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BOSTON, March 12.

The Town of Boston affords a recent and
melancholy Demonstration of the destructive
Consequences of quartering Troops among
Citizens in a Time of Peace, under a Pretence
of supporting the Laws and aiding Civil Au-
thority ; every considerate and unprejudic'd
Person among us was deeply imprest with the Apprehen-
sion of these Consequences when it was known that a
Number of Regiments were ordered to this Town under
such a Pretext, but in Reality to inforce oppressive Mea-
sures ; to awe & controul the legislative as well as exe-
cutive Power of the Province, and to quell a Spirit of
Liberty, which however it may have been basely oppos'd
and even ridicul'd by some, would do Honor to any Age
or Country. A few Persons amongst us had determin'd
to use all their Influence to procure so destructive a Mea-
sure with a View to their securely enjoying the Profits of
an American Revenue, and unhappily both for Britain
and this Country they found Means to effect it.

It is to Governor Bernard, the Commissioners, their
Confidents and Coadjutors, that we are indebted as the
procuring Cause of a military Power in this Capital --
The Boston Journal of Occurrences, as printed in Mr.
Holt's York Gazette, from Time to Time, afforded many
striking Instances of the Distresses brought upon the In-
habitants by this Measure ; and since those Journals have
been discontinued, our Troubles from that Quarter have
been growing upon us : We have known a Party of Sol
diers in the face of Day fire off a loaden Musket upon the
Inhabitants, others have been prick'd with Bayonets,
and even our Magistrates assaulted and put in Danger of
their Lives, when Offenders brought before them have
been rescued ; and why those and other bold and base
Criminals have as yet escaped the Punishment due to their
Crimes, may be soon Matter of Enquiry by the Represen-
tative Body of this People -- It is natural to suppose that
when the Inhabitants of this Town saw those Laws which
had been enacted for their Security, and which they
were ambitious of holding up to the Soldiery, eluded,
they should more commonly resent for themselves --
and accordingly it has so happened ; many have been the
Squabbles between them and the Soldiery ; but it seems
their being often worsted by our Youth in those Rencoun-
ters, has only serv'd to irritate the former -- What passed at
Mr. Gray's Rope-walk, has already been given the Pub-
lic, & may be said to have led the Way to the late Catastro-
phe -- That the Rope-walk Lads when attacked by supe-
rior Numbers should defend themselves with so much Spi-
rit and Success in the Club-way, was too mortifying, and
perhaps it may hereafter appear, that even some of their
Officers were unhappily affected with this Circumstance :
Divers Stories were propagated among the Soldiery, that
serv'd to agitate their Spirits ; particularly on the Sab-
bath, that one Chambers, a Sergeant, represented as a
sober Man, had been missing the preceeding Day, and
must therefore have been murdered by the Townsmen ;
an Officer of Distinction so far credited this Report,
that he enter'd Mr. Gray's Rope-walk that Sabbath; and
when required of by that Gentleman as soon as he could
meet him, the Occasion of his so doing, the Officer re-
ply'd, that it was to look if the Serjeant [Sergeant] said to be mur-
dered had not been hid there ; this sober Serjeant [Sergeant] was
found on the Monday unhurt, in a House of Pleasure --
The Evidences already collected shew, that many Threat-
nings had been thrown out by the Soldiery, but we do
not pretend to say that there was any preconcerted Plan,
when the Evidences are published, the World will judge --
We may however venture to declare, that it appears too
probable from their Conduct, that some of the Soldiery
aimed to draw and provoke the Townsmen into Squabbles,
and that they then intended to make Use of other Wea-
pons than Canes, Clubs or Bludgeons.

Our Readers will doubtless expect a circumstantial Ac-
count of the tragical Affair on Monday Night last ; but
we hope they will excuse our being so particular as we
should have been, had we not seen that the Town
was intending an Enquiry & full Representation thereof.

On the Evening of Monday, being the 5th Current,
several Soldiers of the 29th Regiment were seen parading
the Streets with their drawn Cutlasses and Bayonets,
abusing and wounding Numbers of the Inhabitants.

