immediately ordered to Castle William. Says Bancroft: "The troops came to overawe the people and maintain the laws; and they were sent as law-breakers to a prison rather than a garrison."

Capt. Preston was tried and acquitted; his counsel had the assistance of John Adams and Josiah Quincy. The soldiers were tried, and such as were proved to have fired, were convicted of manslaughter.

But new cause of irritation was soon given by the crown. Castle William was given up by Gov. Hutchinson to the royal troops. The castle, by the terms of the charter, was owned by the Colony, was built and repaired by its people, and had been garrisoned by its militia and commanded by the civil governor. Now to have its guns in the hands of the king's soldiers, and the harbor a rendezvous for all the royal ships stationed in America, stimulated in the minds of the people the thought of revolution and entire independence. Says Bancroft, "Samuel Adams continued musing till the fire within him burned."

Boston was soon afforded the occasion to assert the right to liberty. The East Indian Company were authorized to export their teas to America and collect on them a revenue these teas were entirely duty-free in England. In November, 1773, the tea-ships were on their way to Boston. The country was moved at their coming. Teadrinkers agreed to be total abstainers; and under the pressure of the public opinion, dealers agreed not to sell. The consignees were besought to return the teas to England, and ship-masters were warned not to land their tea. The result is well known. On the evening of Dec. 16, 1773, forty or fifty men disguised as Indians, took possession of three tea-ships which lay at Griffin's wharf. In three hours their entire cargoes, 340 chests of tea, being the whole quantity that had been imported, were thrown into the sea. No other property was injured. "All things," says John Adams, "were conducted with great order, decency, and perfect submission to government." The crowds who were looking on, were so still, that the noise of breaking open the tea-chests was plainly heard. When the work was done, "the town became as still and calm as if it had been holy time."

Boston and the Colony were subjected to one more test of their love of liberty before they entered upon war for independence. The Boston Port Bill became a law March 31, 1774. The execution of it was given to Gen. Thomas Gage. In May of the same year he arrived in Boston Harbor with ships-of-war and troops. In due time they were in military possession of the city. The liberties of the people had been taken away by parliament, and the councillors, judges, sheriff's and other

civil officers, were no longer to be chosen by the people, but to be appointed by the governor, who was himself an appointee of the crown. Only the annual town meetings could be held without the executive permission. Persons might be sent to other Colonies or to England for trial. To enforce such regulations Gage had come with a navy and army. Boston, the offending metropolis, was to be subdued first, that all other towns might fear and submit. June 1, 1774, as the clock struck twelve, the blockade of the harbor commenced. All the manufacturing and mechanical interests were stopped. Trade ceased. Commerce was at an end. Men roamed the streets in enforced idleness, while their families suffered for bread. All communication by water was forbidden. The fisherman could not bring to the hungry town his catch of fish. The boatman could not row from wharf to wharf. No scow could go to any island to land or take away cattle. The ferry-boats could not carry to or from the imprisoned town the smallest parcel of goods. How Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren and kindred spirits, first united all the towns of the Massachusetts Colony to make a common cause of the resistance of Boston to such oppression ; how all the other Colonies, under the leadership of their historic men, made the fight of New England against such tyranny their fight; how Gen. Gage did not conquer Boston, but how his successor in command had to leave the city; how a Continental Congress was formed; and how independence was declared and achieved, are familiar to every intelligent reader.

When the war of the Revolution had been brought to a successful close, and the blessings of peace and a free government were fully realized, Boston, in common with its vicinity, developed rapidly. Long-talked-of bridges were built. The State House, which now crowns the summit of Beacon Hill, was completed before the close of the century. Her ships visited every commercial port. The embargo which was laid upon the commerce with England preceding the war of 1812 crippled this commerce, and was, as was the war itself, unpopular in Boston. Yet her citizens loyally supported the government. In May, 1822, Boston became a city. John. Phillips was the first mayor. Mr. Drake in his "Old | Landmarks of Boston," says, that when Josiah Quincy, Jr., became mayor, "He invested the sluggish town with new life, and brought into practical use a new watchword —Progress."

