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PREFACE T0 VOLUME TEN xiii

As might be expected, this tragedy wrought ithe
whole people of Massachusetts, and above all, the in-
habitants of Boston, to the highest pitch of rage and
indignation, The populace breathed only vengeance.
Even minds better instructed and of higher princi-
ples than the multitude, in the excitement of the mo-
ment could not endure the doctrine that it was possi-
ble for an armed soldiery to fire upon and kill un-
armed citizens and commit a crime less than murder.
Political animosity and natural antipathy to troops
atationed in the metropolis sharpened this vindictive
spirit. The friends of the government were either
silent or only expressed regret and lamentation at the
event. The friends of freedom were loud in their in-
dignation and clamorous for that justice which de-
elares that blood shall be the penalty of blood.

Meanwhile there had been several meetings of the
people and a committee was appointed which pro-
ceeded to the examination of witnesses ‘‘in order to
show to the world and especially to the friends of the
colonies in England that there were just grounds for
insisting upon the removal of the troops.’ A narra-
tive was also given of tho transaction which was
adopted by the town and was widely distributed, dif-
fering materially from the facts as subsequently
proved and calculated to increase the excitement.
Under such circumstances the British soldiers were
to be tried for their lives and serious fears were en-
tertained, not only by their friends but by the candid
and moderate of all parties, that they would not be
dealt with by even-handed justice.

But among the friends of freedom there were men
who viewed this matter in the calm and rational light
of truth and justice. Anxious for the honor of the

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