A few minutes after nine o'clock, four youths,
named Edward Archbald, William Merchant,
Francis Archbald, and John Leech, jun. came
down Cornhill together, and seperating at Doctor
Loring's corner, the two former were passing
the narrow alley leading to Murray's barrack, in
which was a soldier brandishing a broad sword of
an uncommon size against the walls, out of which
he struck fire plentifully. A person of a mean counte-
nance armed with a large cudgel bore him company.
Edward Archbald admonished Mr. Merchant to take
care of the sword, on which the soldier turned round
and struck Archbald on the arm, then pushed at
Merchant and pierced thro' his cloaths inside the
arm close to the arm-pit and grazed the skin. Mer-
chant then struck the soldier with a short stick he
had, & the other Person ran to the barrack & bro't
with him two soldiers, one armed with a pair of
tongs the other with a shovel : he with the tongs
pursued Archbald back thro' the alley, collar'd and
laid him over the head with the tongs. The noise
bro't people together, and John Hicks, a young lad,
coming up, knock'd the soldier down, but let him
get up again ; and more lads gathering, drove them
back to the barrack, where the boys stood some time
as it were to keep them in. In less than a minute
10 or 12 of them came out with drawn cutlasses,
clubs and bayonets and set upon the the unarmed boys
and young folks, who stood them a little while, but
finding the inequality of their equipment dispersed.
-- On hearing the noise, one Samuel Atwood,
came up to see what was the matter, and enter-
ing the alley from dock-sqaure, heard the lat-

ter part of the combat, and when the boys had dis
persed he met the 10 or 12 soldiers aforesaid rushing
down the alley towards the square, and asked them
if they intended to murder people? They answered
Yes, by G -- d, root and branch ! With that one of
them struck Mr. Atwood with a club, which was
repeated by another, and being unarmed he turned
to go off, and received a wound on the left shoulder
which reached the bone and gave him much pain.
Retreating a few steps, Mr. Atwood met two officers
and said, Gentlemen, what is the matter ? They
answered, you'll see by and by. Immediately after,
those heroes appeared in the square, asking where
were the boogers ? where were the cowards ? But
notwithstanding their fierceness to naked men, one of
them advanced towards a youth who had a split of
a raw stave in his hand, and said damn them here is
one of them ; but the young man seeing a person
near him with a drawn sword and good cane ready
to support him, held up his stave in defiance, and
they quietly passed by him up the little alley by Mr.
Silsby's to Kingstreet, where they attacked single
and unarmed persons till they raised much clamor,
and then turned down Cornhill street, insulting all
they met in like manner, and pursuing some to their
very doors. Thirty or forty persons, mostly lads,
being by this means gathered in Kingstreet, Capt.
Preston, with a party of men with charged bayonets,
came from the main guard to the Commissioners
house, the soldiers pushing their bayonets, crying,
Make way ! They took place by the custom-house,
and continuing to push to drive the people off,
pricked some in several places ; on which they were
clamorous, and, it is said, threw snow-balls. On
this, the Captain commanded them to fire, and more
snow-balls coming, he again said, Damn you, Fire,
be the consequence what it will ! One soldier then
fired, and a townman with a cudgel struck him
over the hands with such force that he dropt his
firelock ; and rushing forward aimed a blow at the
Captain's head, which graz'd his hat and fell pretty
heavy upon his arm : However, the soldiers conti-
nued the fire, successively, till 7 or 8, or as some say
11 guns were discharged.

By this fatal man uvre, three men were laid dead
on the spot, and two more struggling for life ; but
what shewed a degree of cruelty unknown to British
troops, at least since the house of Hanover has di-
rected their operations, was an attempt to fire upon
or push with their bayonets the persons who under-
took to remove the slain and wounded !

Mr. Benjamin Leigh, now undertaker in the Delph
Manufactory, came up, and after some conversa-
tion with Capt. Preston, relative to his conduct in
this affair, advised him to draw off his men, with
which he complied.

The dead are Mr. Samuel Gray, killed on the spot,
the ball entering his head and beating off a large
portion of his skull.

