confined to the guardroom and the barracks; and Hutchinson himself gave
assurances that instant inquiries should be made by the county
magistrates. One hundred persons remained to keep watch on the
examination, which lasted till three hours after midnight. A warrant was
issued against Preston, who surrendered himself to the sheriff; and the
soldiers of his party were delivered up and committed to prison.


DEFINITIONS.--1. In-dis-crim'i-nate-ly, without distinction. 2. En-sued',
followed, resulted from. En'sign (pro. en'sin). an officer of low rank.
Fire'lock, an old-style musket, with flintlock. 7. Bran'-dish-ing,
waving, flourishing. 13. Self'-pos-sessed, undisturbed, calm in mind,
manner, etc. 14. Pac'i-fied, calmed, quieted. War'rant, a writ authorizing
an officer to seize an offender.


NOTES.--This massacre took place Monday, March 5, 1770.

5. Cornhill is the name of a street in Boston.

7. Lobster was the epithet applied to a British soldier by the Americans
on account of his red coat.

8. Henry Knox (b. 1750, d. 1806) was then a bookseller in Boston. He
afterwards became one of the American generals.

8. Ropewalk. The active trouble resulting in the massacre arose from a
soldier's being thrashed the Friday before at Gray's ropewalk, where he
had challenged one of the workmen to fight; other soldiers joined in the
affray from time to time, but were always worsted.