March 7, 1776

The Committee of Safety in Philadelphia discovered price gouging on imported products including salt, spices, pepper, sugar, molasses, rum, cocoa, and coffee. They reported that the “scarcity of those articles is artificial,” and certain sellers had “formed a cruel design to add to the distresses of their suffering fellow citizens and country, by collecting great quantities of, and exacting exorbitant prices, for the above articles.” The committee called this behavior “shameful,” especially “at a period of public calamity most barbarous and oppressive, more especially on the poor and middling ranks of life.”

The committee posted suggested prices for these goods that were “just, reasonable, and generous, respect being had to the public, as well as the seller of such goods.” Anyone who charged more money or made false claims about the availability of coffee, rum, and other products would be publicly criticized as “sordid vultures.” 

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

COMMITTEE CHAMBER, March 6, 1776.

The several District Committees having returned their reports relating to the engrossing SALT, RUM, SUGAR, SPICE, PEPPER, MOLASSES, COCOA and COFEE, it clearly appears that the scarcity of those articles is artificial, and that several persons whose names are returned to this Committee (but from tenderness to their families are not published) have formed a cruel design to add to the distresses of their suffering fellow citizens and country, by collecting great quantities of, and exacting exorbitant prices for, the above articles.—A conduct at any time shameful, but at a period of public calamity most barbarous and oppressive, more especially on the poor and middling ranks of life.

Resolved therefore, That this Committee are bound in duty and justice to the inhabitants of this city and province, to give an immediate check to such base and mercenary practices, and for that purpose have fixed the undermentioned prices as just, reasonable, and generous, respect being had to the public, as well as the seller of such goods; and if any persons shall be so lost to virtue, honor, and the public good, as to demand greater prices for the above articles (now imported) than are herein after limited, or shall refuse to sell such articles under false pretences of exportation, pre-engagement or otherwise, in order to avail themselves of the scarcity of such goods, and enhance the price, this Committee do declare that they will expose such persons, by name, to public view, as sordid vultures who are preying on the vitals of their country in a time of general distress, the Committee therefore, do request all persons of whom demands are made above the prices limited, or who shall be refused to purchase as above, immediately to make their case known to some of the Committee, when such offender being convicted before a general meeting of the Committee, will soon experience what are the feelings and resentment of an injured and insulted people.

COMMON WEST-INDIA RUM, four shillings and six pence per hogshead, or greater quantity.
MOLASSES, two shillings per hogshead.
COUNTRY RUM, two shillings and six per hogshead.
COFFEE, eleven pence by the bag or bale.
COCOA, five pounds per hundred.
CHOCOLATE, sixteen pence per pound.
PEPPER, five shillings per pound, by the bag or bale.
LOAF SUGAR single, fourteen pence per pound.
Do. LUMP, one shilling.
MUSCOVADO, do. first, sixty-five shillings per hundred, and other quantities in proportion.
SALT LISBON, four shillings per single bushel, or greater quantity.
LIVERPOOL BLOND, do. five shillings, do.
JAMAICA SPIRITS, of common quality, five shillings and six pence per gallon.

The prices of goods, hereafter imported, will be put on a proper footing by the Committee, according to the circumstances of such importation.

Ordered to be published by the Committee of Inspection and Observation, for the city and liberties of Philadelphia.
J.B. SMITH, Secretary.