A mulatto man, named Crispus Attucks, who was
born in Framingham, but lately belonged to New-
Providence and was here in order to go for North-
Carolina, also killed instantly ; two balls entering
his breast, one of them in special goring the right
lobe of the lungs, and a great part of the liver
most horribly.

Mr. James Caldwell, mate of Capt. Morton's ves-
sel, in like manner killed by two balls entering his
back.

Mr. Samuel Maverick, a promising youth of 17
years of age, son of the widow Maverick, and an
apprentice to Mr. Greenwood, Ivory-Turner, mor-
tally wounded, a ball went through his belly, & was
cut out at his back : He died the next morning.

A lad named Christopher Monk, about 17 years
of age, an apprentice to Mr. Walker, Shipwright ;
wounded, a ball entered his back about 4 inches
above the left kidney, near the spine, and was cut
out of the breast on the same side ; apprehended
he will die.

A lad named John Clark, about 17 years of age,
whose parents live at Medford, and an apprentice to
Capt. Samuel Howard of this town ; wounded, a ball
entered just above his groin and came out at his hip,
on the opposite side, apprehended he will die.

Mr. Edward Payne, of this town, Merchant, stand-
ing at his entry-door, received a ball in his arm,
which shattered some of the bones.

Mr. John Green, Taylor, coming up Leverett's
Lane, received a ball just under his hip, and lodged
in the under part of his thigh, which was extracted

Mr. Robert Patterson, a seafaring man, who was
the person that had his trowsers shot through in
Richardson's affair, wounded ; a ball went through
his right arm, and he suffered great loss of blood.

Mr. Patrick Carr, about 30 years of age, who
work'd with Mr. Field, Leather Breeches-maker in
Queen-street, wounded, a ball enter'd near his hip
and went out at his side.

A lad named David Parker, an apprentice to
Mr. Eddy the Wheelwright, wounded, a ball en-
tered in his thigh.

The People were immediately alarmed with the Report
of this horrid Massacre, the Bells were set a Ringing, and

great Numbers soon assembled at the Place where this tra-
gical Scene had been acted ; their Feelings may be better
conceived than express'd ; and while some were taking
Care of the Dead and Wounded, the Rest were in Con-
sultation what to do in those dreadful Circumstances. --
But so little intimidated were they, notwithstanding their
being within a few Yards of the Main-Guard, and
seeing the 29th Regiment under Arms, and drawn up in
King-Street ; that they kept their Station and appear'd
as an Officer of Rank express'd it, ready to run upon the
very Muzzles of their Muskets. -- The Lieut. Governor
soon came into the Town-House, and there met some of
his Majesty's Council, and a Number of Civil Magistrates ;
a considerable Body of the People immediately entered
the Council Chamber, and expressed themselves to his
Honor with a Freedom and Warmth becoming the occa-
sion. He used his utmost Endeavours to pacify them, re-
questing that they would let the Matter subside for the
Night, and promising to do all in his Power 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 with his Hono'rs
Request, by representing the horrible Consequences of a
promiscuous and rash Engagement in the Night, and as-
suring them that such Measures should be entered upon
in the Morning, as would be agreeable to their Dignity,
and a more likely way of obtaining the best Satisfaction
for the Blood of their Fellow-Townsmen. -- The Inhabi-
tants attended to these Suggestions, and the Regiment
under Arms being ordered to their Barracks, which was
insisted upon by the People, they then separated & returned
to their Dwellings by One o'Clock. At 3 o'Clock Capt.
Preston was committed, as were the Soldiers who fir'd, a
few Hours after him.

Tuesday Morning presented a most shocking Scene,
the Blood of our Fellow Citizens running like Water thro'
King-Street, and the Merchants Exchange the principal
Spot of the Military Parade for about 18 Months past.
Our Blood might also be track'd up to the Head of Long-
Lane, and through divers other Streets and Passages.

At eleven o'clock the inhabitants met at Faneuil Hall,
and after some animated speeches becoming the occasion,
they chose a Committee of 15 respectable Gentlemen to wait
upon the Lieut. Governor in Council, to request of him to
issue his Orders for the immediate removal of the troops.

