Charles Town [S. C.] 4th Janry 1775.
[Extract] p Le Despenser
On the 9th Inst the Inhabitants of Charles Town are to meet in order to chuse a Committee of thirty to whom on the 11th the Country Committee are to be united & the whole will then proceed to the choice of Delegates to represent this Colony in general Congress of the United Colonies at Philadelphia the 10th of May next ー mean time the Subsisting Committee exert themselves in the Duties of their Office All goods imported from Great Britain are sold at public Auction, the first Cost & Charges restored to the respective Owners & the surplus funded for the benefit of the distressed Bostonians, even polly's little Wax Toys were sentenced to the Ceremony ー hitherto a mere Ceremony because no person bids beyond the Cost & Charges, therefore the purchase is made of each parcel by the proprietor ー after this Month expires the Severe discipline of total exclusion will take place Some people have insinuated that an immediate general Nonimportation from the province & a Stop to all Law proceedings will be moved for by a very strong party at the approaching meeting ー I do not believe it ー however it may be so ー for the Reins are not in the hands of Towns Men as formerly I can perceive the Superiority which the Country people claim ー they are most numerous most wealthy & no Man is now Supposed to be unequal to a Share in Government ー I see trouble & confusion before me
1. Henry Laurens Letter Book, 1774-1775, SCHS.