etc., by C. Stedman," who served under Sir William Howe, which is as follows: "On the evening of the fifth of March, the same day on which the British minister, Lord North, moved his resolutions in the House of Commons for discontinuing the American duties, a quarrel arose at Boston between two or three young men of the town and as many soldiers, at or near their barracks. From words, they proceeded to blows; and the soldiers, having vanquished their opponents, were seen pursuing them through the streets. The alarm to the populace was given by ringing the bells of the churches, and the people of the town, assembling in great numbers at the custom-house, began to crowd around the sentinel who was posted there, and not only insulted him, but threatened his life. Captain Preston, the officer on duty for the day, who had by this time received information of the tumult, proceeded immediately to the main guard, and hearing that the sentinel placed at the custom-house might be in danger, sent a party, under the command of a sergeant, to protect the one and secure the other; and, from greater precaution, soon afterwards followed, and took command of the party himself. He endeavored to prevail upon the people to disperse, but in vain. The mob soon became more riotous, not only reviling the soldiers with abusive language, but throwing stones at them, and whatever else came in their way. One of the soldiers received a blow from something that was thrown, and levelled his musket; the officer, stretching out his arm to prevent the soldier from firing, was struck with a club, and the musket was discharged. The attack from the mob became more violent, and the rest of the soldiers, following the example of their comrades, discharged their pieces singly and in a scattered manner, by which four of the populace were killed, and several others wounded. They were intimidated, and for a moment fled; but, soon afterwards collecting, took their station in an adjoining street. The drums beat to arms, the rest of the troops were assembled, and the whole town was in the utmost confusion. town-meeting was held, and a deputation was sent to the governor, requesting him to remove the troops from the town. The governor called together the Council, and the Council giving it as their opinion that the removal of the troops from the town would be for his majesty's service, the commanding officer promised to comply with their advice. Capt. Preston surrendered himself for trial, and the soldiers under his command at the custom-house were taken into A custody; the mob dispersed, and the following day the troops were removed to Castle William. In the Diary of John Adams, it is recorded as follows:- "The evening of the fifth of March I spent at Mr. Henderson Inches' house, at the south end of Boston, in company with a club, with whom I had been associated for several years. About nine o'clock we were alarmed with the ringing of bells, and supposing it to be the signal of fire, we snatched our hats and cloaks, broke up the club, and went out to assist in quenching the fire, or aiding our friends who might be in danger. In the street we were informed that the British soldiers had fired on the inhabitants, killed some and wounded others, near the town-house. A crowd of people were flowing down the street to the scene of action. When we arrived, we saw nothing but some field-pieces before the south door of the town-house, and some engineers and grenadiers drawn up to protect them. Mrs. Adams was then in circumstances to make me apprehensive of the effect of the surprise upon her, who was alone, excepting her maids and a boy, in the house. Having, therefore, surveyed round the house, and seeing all quiet, I walked down Boylston-alley, into Brattle-square, where a company or two of regular soldiers were drawn up in front of Dr. Cooper's old church, with their muskets shouldered, and their bayonets all fixed. I had no other way to proceed but along the whole front, in a very narrow space which they had left for foot-passengers. Pursuing my way without taking the least notice of them, or they of me, any more than if they had been marble statues, I went directly home to Cole-lane." We will relate particulars of the town-meeting. The excited Bostonians, overwhelmed with indignation at the outrage of the British regulars, on the very next day, as with one tread, repaired to the Cradle of Liberty. The town record of that day states that the selectmen not being present, and the inhabitants being informed that they were at the council-chamber, it was voted that Mr. William Greenleaf be desired to proceed there, and acquaint the selectmen that the inhabitants desire and expect their attendance at the hall. The town-clerk, William Cooper, presided at this meeting in the interim. The selectmen forthwith attended, and it was voted that constable Lindsey George Wallace wait on Rev. Dr. Cooper, and acquaint him that the inhabitants desire him to open the meeting with prayer. Hon. Thomas Cushing was chosen moderator, by hand vote. The first object of this democratic assembly, in defiance of British control, was to listen to relations of the people respecting the massacre of last night; and, that the same might be recorded by the town-clerk, they were requested to give written statements. The persons that appeared to give information relative to the conduct of the soldiers being many, it was inconvenient to receive them all at that meeting, and William Greenleaf, William Whitwell and Samuel Whitwell, were appointed to take the depositions offered regarding the conduct of the regulars. The statements of four persons at this meeting are on the town records in substance as follows:-"Mr. John S. Copley related that Mr. Pelham and