It has been represented to us that there are very Considerable quantities of Tea in this Colony; which were order’d previous to the general Association & arriv’d here before the first of Feby last—As the Proprietors of that Article are now precluded from Selling it, & of course must suffer very great hardships by having so valuable a property lay useless on their hands, we earnestly recommend it to you, to endeavour to obtain from the Honble Continental Congress some Indulgence with respect to that part of the Association, which prohibits the purchase & consumption of Tea—the equity of giving releif, in the present case cannot be denied, & the expediency of it will be admitted, when it is considered that the Importers of that Commodity whilst it remains unsold, are in a great measure depriv’d of the means of Introducing many other Articles such as Duck Oznabrigs & all kind of Ammunition, of which the Colonies are in the greatest want & which are cheifly Imported by the Tea Traders—We should therefore think it adviseable to allow of the Sale of what Tea is now on the Continent, under such guards, as will prevent any Temptation to the Clandestine introduction of it in future; To effect which we presume that the following regulations might be adopted—

That every Person offering Tea for Sale, should previously obtain the permission of the Provincial Congress or of the Committee of the County in which he resides—That in order to obtain such permission he should make it appear, that the Tea’s were Imported before the first of Feby last, & should enter into Engagements, that he would neither import nor assist in the Importation of any more, during the Continuance of the present general Association—As we wish to give every reasonable Indulgence to our Constituents, that is consistant with the publick Safety, we hope that through your representation’s the Honourable Continental Congress will take the matter into their Consideration, & grant such releif as in their Superior Wisdom they may think expedient—By Order.—