end and join our friends there, and attack the damned scoundrels. and drive them out of the town; they have no business here."More people than common, with large sticks, are observed running from all quarters toward King-street. The north end parties collectin and about Dock-square, and attack several soldiers belonging to Murray's barracks about nine o'clock: upon an officer's coming up, these are ordered to their barracks, and when got in, with much difficulty, are immediately confined. The mob follow the officer to the gate, and provoke the soldiers by the most abusive language, and dare them to come out. They are hardly rastrained by their officers from doing it. While these things are transacting, some are calling town born turn out, twenty or thirty times over; others cry fire, fire, in different places, the more effectually to draw people out of their houses, and to increase their numbers; and soon after the nine o'clock bell has ceased, the bells are set a ringing, which those who are not better informed, imagine to be the alarm of fire.

Upon the soldiers being restrained to the barracks, the mob are desired by one or more considerate persons to return home. A few comply, but the generality have something further to engage their attention. Numbers employ themselves in tearing up the stalls of the market-place in Dock-square, for the purpose they express while calling out, "Damn the dogs, where are they now? Let us go and kill that damned scoundrel of a sentry, and then attack the main-guard." The body of the mob when they have finished their repeated attacks upon the barracks, are addressed in the street by a tall large man in a red cloak and white wig. After listening to what he has to offer, in the space of three or four minutes they huzza for the main-guard, and say, "We will do for the soldiers." They separate into three divisions, and take different routs for King-street, one through the main-street. A party, who have collected at Oliver's-dock, bend their course toward the same point. In the mean time, the sentry before the custom-house is assaulted while upon duty. A boy comes up, and pointing to him, says, "There is the son of a bitch that knocked me down." About twenty young fellows, eighteen years old, call out, "kill him, kill him, knock him down." Their behavior obliges him to load his gun. They pelt him with snow-balls, pieces of ice, and any thing that offers, and halloo, "fire and be damned." They advanced upon him; oblige him to retreat; he mounts the steps, and knocks at the door for admission. Meeting with no relief in this way, more persons collecting in the street, and his danger increasing, he calls out to the main-guard, within hearing, for protection. Captain Preston, the officer of the day, being told that the ringing of the bells is

the

the signal for the inhabitants assembling to attack the troops, repairs to the main-guard; and learning the situation of the sentry, sends off a corporal and six men to protect both him and the king's chest in the custom-house. The soldiers march off with their pieces unloaded, and the captain follows to prevent disor der. Ere they have formed, that part of the mob which comes through the main-street, and appears to be headed by the mulatto Attucks, and to contain a number of sailers, upon coming to the town-house, exclaim-"Damn the rascals, this will never do; the readiest way to get rid of those people, is to attack the main-guard ;, strike at the root, this is the nest." The soldiers are pelted while going to defend their comrade; and, when upon their station, are served as was the single sentry, have snow-balls, large pieces. ofice, sticks and other things thrown at them, and are obliged to load for their own safety. The reproachful language with which they are abused exclusive of a plenty of oaths and execrations, is, "Come on you rascals, you lobster scoundrels, you bloodybacks, you cowards, you dastards for bringing arms against naked men; fire if you dare; fire and be damned, we know you dare not." and much more to the same purpose. The reason for saying "you dare not fire," is probably to be found in the doctrine latey advanced, "that soldiers, while on duty, may upon no occasion whatever fire upon their fellow-subjects, without the order of a civil magistrate." The mob press in upon the soldiers, advance to the points of the bayonets, are desired to keep off, and are treated with cautious attention. This may be owing to apprehensions of danger to themselves in case of contrary conduct. The shouts, huzzas, threats, screams, and almost yells of the mob, with the ringing of the bells to increase the general confusion, may justly alarm them; but their precaution soon avails nothing. While they are pushing off the people, without once leaving their station or attempting to follow them, the mulatto, and about a dozen persons, several in sailors habits, come down to the spot, give three cheers, surround the soldiers, and strike their guns with clubs, crying out to the others, "Do not be afraid. of them, they dare not fire; kill them, kill them; knock them over." The mulatto aims a blow at captain Preston, strikes down one of the guns, seizes the bayonet with his left hand, and shows a hardy disposition answering to the threats which have been uttered. At this instant, there is a confused cry of "damn your bloods why don't you fire," and partly from persons behind the captain. Firing succeeds. Montgomery, whom the mulatto has assaulted, after recovering his legs, and relieving his gun by a sudden twitch, is the first that fires, and his assailant falls. After six or eight seconds, another fires, the other five follows in quick succession.

succession. It is agreed, that only seven out of the eight soldiers discharge their pieces, and that no one fires twice. Three persons are killed; five are very dangerously wounded, and a few slightly. Most are either passengers going through the street, or unassisting spectators. It is well that no more are killed, considering that there were from fifty to a hundred about the soldiers. They ran off at the firing, but soon assemble again to take away the dead and wounded.

The whole town is immediately in the greatest commotion. Their drums beat to arms; and there is a constant calling out, "to arms, to arms, turn out with your guns." The townsmen assemble in the next street, to the amount of some thousands. The lieutenant-governor repairs to captain Preston, and upon coming up, asks him, "how came you to fire upon the people without the orders of a civil magistrate?" The captain begins to apologize for what had happened, by saying, "we were insulted" and is about adding more, but recollecting the impropriety of the place, stops short, and asks Mr. Hutchinson to walk up into the guard room, where he means to finish what he has begun; but the lieutenant-governor goes to the council chamber. The captain's words are observed by some gentlemen, who attend Mr. Hutchinson, and are considered as conceding to the implied charge of having given direction to fire, and are remembered to his disadvantage. Mr. Hutchinson cannot avoid exposing himself in the midst of the enraged inhabitants, upon whom he prevails to disperse till morning. It having been a clear moon-light night, persons have been enabled to distinguish what passed.