his wife, and some persons of Mr. Samuel Winthrop's family, heard a soldier say, after the firing on the last night, that the devil might give quarters-he should give them none." Here we will cease a moment to relate further testimony, in order to make allusions to John Singleton Copley, who was the most eminent painter of his day in Boston, a pupil of Smibert, and memorable for his portraits of Hancock and Warren, and for the paintings of the death of Chatham, and the siege of Gibraltar. The associations that twine around his name are of peculiar interest to the people of Boston, where he was born, in 1738. The Mr. Pelham to whom he alludes is supposed to have been one Peter Pelham, a writing and dancing master, whose wife Mary was the widow of Richard Copley, a tobacconist, his probable father. Mr. Copley married a daughter of Richard Clarke, one of the consignees of the tea destroyed in 1773, by whom his son John S., born in Boston, May 21, 1772, known as Lord Lyndhurst, became Lord Chancellor of England. Gardiner Greene, the late millionaire, of Boston, married his daughter Elizabeth. He was one of the addressers to Gov. Hutchinson in 1774, and departed for London in June of that year, where he died, September 25, 1815. Copley's Pasture extended down Beacon, from Walnut street to the water, and over Chestnut and Mount Vernon streets. His residence was on the present location of David Sears' mansion. We will now return to the town-meeting. The next relation was that of John Scott, who reported that a lad of Mr. Pierpont had said at Mr. Chardon's, that a soldier was heard to say his officer had acquainted them that if they went abroad at night, they should go armed and in companies. Mr. Pierpont stated that before the firing on the last night, he had disarmed a soldier who had struck down one of the inhabitants. Mr. Pool Spear related that last week he heard one Kilson, a soldier of O'Hara's company, say that he did not know what the inhabitants were after, for they had broken the windows of an officer, one Nathaniel Rogers, but they had a scheme which would soon put a stop to our procedure; that parties of soldiers were ordered with pistols in their pockets, and to fire upon those who should assault said house again; and that ten pounds sterling was to be given as a reward for their killing one of those persons, and fifty pounds sterling for a prisoner. A committee of fifteen was appointed to inform Lieut. Gov. Hutchinson that it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the inhabitants and soldiers can no longer dwell together in safety; that nothing can restore the peace of the town, and prevent blood and carnage, but the immediate removal of the troops. The hall was crowded to excess, and adjourned to the Old South, to meet in the afternoon. Originally, Faneuil Hall could accommodate one thousand persons only. It was built of brick, two stories in height, and measured one hundred feet by forty. The offices of the town were established there, of the naval office, and of the notary public; and underneath was the market-house, used for that purpose until Aug. 26, 1826, on the erection of the splendid Quincy Market-house. We will digress here to exhibit the prejudiced and slanderous opinion of the character of the Coopers, advanced in the London Political Register for 1780:-"William Cooper was formerly town-clerk of Boston, and is one of the great knaves and most inveterate rebels in New England. He is a very hot-headed man, and constantly urged the most violent measures. He was prompted secretly by his brother, the Rev. Samuel Cooper, who, though a minister of peace, and to all outward appearance a meek and heavenly man, yet was one of the chief instruments in stirring up the people to take arms. Hancock, and many leaders of the rebellion, were his parishioners. When the Boston rioters made their concerted attack on the custom-house to plunder the money-chest, March, 1770, the bell of this reverend rogue's church was the signal which summoned them to the assault." This pastor of Brattle-street church, ever noted as the silver-tongued orator, was of such remarkable popularity, that the aisles of the church would be thronged with eager listeners, and he was a favorite of royalists and rebels. William Cooper had rendered himself specially obnoxious to the royalists by his Journal of Occurrences from the time of the arrival of the regulars to the year 1770, published in the Boston Gazette. The following effusion, characterizing the Boston clergy of 1770, ascribed to John Fenno, keeper of the granary, and to Joseph Green, has long been famous. It was probably written by more than one hand: There's puffing Pemb,2 who does contemn All Liberty's noble sons; And Andrew Sly,3 who oft draws nigh In Brattle Street we seldom meet With silver-tongued Sam,5 Who gently glides between both sides, And thus escapes a jam. Little Hopper, when he thinks proper, In Liberty's cause is bold; And John Old North,7 though little worth, Won't sacrifice to gold. Penuel Puffs is hearty enough, And so is Simeon Howard; And Long Lane Teague will join the league, He never was a coward. Trout's Sunday aim is to reclaim Those that in sin are sunk ; When Monday comes he stills them rum, And gets them woful drunk. There's punning Byles provokes our smiles, He visits folk to crack his jokes, Which never mend their hearts. With strutting gait, and wig so great, He walks along the streets, And throws out wit, or what 's like it, To every one he meets. We will further quote the Political Register, for the allusions to the moderator of this meeting:-"Among the rebels in Massachu 1 Chauncy. 2 Pemberton. 3 Eliot. 7 Lathrop. 8 Bowen. 9 Moorhead. * Gov. Hutchinson. 5 Cooper. • Stillman. 10 Troutbee. |