11. THOMAS CUSHING (1725-1788) American statesman, a member of the Continental Congress who opposed the Declaration of Independence and a member of the Constitutional Convention. A.L.S., 1p. 4to., Boston, Jan. 12, 1770 to London merchant Dennis DeBerdt who later served as a colonial agent to England (later succeeded by Ben Franklin). In part: "...The Lieut. Gov. has unexpectedly prorogued the court... so that I have not yet had an opportunity laying it before the House. I take the liberty to recommend to your Patronage a Convern of Mr. David Shear...the circumstances of which are particularly related by my friend Mr. [John?] Adams in his letter to you...I have promised to state his case to the Lords of the Treasury & recommend him their Justice..." He adds in a postscript: "Our merchants continue firm to their non-importation agreement - no heed is to be given to any reports to the contrary..." Some marginal chips affects two or three words, else boldly penned and generally very good. Beginning with the unpopular Grenville reforms of the mid-1760s and continuing for a decade, the non-importation agreement or boycott was the chief American means to gain the attention of faraway British policymakers. Colonial critics of revenue-raising tax measures realized that they had little clout in Parliament. In order to receive a meaningful hearing in London, the Americans needed support from an influential lobbying force; English merchants and manufacturers fit the bill. Many of those businessmen had strong trade ties with the colonies as well as strong relationships with members of Parliament. The non-importation agreements referred to here are likely in relation to the Townsend Acts, finally repealed later the same year. $800-1,200