so, said he, clapping his hands, I am ruined, and undone.
And further say, that at the time of firing, there was but about
fifty or sixty persons, mostly boys, in Kingstreet.
    ROBERT GODDARD.

Suffolk, ss. Boston, March 22, 1770. Robert Goddard
afore- named, after due examination, made oath to the
Truth of the aforesaid Affidavit, taken to perpetuate the remem-
brance of the Thing.
Before, JOHN RUDDOCK, Just. Peace & of the Quorum.
And, JOHN HILL, Just. Peace.

(No. 73)
I JOHN Hickling being of lawful age, testify and say, that
on monday the 5th day of March 1770, returning from
New Boston in the evening between the hours of nine and
ten o'clock, I heard a noise and the cry of fire in King-street,
and inquiring the cause was informed the soldiers intended to
fire on the inhabitants, immediately proceeding to the place I
saw eight or nine soldiers with fixed bayonets, charged breast
high standing in a circular manner at the corner of the custom
house, and an officer standing before them at the end of the
bayonets, between the soldiers and the inhabitants. I saw
but a few scattering people, supposed to be about thirty, in the
street before them at that time, and therefore was at a loss for
the reason of such an appearance ; going up to the officer I found
a young man named Bliss talking with him; I inquired his
name of Bliss, who informed me that it was Preston. At that in-
stant Mr. Richard Palmes came up and asked the officer if he
intended to fire upon the people ? he answered, by no means;
Palmes asked if the guns were loaded ? Preston answered in the
affirmative. Palmes further asked, with powder and ball ?
Preston answered they were. The soldiers, during this conver-
sation assumed different postures, shoving their bayonets frequent-
ly at the people, one in particular pushing against my side swore
he would run me thro' , I laid hold of his bayonet and told him
that no body was going to meddle with them. Not more
than ten seconds after this I saw something white, resembling
a piece of snow or ice, fall among the soldiers, which knock'd
the end of a firelock to the ground. At that instant the word
fire was given, but by whom I know not ; but concluded it
did not come from the officer aforesaid, as I was within a yard
of him and must have heard him had he spoken it, but am satis-
fied said Preston did not forbid them to fire, I instantly leap'd
within the soldier's bayonet as I heard him cock his gun,
which that moment went off between Mr. Palmes and myself.