"I lay before you a vote of the town of Boston, which I have juft now received from them, and I now atk your advice, what you judge neceffary to be done upon it."

The council thereupon expreffed themselves to be unanimously of opinion, "that it was abfolutely neceffary for his Majefty's fervice, the good order of the town, and the pe ace of the province, that the troops fhould be immediately removed out of the town of Boston; with which opinion Colonel Dal rymple gave his word of honour that he would acquiefce."

Upon the above report, the inhabitants expreffed the highest fatisfaction; and after meafures were taken for the fecurity of the town, the meeting was dif folved.

A most folemn proceffion was made through Boston at the funeral of the four murdered youths. On this occafion all the fhops were fhut up, all the bells in the town were ordered to toll, as were thofe in the neighbouring towns, and the bodies that moved from different quarters of the town, met at the fatal place of action, and were carried together through the main ftreets, followed by the greatest concourfe of people ever known, all testifying the most fenfible grief, to a vault provided for them in the middle of the great burying-ground.

From the time of this fatal tragedy, a military guard of town militia has been conftantly kept in the town-house and town-prifon, at which fome of the moft refpectable citizens have done duty as common foldiers.

In confequence of this affair, the inhabitants of Roxburgh petitioned the Lieutenant-governor Hutch

infon to remove the troops from Boston; and received for anfwer, That he had no authority to order the King's troops from any place where they are pafted by his Majesty's order; at the fame time he acquainted them with what had been done with the concurrence of the commanding officer.

Captain Preston's own account will fet this matter in its full light.

It is matter of too great notoriety to need any proofs, that the arrival of his Majefty's troops in Boston was extremely obnoxious to its inhabitants. They have ever used all means in their power to weaken the regiments, and to bring them into contempt, by promoting and aiding desertions, and with impunity, even where there has been the clearest evidence of the fact, and by grofsly and falfely propogating untruths concerning them. On the arrival of the 64th and 65th their ardour feemingly began to abate; it being too extenfive to buy off fo many; and attempts of that kind rendered too dangerous from the numbers, But the fame fpirit revived immediately on its being known that thofe regiments were ordered for Hallifax, and hath ever fince their departure been breaking out with greater violence. After their embarkation, one of their justices, thoroughly acquainted with the people and their intentions, on the trial of the 14th regiment, openly and publicly, in the hearing of great numbers of people, and from the feat of justice declared, "that the foldiers must now take care of themselves, nor truft too much to their arms, for they were but a handful; that the inhabitants carried weapons concealed under their cloaths, and would destroy them in a moment, if they pleased." This, confidering the malicious temper of the people, was an alarming circumstance to the foldiery. Since which feveral

feveral difputes have happened between the townspeople and the foldiers of both regiments, the former being encouraged thereto by the countenance of even fome of the magistrates, and by the protection of all the party against government. In general fuch difputes have been kept too fecret from the officers. On the 2d of March, two of the 29th going through one Gray's rope-walk, the rope-makers infultingly afked them if they would empty a vault. This un. fortunately had the defired effect, by provoking the foldiers, and from words they went to blows. Both parties fuffered in this affray, and finally the foldiers retired to their quarters. The officers, on the first knowledge of this tranfaction, took every precaution in their power to prevent any ill confequences. withstanding which, fingle quarrels could not be prevented; the inhabitants conftantly provoking and abufing the foldiery. The infolence, as well as utter hatred of the inhabitants to the troops, increafed daily; infomuch, that Monday and Tuesday, the 5th and 6th instant, were privately agreed on for a general engagement; in confequence of which feveral of the militia came from the country, armed, to join their friends, menacing to deftroy any who should oppose them. This plan has fince been discovered.

Not

On Monday night, about eight o'clock, two foldiers were attacked and beat. But the party of the townspeople, in order to carry matters to the utmost length, broke into two meeting-houses, and rang the alarm bells, which I fuppofed was for fire, as ufual, but was foon undeceived. About nine, some of the guard came to and informed me, that the town inhabitants were affembling to attack the troops, and that the bells were ringing as the fignal for that purpose, and not for fire, and the beacon intended to be fired to bring in the

diftant

diftant people of the country. This, as I was captain of the day, occafioned my repairing immediately to the main-guard. In my way there I faw the people in great commotion, and heard them ufe the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops. In a few minutes after I reached the guard, about an hundred people paffed it, and went towards the Cuftom-house, where the King's money is lodged. They immediately furrounded the centinel pofted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him. I was foon informed by a townf-' man, their intention was to carry off the foldier from his post, and probably murder him. On which I defired him to return for further intelligence; and he foon came back and affured me he heard the mob declare they would murder him. This I feared might be a prelude to their plundering the King's cheft. I immediately fent a non-commiffioned officer and twelve men to protect both the centinel and the king's money, and very foon followed myfelf, to prevent (if poffible) all diforders; fearing left the officer and foldiery by the infults and provocations of the rioters fhould be throwu off their guard and commit fome rafh act. They foon rushed through the people, and, by charging their bayonets in half circle, kept them at a little diftance. Nay, fo far was I from intending the death of any perfon, that I fuffered the troops to go to the fpot where the unhappy affair took place, without any loading in their pieces, nor did I ever give orders for loading them. This remifs conduct in me perhaps merits cenfure; yet it is evidence, refulting from the nature of things, which is the best and fureft that can be offered, that my intention was not to act offenfively, but the contrary part, and that not withour compulfion. The mob ftill increafed, and were

more

more outrages, ftriking their clubs or bludgeons one against another, and calling out, "Come on, you Raf cals, you bloody Backs, you Lobster Scoundrels; fire if you dare, G- damn you, fire and be damn'd; we know you dare not;' and much more fuch language was used. At this time I was between the fol diers and the mob, parleying with and endeavouring all in my power to perfuade them to retire peaceably; but to no purpofe. They advanced to the point of the bayonets, ftruck fome of them, and even the muzzies of the pieces, and feemed to be endeavouring to clofe with the foldiers. On which fome well-behaved perfons asked me if the guns were charged; I replied, yes, They then asked me if I intended to order the men to fire; I anfwered no, by no means; obferving to them, that I was, advanced before the muzzles of the men's pieces, and must fall a facrifice if they fired; and that the foldiers were upon the halfcock and charged bayonets, and my giving the word. fire, in thofe circumftances, would prove me no offiWhile I was thus fpeaking, one of the foldiers, having received a fevere blow with a ftick, ftepped a little on one fide, and inftantly fired; on which turning to, and asking him why he fired without orders, I was ftruck with a club on my arm, which for fome time deprived me of the ufe of it; which blow, had it been placed on my head, moft probably would have deftroyed me. On this a general attack was made on the men by a great number of heavy clubs, and fnow-balls being thrown at them, by which all our lives were in imminent danger; fome perfons at the fame time from behind calling out, Damn your bloods, why do not you fire?' Inftantly three or four of the foldiers fired, one after another, and directly after three more in the fame confufion and hurry.

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