Boston, April 18, 1785 : The minds of the people being greatly and justly agitated by the apparent intention of the government and the merchants of Great-Britain to deprive the industrious trader of every benefit of our commerce, by the entire monopoly of the same to themselves ... A numerous and respectable meeting of the merchants, traders, and others, convened at Faneuil-Hall, on Saturday the 16th inst. to consider the alarming state of our trade and navigation, the following votes were unanimously agreed to ...