<p>The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt. According to the Library of Congress (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/app/item/2008661777/">1</a>):
</p><p>A sensationalized portrayal of the skirmish, later to become known as the "Boston Massacre," between British soldiers and citizens of Boston on March 5, 1770. On the right a group of seven uniformed soldiers, on the signal of an officer, fire into a crowd of civilians at left. Three of the latter lie bleeding on the ground. Two other casualties have been lifted by the crowd. In the foreground is a dog; in the background are a row of houses, the First Church, and the Town House. Behind the British troops is another row of buildings including the Royal Custom House, which bears the sign (perhaps a sardonic comment) "Butcher's Hall." Beneath the print are four sections of verse, which read:
</p><p>Unhappy BOSTON! see thy Sons deplore,<br>
Thy hallow'd Walks besmear'd with guiltless Gore:<br>
While faithless P--n and his savage Bands,<br>
With murd'rous Rancour stretch their bloody Hands;<br>
Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their Prey,<br>
Approve the Carnage, and enjoy the Day.
</p><p>If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung<br>
If speechless Sorrows lab'ring for a Tongue,<br>
Or if a weeping World can ought appease<br>
The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such as these;<br>
The Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed,<br>
A glorious Tribute which embalms the Dead
</p><p>But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal,<br>
Where JUSTICE strips the Murd'rer of his Soul:<br>
Should venal C--ts the scandal of the Land,<br>
Snatch the relentless Villain from her Hand,<br>
Keen Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd,<br>
Shall reach a JUDGE who never can be brib'd.
</p><p>The unhappy Sufferers were Mess.s SAM.L GRAY, SAM.L MAVERICK, JAM.S CALDWELL, CRISPUS ATTUCKS &amp; PAT.K CARR<br>
Killed. Six wounded; two of them (CHRIST.R MONK &amp; JOHN CLARK) Mortally<br>
Published in 1770 by Paul Revere<br>
Boston
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1 print : engraving with watercolor, on laid paper ; 25.8 x 33.4 cm. (plate)
<p>Engrav'd Printed &amp; Sold by Paul Revere Boston.
</p>
The print was copied by Revere from a design by Henry Pelham for an engraving eventually published under the title "The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, or the Bloody Massacre," of which only two impressions could be located by Brigham. Revere's print appeared on or about March 28, 1770.
1770
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.00174">http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.00174</a>