AT a Town-Meeting held in MARSHFIELD, the
31st of January, 1774, NATHANIEL RAY
THOMAS was chosen Moderator at said Meeting.

The Vote was put to know the Town's Mind,
Whether he the said Moderator should have
Leave to speak his Mind and declare his Sentiments
relating to the Things mentioned in the Warrant ; and
it passed in the Affirmative.

And then the Vote was put to know their Minds,
Whether they will act upon the Warrant for said Mee-
ting ; and it passed in the Affirmative.

Then they proceeded to choose a Committee con-
sisting of seven Men, viz. Doct. Isaac Winslow,
Nathaniel Ray Thomas, Esq; Messi'rs Elisha Ford,
Seth Bryant, William Stevens, John Baker, and
Ephraim Little, to take into Consideration and draw
up what they should think proper to be voted by this
Town, and to make their Report ; and then the Mee-

ting was adjourned for Half an Hour ; and at the Ex-
tiration of that Term made their Report, which was
as follows,

This Town taking into Consideration the late
tumultuous and as we think illegal Proceedings in the
Town of Boston in the Detention and Destruction of
the Teas belonging to the East-India Company, which
we apprehend will effect out Properties if not our Liber-
ties, think it our indispensible Duty to show our Dis-
approbation of such Measures and Proceedings :--
Therefore VOTED and RESOLVED, as the Opinion
of this Town.

1st. That this Town ever have and always will be
good and loyal Subjects to our Sovereign Lord King
GEORGE the Third, and will observe, obey and en-
force all such good and wholesome Laws as are or shall
be constitutionally made by the Legislature or Commu-
nity of which we are Members; and by all legal Ways
and Means to the utmost of our Power and Ability,
will protect, defend and preserve our Liberties and
Privileges against the Machinations of foreign or domes-
tic Enemies.

2d. RESOLVED, That the late Measures and Pro-
ceedings in the Town of Boston, in the Detention and
Destruction of the Teas belonging to the East-India
Company, were illegal and unjust and of a dangerous
Tendency.

Therefore 3dly, RESOLVED, That Abijah White,
Esq; the present Representative of this Town, be and
hereby is instructed and directed to use his utmost En-
deavours that the Perpetrators of thos Mischiefs may
be detected and brought to Justice. And as the Coun-
try has been heretofore drawn in to pay their propor-
tionable Part of the Expence which accrued from the
riotous and urnuly Proceedings and Conduct of certain
Individuals in the Town of Boston, -- if Application
should be made to the General Court by the East-In-
dia Company or any other Persons for a Consideration
for the Loss of said Teas, you are by no Means to ac-
quiesce, but bear your Testimony against any Measures
by which Expence may Accrue to the Province in gene-
ral, or to the Town of Marshfield in particular ; and
that those People only who were acting, aiding and
assisting or conniving at the Destruction of said Teas
pay for the same.

That our Representative be and hereby is further in-
structed to use his utmost Endeavours at the General
Court that the Laws of this Province be carried into
due Executioin, and that all Offenders against the same
be properly punished. And we do further declare it
as our Opinion that the Grand Basis of Magna Charta
and the Reformation is, Liberty of Conscience and
the Right of private Judgement : Wherefore we do re-
nounce all Methods of Imposition, Violence and Per-
secution, such as has been most shamefully exercised
upon a Number of the Inhabitants of the Town of
Plymouth, by obliging them to sign a Recantation as
called, and in case of Refusal to have their Houses
pulled down, or they tarr'd and feather'd, and all this
under the specious Mask of Liberty.

Which being read, they Voted to except of the Re-
port, and that the Town-Clerk record it, and grant a
Copy to Abijah White, Esq; present Representatives of
said Town, and that he put it into the public Papers.

Attested Copy, per NEH. THOMAS, Town-Clerk.

["Marshfield is in the Country of Plimouth, has two
Congregational Meeting-Houses, and one Episcopal
Church ; and according to an Account taken in 1764,
contains upwards of Fifteen Hundred Inhabitants ;
many of whom are said to be very wealthy."]