duct, touching this matter, before the eyes of their high mightinesses. The under-signed is charged by his orders to bring the information of this resolution to your majesty, as also that their high mightinesses make no difficulty of disavowing, in the most express manner, every act or mark of honour which may have been given by their officers, or by any of their servants, to the vessels of your majesty's colonies of North America, or that they may give hereafter, so far as those acts or marks of honour may be of such a nature, as that any can conclude from them that it is intended thereby, in the least degree, to recognize the independence of those colonies.

The under-signed is also further charged to inform your majesty, that their high mightinesses have, in consequence, given their orders to their governors and councils in the West Indies, and have enjoined them afresh, in the strong est terms, to observe exactly the placards and orders against the exportation of military stores to the American colonies of your majesty, and to see them executed most rigorously.

in North America, and having the honour to be, by his majesty, constituted one of his commissioners for restoring peace to his colonies, and for granting pardons to such of his subjects therein, as shall be duly solicitous to benefit by that effect of his gracious indulgence; I take the earliest opportunity to inform you of my arrival on the American coast, where my first object will be an early meeting with General Howe, whom his majesty hath been pleased to join with ine in the said commission.

In the mean time, I have judged it expedient to issue the inclosed declaration, in order that all persons may have immediate information of his majesty's most gracious intentions: and I desire you will be pleased forthwith to cause the said declaration to he promulgated, in such manner, and in such places, within the province of will render the same of the most public notoriety.

as

Assured of being favoured with your assistance in every measure for the speedy and effectual restoration of the public tranquillity, I am to request you will communicate, froin time to time, such information as you may think will facilitate the attainment of that important object, in the province over which you preside. I have the honour to be, with great respect and consideration, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

HOWE.

First Declaration.

By Richard Viscount Howe, of the Kingdom of Ireland, one of the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace to his Majesty's

jesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America, &c.

DECLARATION.

WHEREAS by an act passed in the last session of parliament, to prohibit all trade and intercourse with the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusett's Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and for other purposes therein mentioned, it is enacted, that it shall and may" be lawful to and for any person or persons appointed and authorised by his majesty, to grant a pardon or pardons to any number or description of persons, by proclamation in his majesty's name, to declare any colony or province, colonies or provinces, or any county, town, port, district, or place, in any colony or province, to be at the peace of his majesty;" and that "from and after the issuing of any such proclamation in any of the aforesaid colonies or provinces, or if his majesty shall be graciously pleased to signify the same by his royal proclamation," then, from and after the issing of such proclamation, the

said 66

dated the 6th day of May, in the sixteenth year of his majesty's reign, to nominate and appoint me, Rich. Viscount Howe, of the ingdom of Ireland, and William Howe, Esq. general of his forces in North America, and each of us jointly and severally, to be his majesty's commissioner and commissioners for granting his free and general pardons to all those, who, in the tumult and dis-> order of the times, may have deviated from their just allegiance, and who are willing, by a speedy return to their duty, to reap the benefits of the royal favour: and also for declaring, in his majesty's name, any." colony, province, county, town, port, district or place, to be at the peace of his majesty; I do therefore hereby declare, That due consideration shall be had to the meritorious services of all persons who shall aid and assist in restoring the public tranquillity in the said colonies, or in any part or parts thereof: that pardon shall be granted, dutiful representations received, and every suitable encouragement given for promoting such measures, as shall be conducive to the establishment of legal government and peace, in pursuance of his majesty's most gracious purposes aforesaid.

Given on board his majesty's ship, the Eagle, off the coasts of the province of Massachusett's Bay, the 20th of June, 1776.

claration they inclosed from Lord Howe to Mr. Franklin, Mr. Penn, Mr. Eden, Lord Dunmore, Mr. Martin, and Sir James Wright, late Governors, sent to Amboy by a flag, and forwarded to Congress by Gen. Washington, be published in the several Gazettes, that the good people of these United States may be informed of what nature are the commissioners, and what the terms, with the expectation of which the insidious court of Great Britain has endeavoured to amuse and "disarm them; and that the few who still remain suspended by a hope, founded either in the justice or moderation of their late king, may now at length be convinced, that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties.

Extract from the Journals. (Signed)

CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.

A Second Declaration of the American Commissioners.

By Richard Viscount Howe, of the Kingdom of Ireland, and William Howe, Esq. General of his Majesty's Forces in America, the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace to his Majesty's Colonies and

cy, the king's commissioners think fit to declare, that they are equally desirous to confer with his majesty's well-affected subjects upon the means of restoring the public tranquillity, and establishing a permanent union with every colony, as a part of the British empire.

The king being most graciously pleased to direct a revision of such of his royal instructions as may be construed to lay an improper restraint upon the freedom of legislation in any of his colonies, and to concur in the revisal of all acts by which his subjects there may think themselves aggrieved, it is recommended to the inhabitants at large to reflect seriously upon their present condition, and to judge for themselves, whether it be more consistent with their honour and happiness to offer up their lives as a sacrifice to the unjust aud precarious cause in which they are engaged, or to return to their allegiance, accept the blessings of peace, and be secured in a free enjoyment of their liberty and properties, upon the true principles of the constitution.

