First Blood Shed

Tho Alhany Argns says: "The 'Firsl Blood oí the llovolution. ' has beon coiumonly supposed to hafe been shed at Laxington, April 19, 1775, butWestminster, Yt., ñles a prior claim in favor of one William French, who, it ia asserted, was killerl on the night of March liith, 1775, at the king's court house, in what is now Westruinster. At that time Y rmont Tvas a part of Xew York, and tho kitig's court omcers, together with a body of troops, wore sent on to WestniinsU'i" to' hold the usual session ot' the court. The' people, i however, wero exasperated, andassembled in the court house to resist A little before midnight tlie troops ot: Georgü the Third advanccd and fired indiseriminately tipon the crowd, instantly killing William French, whose hend was pierced by a tauaket ball. He was buriod in the churchyard, and a stonfferected to liis memory, with this anaint ir.acription : " ' In Memory of WilHarn Trencli Who Was Shot at Wcstniinstor March ye 12th,1775, by the hand of the Cruel Minister- al tools of Georg ye 3rd at the Comtaouse at a 11 o'olock at Night in the 22d year of bis age. . "'Heve William Frencli his Cocly lies, For Muider his Blood for Vongence Gries, King Cteorg tho third his Tory ' Civw tha with :t b:nvl liis Kead Shot threw, For Lil)cily aii'l his Ckmntrys Good ho Lost his T.ifc liis Deareet blood.' "