The custom-house and the centry posted there
to defend it seem to have been a principal object
of the people's fury. For they began to assem-
ble about it in great numbers before it was dark,
that is, before seven o'clock, or more than two
hours before the extremity of violence that ob-
liged the soldiers to fire. Thomas Lochead, in
his deposition, (No.100.) declares, that as he
was passing through
King's-street, a little
before
dark, he observed a number of towns-people
standing almost close to the centry then on duty
at the custom-house, and presently after he
saw
several of them throwing snow-balls and
pieces
of ice at him, upon which the centry said,
"Gentlemen, I beg you will let me alone and go
"away from my post: for, if you do not, you
"must take the consequences." Upon this a gen-
tleman dressed in a red cloak went to the people
and spoke to them, and advised them to let the
centry alone. They accordingly went to the
other side of the street, and there remained. In
about an hour after, that is, about eight o'clock,
Thomas Lochead had occasion to pass by the
same way again, and then observed a number of
people standing in the same place as before, arm-
ed with sticks and large clubs, who threw snow-
balls at him as he passed by, and called him a
bloody-back rascal, notwithstanding he said no-
thing to provoke them.
About nine o'clock Edward Hills, being
among the mob near the town-house at
Boston,
when the bells were set a ringing to bring the