Chapter X: Remarkable Proclamations

FAST DAY.

The first proclamation, issued on a broadside, that we have seen, is that of March, 1743, "for a public fast." It is issued by Gov. Shirley, and begins, "It being our constant and indispensable duty by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make known our requests to God," &c. He then appoints the 12th of April ensuing to be observed as a day of general fasting and prayer. After acknowledging "all our heinous and aggravated offences," the people are required to implore the Divine mercy for "the following blessings, namely," the life and health of "Our Sovereign Lord the King;" the prosperity of his government; that he would direct and grant success to his Majesty's arms in the present war, and prevent a further rupture among the nations; in behalf of the Prince and Princess of Wales; and that "it would please God to cover and defend the English plantations, more especially this Province," &c. Given at the Council Chamber, signed, &c., and ending "God save the King."

"WAR AGAINST THE FRENCH KING."

The next proclamation which we have is not probably much known, and not such as were issued by the governors of the Provinces or States, but is a "Declaration of war against the French King." It purports to be issued originally from "Our Court at St. James's, the twenty-ninth day of March, 1744, in the 17th year of our reign." "God save the King." "Printed in London by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett, printers to the King's most excellent Majesty, 1744." "Boston, N. E. reprinted by John Draper, Printer to His Excellency the Governor and Council, 1774."

The proclamation rehearses the troubles which have taken place among the European states, "with a view to overturn the balance of power in Europe, ... in direct violation of the solemn guaranty of the Pragmatick Sanction given by him [the French King] in 1738, in consideration of the cession of Lorrain." It refers to other offensive conduct of the French King, and then replies to some assertions made in the "French King's declaration of war." "Being therefore indispensably obliged to take up arms," the King calls upon all his subjects to assist in prosecuting the same by sea and land; but no special reference is made to the British colonies in America, and the governor (Shirley) does not even add his name to the proclamation. One copy of the remarkable document, at least, has been preserved, and is in possession of Mr. John L. DeWolf of Boston. It is headed by an engraving of the King's arms, as are all the proclamations issued by the governor, including those for Fast and Thanksgiving Days, &c. It is not probable, though we do not know the fact, that a declaration of war by the King of England was ever re-issued by the governor of any other colony. Previously to this, in this colony, in 1672, the proclamation of war, by the King of England against the Dutch, was publicly read in Boston.

FAST DAY.

Following this on the 8th of June, 1744, was issued the "proclamation for a public fast." "Whereas it hath pleased God, in his holy, wise and sovereign Providence, further to involve the British dominions in war, whereby this Province will be greatly affected," &c. Therefore the 28th day of June is appointed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, &c., "and all servile labor and recreations are forbidden on that day." Signed, W. Shirley. [Troops were raised in Boston at this time, following the declaration of 29th March, and sent to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where they arrived, as Gordon says, in season, and "were the probable means of saving the country."]

RIOT IN BRISTOL COUNTY.

Among the lesser proclamations, issued by Gov. Shirley, was one on account of "an heinous riot in the Town of Bristol, in open defiance of His Majesty's authority and Government within this Province." This was a case where the six persons named and "a great number of others," marched to the county jail, and there demanded the release of John Round, jr., and by force of arms broke open said prison, "rescuing and carrying off the said John Round and Samuel Borden, another prisoner in said gaol." The governor calls upon all officers and people to apprehend and secure the parties, and "for the encouragement of all persons whatsoever that shall discover the parties," a reward of one hundred pounds is offered for several of them, and fifty pounds each for others. Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, 18th day of October, 1744. Signed, &c.

WAR AGAINST THE INDIANS.

Another remarkable proclamation was issued by "His Excellency, William Shirley, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England." This is a "declaration of war against the Cape Sable's and St. John's Indians." It is stated that whereas some of the Cape Sable Indians, who have formally by treaty submitted to his Majesty's government, have, "in the port of Jedoure, in a treacherous and cruel manner, murdered divers of His Majesty's English subjects, belonging to a fishing vessel; and, whereas, the Cape Sable Indians with the St. John's tribe, have in a hostile manner joined with the French King's subjects in assaulting His Majesty's fort at Annapolis-Royal, &c., therefore, said Indians are declared to be rebels, traitors, and enemies, and His Majesty's officers and subjects are to execute all acts of hostility against the said Indians," &c. This proclamation is dated at Boston, Oct. 19, 1744.

