taxation  then  in  contemplation;  and  con-  The  commissioners  of  customs  arrived
eluded  by  saying,  "  As  his  Majesty's  other  in  Boston  in  May,  1768,  and  began  their
Northern  American  colonies  are  embarked  duties  with  diligence. The  sloop  Liberty,
with  us  in  this  most  important  bottom,  belonging  to  John  Hancock,  arrived  in
we  further  desire  you  to  use  your  best  Boston  Harbor  June  10,  with  a  cargo  of
endeavors  that  their  weight  may  be  add-  wine  from  Madeira. It  had  been  deter-
ed  to  that  of  this  province,  and  that,  by    mined  by  leading  merchants  and  citizens

381


BOSTON


to    resist    these    custom-house    officers    as    attacked  these  soldiers  with  stones,  pieces


illegal  tax-gatherers,  and  when  the  tide-
waiter,  as  usual,  went  on  board  the  Lib-
erty, on  her  arrival,  just  at  sunset,  to
await  the  landing  of  dutiable  goods  on
the  dock,  he  was  politely  received  and
invited  into  the  cabin  to  drink  punch. At
about  9  p.m. he  was  confined  below,
while  the  wine  was  landed  without  en-
tering it  at  the  custom-house  or  observ-
ing  any  other   formula. Then   the   tide-


of  ice,  and  other  missiles,  daring  them  to
fire. One  of  the  soldiers  who  received  a
blow  fired,  and  his  companions,  mistak-
ing an  order,  fired  also. Three  of  the  pop-
ulace were  killed  and  five  were  dangerous-
ly wounded. The  leader  of  the  mob  (who
was  killed)  was  a  powerful  mulatto  or
Indian  named  Crispus  Attucks. The  mob
instantly  retreated,  when  all  the  bells
of  the  city  rang  out  an  alarm,  and  in  less


waiter  was  sent  on  shore. In  the  morning    than  an  hour  several  thousands  of  exas-


the  commissioners  of  customs  ordered  the
seizure  of  the  sloop,  and  Harrison,  the
collector,  and  Hallowell,  the  comptroller,
were  directed  to  perform  the  duty. The
vessel  was  duly  marked,  cut  from  her
moorings,  and  placed  under  the  guns  of
the  Romney,  a  British  ship-of-war,  in  the
harbor. The  people  were  greatly  excited
by  this  act,  and  the  assembled  citizens
soon  became  a  mob. A  large  party  of  the


perated  citizens  were  in  the  streets. A
terrible  scene  of  bloodshed  might  have  en-
sued had  not  Governor  Hutchinson  as-
sured the  people  that  justice  should  be
vindicated  in  the  morning. They  retired,
but  were  firmly  resolved  not  to  endure  mil-
itary despotism  any  longer. The  governor
was  called  upon  at  an  early  hour  to  fulfil
his  promise. 