4 March [1768] Thursday. A fine Cold morning W NWest
This day the Govr Prorogued the Assembly to
the 13 Aprill Spent the Day with the same
Committee of Merchants, & in the Evening
we Reported to them as follows --

The Committee of merchants appointed at this March 1. 1768
having duly considerd what they had in charge, do Report
the following Resolutions viz

In consideration of the Great Scarcity of mony which has for
several years been so Sensibly felt among us & now must
be Rendred much Greater not only by the immense Sums absorbd
in the Collection of the Dutys lately imposd but by the great
checks given thereby to Branches of Trade which yeilded us --
the most of our mony & means of Remittance

In consideration also of the great Debt now standing against
us which if we go on Increasing by the excessive Imports
we have been Accustomd to while our Sources of Remittance
are daily drying up, must terminate not only in Our Own
& Our Countrys Ruin but that of many of our Creditors
on the other side of the Water --

In consideration farther of the Danger from Some
Late Measures of our Loosing many Inestimable
Blessings & advantages of the British Constitution
which Constitution we have ever Rever'd as the
Basis & Security of all we enjoy in this Life,
therefore

Voted

That we will not for one Year send for any European Comm
oditys excepting Salt, Coals, Fishing Lines, Fish Hooks, Hemp,
Duck, Bar Lead, Shot, Wool Cards & Card Wire and that the trading
towns in the province & other provinces in New England together
with those in New York New Jersy & Pensilvania be Invited
to Accede hereto --

2nd That we will encourage the Produce & manufactures of these
colonies by the use of them in Preference to all other manu
factures --

3d That in the Purchase of Such Articles as we shall
stand in need off, we will give a Constant Preference
to such Persons as shall subscribe to these Resolutions --

4 That we will in our Separate Capacitys inform our
several Correspondents of the Reasons & point out to them
the necessity of witholding our usual Orders for their
Manufactures -- the said Impediment may be Removd &
Trade & Commerce may again flourish --

5 That these Votes or Resolutions be Obligatory or binding
on us from & after the time that these or other Singular
or tending to the same Salutary Purpose be adopted
by most of the Trading Towns in this & the neigbouring
Colonies --

6 That a Comittee be appointed to Correspond with merchants
in the before mentiond Towns & Provinces & forward
to them the forgoing Votes & that sd Committee be
Impower'd to call a meeting of the merchants when
they think Necessary --