Boston Massacre

During 1769 and the early months of 1770continnal quarrels and mis an der standings occurred, between the Boston popviece and the British soldiers stationed in the town, over the persistent non-observance of the navigation acts. In February, 1770, a pre gang from the British frigate ‘‘ Rose’’ boarded a ship belonging to Hooper, of Marble head, and a riot followed. On the night of March 5, the ringing of fire bells brought together a large crowd and the usual collision with the soldiers took place. The soldiers fired. Three persons were killed and several others severely wounded. The news of the Boston Ma acre spread rapidly, strengthening the revolutionary spirit. The soldiers were acquitted. * Boston News Letter,’’ the first genuine newspaper published in the United States. The first i ue appeared at Boston April 24, 1704. The paper was a weekly, was edited and published by John Campbell, then postmaster at Boston, and was printed by Bartholomew Green. It was i ued every Monday and appears to have been the outgrowth of a series of news letters from London, which Campbell, as controlling the news center, in his capacity of postmaster, received from time to time and sent to the Governors of the several New England colonies. These letters were a digest of the happenings, political and social, in England and on the Continent, with here and there a suggestion as to the politics and government of the American colonies. The Boston News Letter consisted at first of two pages, eight by twelve inches. Its publication was suspended in 1776. 91