11 o'clock at night
On the contrary , all their arguments are based on their duty and determination of joining their revolting brethren in the other colonies , and , consequently , of resisting the longer continuance of British authority among them . Such , indeed , is the ground taken by Dr. Jones , in his minute and authentic account of the occurrence , in which he was , as we have made him in our illustrations , an actor . And even the inscription on the tombstone of the ill-fated French , written when the transaction , and all its attendant circumstances , were fresh in the minds of all , sufficiently proves , if further proof were necessary , that the version we have given of the affair is identical with the one generally understood and received at the time . '' -LSB- Footnote : The inscription here alluded to , which we insert as supporting our position rather than as affording any new antiquarian curiosity to many readers , is verbatim as follows : -- `` In memory of William French , son of Mr. Nathaniel French , Who was shot at Westminster March y' e 13th 1775 by the hands of Cruel Ministerial tools of George y' e 3d , in the Court House , at 11 o'clock at night , in the 22d year of his age . `` Here William French his Body lies For murder his blood for vengeance cries King George the third , his tory crew Tha with a bawl his head shot threw For liberty and his country 's good He lost his life and dearest blood . '' -RSB- It was this view of the occurrence which led us to occupy the space we have devoted in attempting to illustrate it ; for it becomes invested with a new interest and new importance , when it is considered , as we think it must be , that here was enacted the first scene of the great drama that followed ; here was shed the first blood , and here fell the first martyr , of the American revolution . `` They sank till their fair land became a sty Stygian with moral darkness .