Given at New-York, the 19th day of September, 1776.

HOWE.

W. HOWE.

ca, &c.

DECLARATION.

ALTHOUGH the Congress, whom the misguided Americans suffer to direct their opposition to a re-establishment of the constitutional government of these provinces, have disavowed every purpose of reconciliation not consonant with their extravagant and inadmissible claim of independen

HENRY STRACHEY.

Third Declaration.

By Richard Viscount Howe, of the Kingdom of Ireland, and William Howe, Esq. General of his Majesty's Forces in America, the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace to his Majesty's Colonies and Plantations

Plantations in North Ameri

ca, &c.

PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS by our declarations of the 20th of June and 19th of September last, in pursuance of his majesty's most gracious intentions towards his subjects in the colonies or provinces of New Hampshire, Massachusett's-Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three Lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, all persons speedily returning to their just allegiance were promised a free and general pardon, and were invited to accept, not only the blessings of peace, but a secure enjoyment of their liberties and properties, upon the true principles of the constitution: and whereas, notwithstanding the said declarations, and the example of many who have availed themselves of the assurances therein made, several bodies of armed men, in open contempt of his majesty's proffered clemency, do still continue their opposition to the establishment of legal government and peace; and divers other ill-disposed persons, pursuing their own ambitious purposes in the exercise of a lawless influence and power, are using fresh endeavours, by various arts and misrepresentations to alienate the confidence and affection of his majesty's subjects; to defeat every plan of reconciliation, and to proJong the unnatural war between Great Britain and her colonies; Now, in order to the more effectual accomplishment of his majesty's most gracious intentions, and the speedy restoration of the public tranquillity; and duly consider

ing the expediency of limiting the time within which such pardon as aforesaid shall be granted, and of specifying the terms upon which only the same shall and may be obtained; We do, in his majesty's name, and by virtue of the powers committed to us, hereby charge and command all persons whatso-. ever, who are assembled together in arms against his majesty's government, to dishand themselves, and return to their dwelling, there to remain in a peaceable and quiet manner: And we also charge and command all such other persons as are assembled together under the name of General or Provincial Congresses, committees, conventions, or other associations, by whatever name, or names known and distinguished, or who, under the colour of any authority from any such Congress, committee, convention, and other association, take upon them to issue or exe cute any orders for levying money, raising troops, fitting out armed ships and vessels, imprisoning, or otherwise molesting his majesty's subjects, to desist and cease from all such treasonable actings and doings, and to relinquish all such usurped power and authority, so that peace may be restored, a speedy remission of past offences quiet the apprehensions of the guilty, and all the inhabitants of the said colonies be enabled to reap the benefit of his majesty's paternal goodness in the preservation of their property, the restoration of their commerce, and the security of their most valuable rights, under the just and moderate authority of the crown and parliament of Great Britain; And we do hereby declare, and make known to all [7] 4

men

men, that

vernor

every person who, within

sixty days from the day of the date hereof, shall appear before the goor lieutenant-governor, or commander in chief, in any of his majesty's colonies or provinces aforesaid, or before the general or commanding officer of his majesty's forces in America, or any other of ficer in his majesty's service, having the command of any detachment or parties of his majesty's forces there, or before the admiral or commander, in chief of his majesty's fleets, or any other officer commanding any of his majesty's ships of war, or any armed vessel in his majesty's, service, within any of the ports, havens, creeks, or upon the coasts of America, and shall claim the benefit of this proclamation, and at the same time testify his obedience to the laws, by subscribing a declaration in the words following: "I, A. B. do promise and declare, that I will remain in a peaceable obedience to his majesty, and will not take up arms, nor encourage others to take up arms, in opposition to his authority," shall and may obtain a full and free pardon of all treasons and misprisions of treasons, by him heretofore committed or done, and of all forfeitures, attainders, and penalties for the same; and upon producing to us, or to either of us, a certificate of such his appearance and declaration, shall and may have and receive such pardon made and passed to him in due form.

Given at New York, this thirtieth day of November, 1776. HowE.

W. HowE. By command of their excellencies, HENRY STRACHIY.

Copy of the free Pardon granted by his Majesty's Commissioners, to such Persons as claimed the Benefit of the above Declaration.

(L. S.) HowE.

GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, and so forth, to all men to whom these presents shall come, greeting; know ye, that we of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, and out of the zeal and affection which we have and bear to our subjects, have pardoned, remised, and released, and by these presents do pardon, remise, and release to A. B. merchant, of the town of the province of called

in otherwise

or by whatsoever other name or surname, dignity, office, or place, the said A. B. shall be reputed, called, or named, all and singular treasons, as well high treasons as petit treasons, rebellions, insurrections, and conspiracies, against us, our crown and dignity, and also all manner of misprisions of treason, or other misprisions by him the said A. B. at any time heretofore had, done, or perpetrated, whether the said A. B. of the premises, or any of them, should have been indicted, appealed, sued and adjudged, outlawe, convicted, condemned, or attainted, or not. We also pardon, remise, and release, by these presents, to the aforesaid A. B. all and singular judgments, pains of death, punishments, and issues and profits of all domains, manors, lands, tenements, and other hereditaments, of him the said A. B. on occasion of the pre