. He
made himself known to them, but pleaded in vain for a hearing; and, to
insure his safety, he retreated into a dwelling-house, and thence went
by a private way into King Street, where he found an excited multitude
anxiously awaiting his arrival. He first called for Captain Preston; and
a natural indignation at a high-handed act is expressed in the stern and
searching questions which the civilian put to the soldier, bearing on
the vital point of the subordination of the military to the civil power.

"Are you the commanding officer?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Do you know, Sir, you have no power to fire on any body of people
collected together, except you have a civil magistrate with you to give
orders?"

Captain Preston replied,--

"I was obliged to, to save the sentry."

So great was the confusion that Preston's reply was heard but by few.
The cry was raised, "To the Town-House! to the Town-House!" when
Hutchinson, by the irresistible violence of the crowd, was forced into
the building, and up to the Council-Chamber; and in a few minutes he
appeared on the balcony. Near him were prominent citizens, both
Loyalists and Whigs; below him, on the one side, were his indignant
townsmen, who had conferred on him every honor in their power, and on
the other side, the regiment in its defiant attitude. He could speak
with eloquence and power; throughout this strange and trying scene he
bore himself with dignity and self-possession; and as in the stillness
of night he expressed great concern at the unhappy event, and made
solemn pledges to the people, his manner must have been uncommonly
earnest. "The law," he averred, "should have its course; he would live
and die by the law." He promised to order an inquiry in the morning, and
requested all to retire to their homes. But words now were not
satisfactory to the people; and those near him urged that the course of
justice had always been evaded or obstructed in favor of the soldiery,
and that the people were determined not to disperse until Captain
Preston was arrested. In consequence, Hutchinson ordered an immediate
court of inquiry. The Patriots also entreated the Lieutenant-Governor to
order the troops to their barracks. He replied, that it was not in his
power to give such an order, but he would consult the officers. They now
came on to the balcony,--Dalrymple of the Fourteenth Regiment being
present,--and after an interview with Hutchinson returned to the troops.
The men now rose