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The Boston Massacre...
The Boston Massacre...
Item # 553265
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May 03, 1770
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, London, England, May 3, 1770
* The Boston massacre
* Great reporting from the enemy
The back page has fine content under "Postscript" regarding the famous Boston Massacre, beginning with a report from the "Boston (New-England) Gazette" dated March 19, that begins:
* A committee of the town are proceeding in a legal way to take the testimonies of...what proceeded, as...what is relative to, the late horrid massacre. Plenty of evidence will prove the soldiery to have been wholly the aggressors, and the inhabitants have been treated by them with unexampled barbarity.--A number of evidences are taken to prove a firing from the Custom-house at the time of the massacre...
& more, plus a second report dated March 26 which provides at least one account among many about this event: "...On the said evening the centinel heard a boy say something of an officer's not paying his debts, he left his post, and followed him into the middle of the street, and desired to see his face. Upon shewing it, the centinel gave him a blow with his musket, which staggered him. This... collected a few people about the boy and near the Custom-house, which accounts for any ill language that might have passed: An when Capt. Preston's party fired, the best accounts say there was not above 40 or 50 in the street against the Custom-house and these mostly boys, who did no other injury than throwing of snowballs..."
There is also a letter that offers a different perspective in defense of the soldiers, stating that the "...Townsmen took the most cruel and barbarous advantage of abusing the troops, not only with impunity, but also applause.... and the fate of the few who have lately suffered for their forwardness on the other side, may be properly called a just judgment, since it is only blood for blood. All this has happened, when a single, active Magistrate, might have easily prevented such tragical effects, by a moderate exertion of his power, which may be extended to a impartiality between the turbulent Townsmen and the ill-treated soldiers..." .
Complete in 8 pages, measures 8 1/2 by 11 inches, very nice condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
No Longer Available
