator of the Association, and an enemy to American liberty; and we trust the Merchants, Planters, and Skippers of Vessels in this Colony, will make him feel their righteous indignation, by breaking off all kinds of dealings with him, and that they will, in no wise, be aiding or assisting in procuring a cargo for a man, who, from the whole tenour of his late conduct, has openly set the good people of this Country at defiance, and contributed his utmost endeavours to destroy their most essential interests.| MATTHEW PHRIPP, | JOHN BOUSH, |
| JAMES TAYLOR, | ROBERT TAYLOR, |
| JAMES TAYLOR, | ROBERT TAYLOR, |
| JOHN HUTCHINGS, | T˙ CLAIBORNE, |
| JOHN LAWRENCE, | SAMUEL INGLIS, |
| THOMAS RITSON. |
Extract from the minutes:
WILLIAM DAVIES, Secretary.
N˙B˙ The other Members of the Committee were out of Town at the time of signing.