sitions, -- however that may be, there was much
foul language between them : and some of them
in consequence of his pushing at them with his
bayonet, threw snowballs at him:* [Asterisk reference mark indicates note below.]which occa-
sioned him to knock hastily at the door of the
Custom-House. From hence two persons there-
upon proceeded immediately to the main guard,
which was posted (opposite to the State-house) at
a small distance, near the head of the said street.
The officer on guard was Capt. Preston, who
with seven or eight soldiers with fire arms, and
charged bayonets, issued from the guard house,
and in great haste posted himself and his soldiers
in the front of the Custom House, near the cor-
ner aforesaid. In passing to this station the
soldiers pushed several persons with their bay-
onets, driving through the people in so rough
a manner that it appeared they intended to
create a disturbance. This occasioned some

[Asterisk reference mark]* Since writing this narrative, several depositions have appeared
which make it clear, that the centry was first in fault.--He
overheard a barber's boy, saying that a captain of the 14th (who
had just passed by) was so mean a fellow as not to pay his bar-
ber for shaving him ; upon this the centry left his post and
followed the boy into the middle of the street, where he told
him to shew [show] his face ; the boy pertly reply'd, I am not asham'd
to shew [show] my face to any man : Upon this the centry gave him
a sweeping stroke on the head with his musket, which made him
reel and stagger and cry much. A fellow apprentice asked
the centry what he meant by this abuse? He reply'd, damn
your blood, if you do not get out of the way I will give you
something ; and then fixed his bayonet and pushed at the lads,
who both run out of his way. This dispute collected a few
persons about the boy, near the custom-house. Presently after
this, the party above-mentioned came into kingstreet, which
was a further occasion of drawing people thither, as above
related. (See deposition of Benja. Broaders and others.)