The Message was in these Words :
THAT it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that
the inhabitants and soldiery can no longer live together
in safety ; that nothing can rationally be expected to restore
the peace of the town & prevent further blood & carnage, but
the immediate removal of the Troops ; and that we there-
fore most fervently pray his Honor that his power and in-
fluence may be exerted for their instant removal.

His Honor's Reply, which was laid before the Town
then Adjourn'd to the Old South Meeting-House,
was as follows,

Gentlemen,

I AM extremely sorry for the unhappy differences between
the inhabitants and troops, and especially for the action
of the last evening, and I have exerted myself upon that
occasion that a due enquiry may be made, and that the law
may have its course. I have in council consulted with the
commanding officers of the two regiments who are in the
town. They have their orders from the General at New-
York. It is not in my power to countermand those orders.
The Council have desired that the two regiments may be
removed to the Castle. From the particular concern which
the 29th regiment has had in your differences, Col. Dal-
rymple who is the commanding officer of the troops has
signified that the regiment shall without delay be placed in
the barracks at the Castle until he can send to the General
and receive his further orders concerning both the regi-
ments, and that the main guard shall be removed, and the
14th regiment so disposed and laid under such restraint that
all occasion of future disturbances may be prevented.

The foregoing Reply having been read and fully con-
sidered -- the question was put, Whether the Report be
satisfactory ? Passed in the Negative, (only 1 dissentient.)
out of upwards of 4000 Voters.

It was then moved and voted John Hancock, Esq ; Mr.
Samuel Adams, Mr. William Molineux, William Phil-
lips, Esq ; Dr. Joseph Warren, Joshua Henshaw, Esq ; and
Samuel Pemberton, Esq ; be a Committee to wait on his
Honour the Lieut. Governor, and inform him, that it is
the unanimous Opinion of this Meeting, that the Reply
made to a Vote of the Inhabitants presented his Honor in
the Morning, is by no Means satisfactory ; and that no-
thing less will satisfy, than a total and immediate removal
of all the Troops.

The Committee having waited upon the Lieut. Gover-
nor agreeable to the foregoing Vote ; laid before the In-
habitants the following Vote of Council received from his
Honor.

His Honor the Lieut. Governor laid before the Board
a Vote of the Town of Boston, passed this Afternoon, and
then addressed the Board as follows,

Gentlemen of the Council,

"I lay before you a Vote of the Town of Boston, which
I have just now received from them, and I now ask your
Advice what you judge necessary to be done upon it."

The Council thereupon expressed themselves to be una
nimously of opinion, "that it was absolutely necessary for
his Majesty's service, the good order of the Town, and
the Peace of the Province, that the Troops should be im-
mediately removed out of the Town of Boston, and there-
upon advised his Honor to communicate this Advice of
the Council to Col. Dalrymple, and to pray that he would
order the Troops down to Castle-William." The Com-
mittee also informed the Town, that Col. Dalrymple, after
having seen the Vote of Council, said to the Committee,
"That he now gave his word of Honor that he would be-
gin his Preparations in the Morning, and that there should
be no unneccessary delay until the whole of the two Re-
giments were removed to the Castle."

Upon the above Report being read, the Inhabitants
could not avoid expressing the high Satisfaction it
afforded them.

After Measures were taken for the Security of the
Town in the Night by a strong Military Watch, the
Meeting was Dissolved.

The 29th Regiment have already left us, and the 14th
Regiment are following them, so that we expect the
Town will soon be clear of all the Troops. The Wis-
dom and true Policy of his Majesty's Council and Col.
Dalrymple the Commander appear in this Measure. Two
Regiments in the midst of this populous City ; and the
Inhabitants justly incensed : Those of the neighbouring
Towns actually under Arms upon the first Report of the
Massacre, and the Signal only wanting to bring in a few
Hours to the Gates of this City many Thousands of our
brave Brethren in the Country, deeply affected with our
Distresses, and to whom we are greatly obliged on this
Occasion -- No one knows where this would have ended,
and what important Consequences even to the whole
British Empire might have followed, which our Modera-
tion & Loyalty upon so trying an Occasion, and our Faith
in the Commander's Assurances have happily prevented.

