Old State House (Boston)

© 2022 Arlequin Photographie

In front of the Old State House, on March 5, 1770, the so-called Boston Massacre took place, in which five civilians were killed by British troops. The event, called a "massacre" for the purpose of propaganda, became a beacon for the groups pursuing the independence of the colonies and contributed to the outbreak of the American War of Independence. The site where the massacre took place is marked today by a circle of cobblestones on the traffic island at the intersection of Devonshire and State Streets in front of the Old State House.

Today, the Old State House is surrounded by tall buildings of the Boston financial district. However, it is not completely obscured and can be seen very well from the harbor side. It contains a local history museum and is operated by the non-profit Bostonian Society. The building is part of the route of the Freedom Trail.

Beneath the print (PiP) are four sections of verse, which read:

Unhappy BOSTON! see thy Sons deplore,
Thy hallow'd Walks besmear'd with guiltless Gore:
While faithless P--n and his savage Bands,
With murd'rous Rancour stretch their bloody Hands;
Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their Prey,
Approve the Carnage, and enjoy the Day.

If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung
If speechless Sorrows lab'ring for a Tongue,
Or if a weeping World can ought appease
The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such as these;
The Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed,
A glorious Tribute which embalms the Dead

But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal,
Where JUSTICE strips the Murd'rer of his Soul:
Should venal C--ts the scandal of the Land,
Snatch the relentless Villain from her Hand,
Keen Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd,
Shall reach a JUDGE who never can be brib'd.

The unhappy Sufferers were Mess.s SAM.L GRAY, SAM.L MAVERICK, JAM.S CALDWELL, CRISPUS ATTUCKS & PAT.K CARR
Killed. Six wounded; two of them (CHRIST.R MONK & JOHN CLARK) Mortally
Published in 1770 by Paul Revere
Boston