The remark of Dalrymple, as well as the decision of the Council, became known to the people, and the word passed round, “that Colonel Dalrymple had yielded, and that the Lieutenant-Governor only held out.”  This circumstance was communicated to Hutchinson, and he says, “It now lay upon me to choose that side which had the fewest and least difficulties; and I weighed and compared them as well as the time I had for them would permit.  I knew it was most regular for me to leave this matter entire to the commanding officer.  I was sensible the troops were designed to be, upon occasion, employed under the direction of the civil magistrate, and that at the Castle they would be too remote, in most cases, to answer that purpose.  But then I considered they never had been used for that purpose, and there was no probability they ever would be, because no civil magistrate could be found under whose directions they might act; and they could be considered only as having a tendency to keep the inhabitants in some degree of awe, and even this was every day lessening; and the affronts the troops received were such that there was no avoiding quarrels and slaughter.”  Still he hesitated substantially to retract his word; for now a request from him, he knew, was equivalent to an order; and before he determined, he consulted three officers of the crown, who, though not present in the Council, were in the building, and the Secretary, Oliver.  All agreed that he ought to comply with the advice of the Council.  He then formally recommended Colonel Dalrymple to remove all the troops, who gave his word of honor that he would commence preparations in the morning for a removal, and that there should be no unnecessary delay in quartering both regiments at the Castle.

It was dark when the committee bore back to the meeting the great report of their success.  It was received with expressions of the highest satisfaction.  What a burden was lifted from the hearts of the Patriots!  They did not, however, regard their work as quite done.  They voted that a strong watch was necessary through the night, when the committee who had waited on the Lieutenant-Governor tendered their services to make a part of the watch, and the whole matter was placed in their hands as “a committee of safety.”  They were authorized to accept the service of such inhabitants as they might deem proper.  The meeting, then dissolved.  A few days after, the two regiments were removed to the Castle.

The withdrawal of the troops caused great surprise in England, and long deliberations by the Ministry.  “It is put out of all doubt,” Governor Bernard wrote Hutchinson, “that the attacking the soldiers was preconcerted in order to oblige them to fire, and then make it necessary to quit the town, in consequence of their doing what they were forced to do.  It is considered by thinking men wholly as a manoeuvre to support the cause of non-importation.”  The Opposition termed it an indignity put upon Great