tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post120945048915652140..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: “Mentor” Remembers the MassacreUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-49512478133660007732021-02-22T16:03:02.344-05:002021-02-22T16:03:02.344-05:00Josiah Quincy Jr. was in a delicate situation with...Josiah Quincy Jr. was in a delicate situation with regard to the massacre. As you pointed out years ago in a post, we know from a letter to his horrified father that the Sons of Liberty had encouraged him to represent the redcoats, since he was "...urged to undertake it by an Adams, a Hancock, a Molineux,(etc.)" I wonder if they knew how hard he had pushed in his zeal to represent his clients - a zeal that would would not only be applauded, but professionally required by the modern bar - to bring in evidence against the town itself, and against the mysterious tall man in the white wig and red surtout. John Adams threatened to quit the defense over this dispute. Whether the town knew who "Mentor" was or not (and most aliases were no great secret) Perhaps he was at least trying to shift the whole issue to the general question of standing armies in a populous town, which John Adams said during the trial "...always occasion two two mobs where they prevent one. They are wretched conservators of the peace." David Churchill Barrownoreply@blogger.com