George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

‘You have asked the advice of the Council,’ said Gray to the Lieutenant Governor; ‘they have given it unanimously; you are bound to conform to it.’ ‘If mischief should come, by means of your not joining with us,’ pursued Irving, ‘the whole blame must fall upon you; but if you join with us, and the commanding officer after that should refuse to remove the troops, the blame will then be at his door.’² Hutchinson finally agreed with the Council, and Dalrymple assured him of his obedience. The Town's Committee, being informed of this decision, left the State House to make their welcome report to the Meeting. The inhabitants listened with the highest satisfaction; but, ever vigilant, they provided measures for keeping up a strong military watch of their own, until the Regiments should leave the town.³

It was a humiliation to the officers and soldiers to witness the public funeral of the victims of the fifth of March; but they complained most of the watch set over them. The Colonel of the town militia had, however, taken good legal advice, and showed the old Province Law under which he kept it; and the Justices of the Peace in their turns attended every night during its continuance.⁴ The British officers gnashed their teeth in anger at the contempt into which they had been brought. The troops came to overawe the people, and maintain the laws;