government, and give it all possible success and duration,
consistent with the ends of his providence!


THE BOSTON MASSACRE

(First Day's Speech in Defense of the British Soldiers Accused of
Murdering Attucks, Gray and Others, in the Boston Riot of 1770)

_May_ _If_ _Please_ _Your_ _Honor_,_ and_ _You_,_ Gentlemen_ _of_
_the_ _Jury_:--

I am for the prisoners at the bar, and shall apologize for it only in
the words of the Marquis Beccaria:--

"If I can but be the instrument of preserving one life, his
blessings and tears of transport shall be a sufficient consolation
for me for the contempt of all mankind."

As the prisoners stand before you for their lives, it may be proper
to recollect with what temper the law requires we should proceed to
this trial. The form of proceeding at their arraignment has
discovered that the spirit of the law upon such occasions is
conformable to humanity, to common sense and feeling; that it is all
benignity and candor. And the trial commences with the prayer of the
court, expressed by the clerk, to the Supreme Judge of judges,
empires, and worlds, "God send you a good deliverance."

We find in the rules laid down by the greatest English judges, who
have been the brightest of mankind: We are to look upon it as more