TEA LEAVES: - Yesterday Image

Sheweth:
That by an Act passed in the last session of Parliament, it is among other things enacted,
"That it shall and may be lawful for the Commissioners of his Majesty's treasury, or[247]
any three or more of them, or the High Treasurer for the time being, to grant a licence or
licences to the said United Company, to take out of their warehouses such quantity or
quantities of tea as the said Commissioners of the Treasury, or any three or more of them,
or the High Treasurer for the time being, shall think fit, without the same having been
exposed to sale in this kingdom, and to export such tea to any of the British colonies or
plantations in America, or to foreign parts discharged from the payment of any of the
customs or duties whatsoever."
That the said United Com ny have agreed to export to the British colonies or plantations in
America a quantity of teas, equal in weight to 1700 large chests of Bohea tea, which
quantity will not in the whole exceed six hundred thousand pounds weight. And your
petitioner having in the affidavit hereunto annexed shewed unto your lords ps that after the
taking out of their warehouses the said quantities of teas so intended to be exported, that
there will be left remaining in the warehouses of the said United Company a quantity of
tea not less than ten millions of pounds weight, as by the said Act is directed.
Your petitioners therefore pray your lordships to grant them a licence to take out of their
warehouses the quantities of teas above mentioned, not exceeding in the whole six
hundred thousand pounds weight, without the same having been exposed to sale in this
kingdom, and to export such tea discharged from the payment of any customs or duties
whatsoever.
By order of the Court of Directors of the said Company.
P. Mitchell, Sec y.
East India Ho. 19 th April, 1773.[248]
LICENCE TO EXPORT TEA.
After our hearty commendations. Whereas, the united company of merchants of England
trading to the East Indies, have, by the annexed petition, humbly prayed us to grant them,
in pursuance of an Act passed the last session of Parliament, a licence to take out of their
warehouses a quantity of teas, equal in weight to one thousand seven hundred large
chests of Bohea tea, which quantity will not in the whole exceed six hundred thousand
pounds weight, without the same having been exposed to sale in this kingdom, and to
export such tea discharged from the payment of any customs or duties whatsoever, to the
British colonies or plantations in America. And it appearing to us by the annexed
affidavit, that there will be left remaining in their warehouses a quantity of tea not less
than ten millions of pounds weight, as by the said Act is provided and directed. Now we,