the citizens augmented, and every moment was expected to bring on an outbreak of violence.

Early on the evening of the fifth, the excitement became wound up to such a point, as to make it certain that an explosion was at hand. Groups of people collected in the streets, and parties of soldiers were hurrying in various directions with unusual activity and marks of preparation. About nine o'clock. the alarm-bell was rung, as if for fire, and immediately large bands of men were seen in motion, brandishing clubs and uttering imprecations against the soldiers. They collected in large numbers in Dock square. A young man, attempting to pass into Brattle street, was struck at by the sentry near the barracks, and wounded in the head. The mob immediately assaulted the soldiers, but the officers ordered their men into the barracks, and shut them in. The populace followed them to the gate with violent and abusive language. An unknown person, described as "a tall, large man, in a red cloak and white wig," then addressed an inflammatory speech to the rioters, which appears to have produced an instantaneous and powerful effect, for the whole body presently rushed through Royal Exchange lane into King street, now State street. At the corner of these two streets stood the Custom House, in front of which a sentry was posted. The mob drove him up the steps, where he loaded his gun and made a show of resistance. The people pressed upon him with violent imprecations, and he shouted for protection to the main guard,

which were within hearing. Captain Preston, the commander, despatched a corporal and six men to his relief, and immediately followed himself. The mob had now become encouraged by a

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great accession of numbers, and continued to hoot at the soldiers, pelting them with snowballs, ice and sticks. The soldiers were ordered to load, and form in front of the custom-house. They began to force the crowd away, when one of them received a blow from a club, which brought him to the ground. He immediately rose and fired. All the rest, with one or two exceptions, followed his example. Five men were killed on the spot, or mortally wounded, and several more received severe wounds.

The people were immediately alarmed with the report of this massacre; the bells were set ringing, and great numbers soon assembled at the place where the tragical scene had been acted. Their feelings may be better conceived than expressed; and while some were taking care of the dead and wounded, the rest were in consultation what to do in these dreadful circumstances. But so little intimidated were they, notwithstanding their being within a few yards of the main guard, and seeing the 27th regiment under arms, that they kept their station, and appeared, as an officer of rank expressed it, ready to run upon the very muzzles of their muskets. The lieutenant-governor soon came into the town-house, and there met some of the council and a number of magistrates. A considerable body of people immediately entered the council chamber, and expressed themselves with a freedom and warmth becoming the occasion. The governor used his utmost endeavors to pacify them, requesting that they would let the matter subside for the night, and promising that justice should be done, and the law have its course. Men of influence and weight with the people were not wanting on their part to procure their compliance, by representing the horrible consequence of a promiscuous and rash engagement in the night. The inhabitants attended to these suggestions; and the regiment under arms being ordered to their barracks, they separated and returned to their dwellings by one o'clock in the morning. A solemn procession was made through Boston at the funeral of the victims. On this occasion all the shops were shut up, the bells were ordered to toll in Boston and the neighboring towns, and the bodies that moved from different quarters, met in King street, and were carried together through the main streets, followed by the greatest concourse of people ever known, all testifying the deepest grief, to a vault provided for them in the middle of the Granary burying-ground.

This tragical occurrence wrought the people of Massachusetts, and particularly the citizens of Boston, to the highest pitch of rage and indignation; yet no acts of violence ensued. Captain Preston surrendered himself to the civil authority, and was committed to

prison to be tried for murder by the laws of Massachusetts. John Adams and Josiah Quincy, eminent among the lawyers and public men of the day, had the courage to defend him at the trial. In spite of the bloody scenes which had inflamed the resentment

of the people, such was the ability of the defence, and so strong was the feeling of self-restraint among the citizens, after the first heats of indignation were passed, that Preston was acquitted, and allowed to go at large unmolested. The soldiers were also severally put upon trial, and likewise acquitted. Justice triumphed, and the friends of freedom were saved from the lasting reproach of having taken the lives of defenceless men, who had thrown themselves on the civil power for protection. The result gained for the people of Massachusetts the respect of the world; and no single occurrence did more to advance the cause of American liberty, than the "Boston Massacre." It caused the immediate removal of the troops from the town; and the people, feeling that something had been gained, acquired new confidence in their resolution to resist the encroachments of arbitrary power. The town of Boston resolved to celebrate the anniversary of the 5th of March, that there might be an annual illustration of "the fatal effects of the policy of standing armies, and the natural tendency of quartering regular troops in populous cities in times of peace." On the day of the first celebration, the bells were tolled from twelve to one o'clock, and from nine to ten in the evening; and, during the evening, figures representing the massa

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cre, were exhibited from the window of a distinguished citizen at the north end. The solemnization of this anniversary was repeated from year to year; an oration was delivered by public appointment, and the feeling excited by the event was kept alive till it burst out into the full flame of the revolution.

CHAPTER LVI.

Discovery of the Hutchinson letters.-General congress at Philadelphia.-State of affairs in England.—Capture of the king's schooner, Gaspee.-Destruction of the tea at Boston.—Indignation of the ministry.—The Boston Port Bill.—Nonimportation resolutions.-Fortitude and resolution of the colonists.-Proceedings in New Hampshire and Rhode Island.-Preparations for hostilities.

In this state of excitement, a singular transaction occurred, which gave double force to the ill temper and animosity that had subsisted between the governor and people of Massachusetts. This was a discovery and publication of some confidential letters, which had been written during the course of the disputes, by the governor and lieutenant-governor and other persons, to the ministry of England. These letters contained a very unfavorable representation of the state of affairs, the temper and disposition of the people, and the views of the leaders in that province; and tended to show, not only the necessity of the most coercive measures, but that even a considerable change of the constitution and system of government was necessary, to enforce the obedience of the colony. These letters had been sent by lieutenant-governor Hutchinson to the ministry, privately and in confidence; but the people of the colony insisted that they were evidently intended to influence government, and ought therefore to be shown to such persons as had an interest in preserving their privileges. Upon the death of a person in England, in whose hands these letters happened to be lodged, they, by some means which are not yet known, fell into the hands of Dr. Franklin, then in London, as representative of American affairs, and were by him transmitted to Boston in 1772.

The indignation and rage which these letters excited in Boston can hardly be described. The people found themselves misrepresented and betrayed by those whom they imagined bound in duty to support their interests, and perceived that the late measures of government had proceeded from false information that had been given by their governor and lieutenant-governor. Under the impulses of resentment, the house of representatives passed many violent resolutions. The letters were presented to the council, under the strictest injunctions from the representatives, that the persons who were to have them should not, by any