| Citation |
CC-H.773.015
9-16 Mar 1773:21 (429)
Boston, Mar 8, 1773.
Friday last being the anniversary of the 5th of March, when
agreeable to a vote of the town a meeting was called at
which the committee appointed last year for that purpose,
reported that they had engaged Dr. Benjamin Church, to
deliver an oration, on the dangerous tendency of standing
armies, being placed in free and populous cities, and to
perpetuate the memory of the horrid massacre perpetrated on
the evening of the 5th of March 1770. . . [30 lines] In the
chamber windows was exhibited the following lines.
Canst thou, Spectator, view this crimson'd scene,
And not reflect what these sad portraits mean?
Or can thy slaughter'd brethren's guiltless gore,
Revenge, from year to year, in vain implore?
. . . [5 verses]
At a quarter after nine, the time of the evening when the
bloody scene was acted, the paintings were taken in, & most
of the bells in town toll'd til ten.
|