[March 6.] The next morning the people collected in vast bodies. The lieutenant-governor summons a council. Before any debate commences, lieutenant-colonel Dalrymple, and lieutenantcolonel Carr attend, being informed that they may if they will. The town meets in full assembly, and choose a committee, who, while the business is largely discussing in council, wait upon the lieutenant-governor and deliver him a message, declaring, "It is the unanimous opinion of the meeting, that nothing can rationally be expected to restore the peace of the town, and prevent. blood and carnage, but the immediate removal of the troops." Colonel Dalrymple signifies to Mr. Hutchinson, his readiness to place the 29th regiment, which has rendered itself in a special manner obnoxious, in the barracks at the castle.

In the afternoon the lieutenant-governor receives another message, acquainting him, that it is the opinion of the meeting, consisting of near three thousand people, that nothing but a total and immediate removal of the troops will satisfy. Mr. Samuel Adams, one of the committee, in his venerable grey locks, and with hands

trembling

trembling under a nervous complaint, tells colonel Dalrymple, "If you can remove the 29th regiment, you can also remove the 14th; and it is at your peril if you do not ;" and continues talking to him in such a resolute tone, and with such strong impli cations, as nearly to. communicate the trembling to the colonel. Mr. Hutchinson wishes to get clear of the council, but finds it impossible; and therefore lays the matter before them. Several declare their apprehensions of more bloodshed, unless the troops are removed. Mr. Royal Tyler in his zeal for effecting it, say to him, "It is not such people as formerly pulled down your house who conduct the present measures. No; they are people of the best characters among us, men of estates, men of religion. They have formed their plan for removing the troops out of town, and it is impossible they should remain in it. The people will come in from the neighboring towns; there will be ten thousand men to effect the removal of the troops, who will probably be destroyed by the people, be itcalled a rebellion, or occasion the loss of our charter, or be the consequence what it may." When Mr. Tyler said, they have formed their plan, it was not to be understood that the plan was formed prior, but subsequent to the bloodshed of the preceding evening. His representations might be aggravated even when there is not a natural cast for hyperbole, persons inflamed by passion, will imperceptibly have a recourse to the figure. Mr. Hutchinson tells the council, “Nothing shall ever induce me to order the troops out of town." They, upon that, unanimously advise him to request colonel Dalrymple to order them to the castle. To the colonel he says, have nothing to do with it, it lies wholly with you." While they are pressing him, the people are informed, that the colonel is ready to remove the rigiments, if the lieutenant governor will only join in desiring it. He inclines to stand out, and to leave it with the colonel and council to settle as they can agree about the business. He deliberates till near night, dreading lest any one measure he may adopt, shall lessen him in the opinion of the ministry and endanger his advancement. At length the secretary, Mr. Oliver, perceiving how artfully matters are managed, whispers him in the ear, you must either comply or determine to leave the province." This prevails; he complies with the advice of the council, and the general ferment begins to subside. The troops, however, are not removed so early as is expected by the town; they continue till the next Monday; and upon the colonel's being asked the reason, he mentions that it lies at the door of the lieutenant governor, who shuffles with the colonel, in hope that some occurrence will exist, which may exempt him

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from

from being charged with occasioning the removal of the troops by the interposition of his advice.

Meanwhile captain Preston and his party are committed to jail. One of the wounded men dies. It is determined to bury the four persons* in one vault, and in a peculiarly respectful manner. [March 8.] The generality of the shops in town are shut. All the bells of Boston, Charlestown, and Roxbury, are ordered to toll in the most doleful tone. The corpses form a junction in King-street, where they fell when the soldiers fired. Hence they proceed in orderly succession through the main street, followed by an immense concourse of people, so numerous as to be obliged to go in ranks of six a-breast, and the whole closed by a long train of carriages belonging to the principal gentry of the town. Thus are they distinguished and honorably attended to the place of interment, with unparalleled pomp, not on account of personal merit, but to express the vehement indignation of the inhabitants against the slaughter of their brethren, by the British soldiery quartered among them, in violation, as they imagine, of their civil liberties.

[October 24.] Captain Preston's trial begins. Messrs. John Adams and Josiah Quincy are his council. They are warm in the cause of liberty, and offend several of their own party by undertaking the defence of the prisoner; but faithfully employ their distinguished abilities in his behalf. The trial does not fi nish till the thirtieth. While carrying on, Mr. Quincy pushes the examination and cross-examination of the witnesses to such an extent, that Mr. Adams, in order to check it, is obliged to tell him, that if he will not desist, he shall decline having any thing further to do in the cause. The captain and his friends are alarmed, and consult about engaging another counsellor; but Mr. Adams has no intention of abandoning his client. He is sensible that there is sufficient evidence to obtain a favorable verdict from an impartial jury; and only feels for the honor of the town, which he apprehends will suffer yet more, if the witnesses are examined too closely and particularly, and by that mean more truth be drawn from them than what has an immediate connection with the soldiers firing, by or without the orders of the captain. When the trial is ending, judge Lynde, toward the close of his speech, says, "Happy am I to find, after such strict examination, the conduct of the prisoner appears in so fair a light; yet I feel myself deeply affected, that this affair turns out so much to the disgrace of every person concerned * Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, James Caldwell, and Crifpus Attucks. Samuel Gray was a journeyman, and wrought in the rope-walks belonging to Mr. John Gray, the rope-maker. VOL. I.

B b

against