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In 1830, two hundred years from the landing upon the peninsula of the Winthrop company, the population of Boston was 61,000. During the war of the Rebellion,

The Quincy Market was commenced in 1824 and finished in 1826. It cost $150,000.

The last and by far most disastrous of all Boston fires, still fresh in the memory of our readers, was that of Nov. 9, 1872. It may well be called "The Great Fire." When it was finally arrested, it had spread over sixty-three acres, and consumed one hundred million dollars' worth of property. Those who saw the burned district in its smoldering ashes will never forget the scene of fearful desolation; and those who visit the same district to-day will wonder at the amazing energy and financial resource which has covered it with business

that year. Its depot is on Causeway Street. Its passenger station is large and commodious, built of brick, trimmed with Nova Scotia freestone.

The Worcester Railroad was opened only a month later than the Lowell. It is now included in, and known as the Boston and Albany Railroad, with its station on Beach Street.

The Providence commenced the same year, and the Maine was opened from Wilmington to Andover in 1836. The Eastern started in 1838, running to Salem; the Old Colony in November, 1845; the Fitchburg also in 1845,

the Norfolk County road.

The passenger station of the Boston and Providence road, on Columbus Avenue, is the most magnificent one in the city, and is probably not excelled in architectural beauty by any in the United States. It cost $800,000.

The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad runs from East Boston, along the crest of Revere Beach, and thence over the salt marshes to Lynn.

The horse cars commenced running in 1856.

side to Lechmere Point in Cambridge; the South Boston Bridge, from the foot of Federal Street to South Boston, was completed in 1828. The Western Avenue, or Mill Dam, was opened in July, 1821. Warren Bridge was opened in December of the same year. An iron bridge to South Boston was the last constructed. Steam-ferries were commenced in July, 1832.

distance from Washington Street, we see on the right hand, as we pass down, a large granite warehouse, beneath whose cornice, in raised letters, is the inscription, "Birthplace of Franklin." This building occupies the lot on which stood the house in which the great man was born, Jan. 6, 1706. It was a three-story house, if we reckon the gable containing the attic as a story, and was entered from a passage-way, the gable-end projecting into the street over the lower story. It was built in the old colonial days, and destroyed by fire in 1810.

The building known as the Old Corner Bookstore

uary, 1763, James Otis delivering the re-opening address. In 1806 it was enlarged by doubling its width, making it eighty feet, and by adding a third story. The historic events which connect with this "Cradle of Liberty," would make an interesting volume.

The Old State House, at the head of State Street, and occupying the site of the earlier town houses, was erected in 1748. It has been used as a town house, as a court house, as a State House, and as a barrack for soldiers, and was the first merchants' exchange. The convention to ratify the Constitution of the United States held its meet

is reported the oldest brick structure in Boston. The site is connected with a long and varied business history. The present building was erected in 1712. In a house standing upon this spot lived the famous Anne Hutchinson, a leader in the Antinomian movement.

The Old South Church, on the north corner of Washington and Milk streets, is, perhaps, the most interesting old landmark of Boston. It was desecrated by British troops in 1775-6. A regiment of "Light Dragoons" set The great fire of 1872 came up a riding-school in it. but did not touch it. The sum required to preserve it as an historic monument is $400,000, only a part of which has been raised.

near,

ing here before adjourning to the Federal Street Church. In its beginning, its west end was used a post-office, and again in 1858. In it met also the patriots of the Revolution. It was at one time used as a city hall, but it retains the name of State House. Various alterations, adapting it to business purposes, have been made.

In passing down State Street from Washington Street, there may be seen on the right, a few rods below the Old State House, a structure known as Brazer's Building. This is on the site of the First Church, - that humble house, with a thatched roof and mud walls, in which John Wilson and John Cotton preached.

Passing from State Street to the Common, to the foot