Last Thursday, agreeable to a general Request of the
Inhabitants, and by the Consent of Parents and Friends,
were carried to their Grave in Succession, the Bodies
of Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, James Caldwell,
and Crispus Attucks, the unhappy Victims who fell in
the bloody Massacre of the Monday Evening preceeding !

On this Occasion most of the Shops in Town were
shut, all the Bells were ordered to toll a solemn Peal, as
were also those in the neighboring Towns of Charlestown
Roxbury, &c. The Procession began to move between
the Hours of 4 and 5 in the Afternoon ; two of the un-
fortunate Sufferers, viz. Mess. James Caldwell and Crispus
Attucks, who were strangers, borne from Faneuil-Hall,
attended by a numerous Train of Persons of all Ranks ,
and the other two, viz. Mr. Samuel Gray, from the
House of Mr. Benjamin Gray, (his Brother) on the
North-side the Exchange, and Mr. Maverick. from the
House of his distressed Mother Mrs. Mary Maverick, in
Union-Street, each followed by their respective Relations
and Friends: The several Hearses forming a Junction
in King-Street, the Theatre of that inhuman Tragedy !
proceeded from thence thro' the Main-Street, lengthened
by an immense Concourse of People, so numerous as to
be obliged to follow in Ranks of six, and brought up by
a long Train of Carriages belonging to the principal
Gentry of the Town. The Bodies were deposited in one
Vault in the middle Burying-ground : The aggravated
Circumstances of their Death, the Distress and Sorrow
visible in every Countenance, together with the peculiar
Solemnity with which the whole Funeral was conducted,
surpass Description.

A military watch has been kept every night at the
town-house and prison, in which many of the most res-
pectable gentlemen of the town have appeared as the
common soldier, and night after night have given their
attendance.

A Servant Boy of one Manwaring the Tide-waiter from
Quebec is now in Goal, having deposed that himself, by the
Order and Encouragment of his Superiors had discharged
a Musket several Times from one of the Windows of the
House in King-Street, hired by the Commissioners and Custom
House Officers to do their Business in ; more than one other
Person swore upon Oath, that they apprehended several
Discharges came from that Quarter. -- It is not improbable
that we may soon be able to account for the Assassination of
Mr. Otis some Time past ; the Message by Wilmot, who came
from the same House to the infamous Richardson before his
firing the Gun which kill'd young Snider, and to open up
such a Scene of Villainy acted by a dirty Banditti, as must
astonish the Public.

It is supposed that there must have been a greater Num-
ber of People from Town and Country at the Funeral of
those who were massacred by the Soldiers, than were ever
together on this Continent on any Occasion.

A more dreadful Tragedy has been acted by the Soldiery
in King-Street, Boston, New-England, than was sometime
since exhibited in St. George's Field, London, in Old England,
which may serve instead of Beacons for both Counties.

Had those worthy, Patriots, not only represented by Ber-
nard and the Commissioners as a Faction, but as aiming at
making a Separation between Britain and the Colonies, had
any Thing else in Contemplation than the Preservation of
our Rights, and bringing Things back to their old Founda-
tion -- What an Opening has been given them ?

Among other Matters in the Warrant for the annual
Town-Meeting this Day, is the following Clause, viz.
" Whether the Town will take any Measures that a
public Monument may be erected on the Spot where the
late tragical Scene was acted, as a Memento to Posterity,
of that horrid Massacre, and the destructive Conse-
quences of Military Troops being quartered in a well
regulated City."

Boston-Gaol, Monday, 12th March 1770.

Messieurs EDES & GILL,

PERMIT me thro' the Channel of your Paper, to
return my Thanks in the most publick Manner to
the Inhabitants in general of this Town -- who
throwing aside all Party and Prejudice, have with the
utmost Harmony and Freedom stept forth Advocates for
the Truth, in Defence of my injured Innocence, in the
late unhappy Affair that happened on Monday Night
last : And to assure them, that I shall ever have the
highest Sense of the Justice they have done me,

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