THANKSGIVING.

On the next day, 20th October, 1744, there was issued the usual proclamation for thanksgiving: "Forasmuch as, amidst the many rebukes of Divine Providence with which we are righteously afflicted, more especially in the present expensive and calamitous war, it has pleased God to favor us with many great and undeserved mercies in the course of this year," particularly in preserving the life and health of the King, the Prince and Princess of Wales, &c.; in the restraint hitherto given to the Indians near the frontiers of this Province, &c.: therefore, the twenty-second day of December is to be observed as a day of thanksgiving throughout the Province. It will be noticed that nothing is said concerning the season or the crops in any of these thanksgiving proclamations, and it would seem that that matter was not thought of any account as compared with the health of his Majesty the King and the royal princesses.

[Here are three proclamations issued on the 18th, 19th, and 20th October, 1744, the first in relation to a "heinous riot," the second a bloody declaration of war, and the third for a public thanksgiving.]

BLOODY PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE INDIANS.

In two weeks after the thanksgiving proclamation, on the 2d of November, 1744, came forth another proclamation from Gov. Shirley, of a most bloody character, against the Indians, as follows:--

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq.;

Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief, in and over HIS MAJESTY'S
Province of the _Massachusetts-Bay_ in NEW-ENGLAND.

A PROCLAMATION

_For the Encouragement of_ Voluntiers _to prosecute the_ WAR _against
the_ St. John's _and_ Cape Sable's _Indians_.

Whereas the Indians of the _Cape-Sable's_ and St. _John's_ Tribes have
by their Violation of their solemn Treaties with His Majesty's
Governours, and their open Hostilities committed against His Majesty's
Subjects of this Province and the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, obliged
me, with the unanimous Advice of His Majesty's Council, to declare war
against them; In Consequence of which the General Assembly of this
Province have "_Voted_, That there be granted, to be paid out of the
publick Treasury, to any Company, Party, or Person singly, of His
Majesty's Subjects, belonging to and residing within this Province,
who shall voluntarily, and at their own proper Cost and Charge, go out
and kill a male Indian of the Age of Twelve Years or upwards, of the
Tribe of St. _Johns_ or _Cape-Sables_, after the _Twenty-sixth_ Day of
_October_ last past, and before the last Day of _June Anno Domini_,
One Thousand seven Hundred and forty-five (or for such Part of that
Term as the War shall continue), in any place to the Eastward of a
Line, to be fixed by the Governour and His Majesty's Council of this
Province, somewhere to the Eastward of _Penobscot_, and produce his
Scalp in Evidence of his Death, the Sum of _one Hundred Pounds_ in
Bills of Credit of this Province of the new Tenor, and the Sum of _one
Hundred & Five Pounds_ in said Bills for any Male of the like Age who
shall be taken Captive, and delivered to the Order of the
Captain-General, to be at the Disposal and for the Use of the
Government; and the Sum of _Fifty Pounds_, in said Bills, for women;
and the like Sum for Children under the Age of Twelve Years killed in
Fight; and _Fifty-five Pounds_ for such of them as shall be taken
Prisoners, together with the Plunder: _Provided_ no Payment be made as
aforesaid for killing or taking Captive any of the said Indians, until
Proof thereof be made to the Acceptance of the Governour and Council;"

AND _whereas_, since the passing of the said Vote of the General
Assembly, I have with the Advice of His Majesty's Council determined,
That the Line above mentioned, to the Eastward of which the said
Indians may be slain and taken Prisoners, shall begin on the Sea-Shore
at Three Leagues Distance from Eastermost Part of the Mouth of
_Passamaquoddy_ River, and from thence to run North into the Country
thro' the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, to the River of _St. Lawrence_;

=I have therefore thought fit, with the Advice of His Majesty's
Council, to issue this Proclamation for giving public notice of the
Encouragement granted by the General Court of all Persons who may be
disposed to serve their King and Country in the Prosecution of the War
against the said Cape-Sable's and St. John's Tribes, in the manner
above-mentioned, upon their own charge; as also to give Notice to the
several Tribes of the Eastern Indians, who are still in Amity with us,
of the Boundary-Line aforesaid; assuring them that this Government
have determined to treat as Enemies all such Indians as live beyond
the said Line.=

Given at the Council Chamber in _Boston_, on Friday the Second Day
of _November_, 1744. In the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of Our
Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of
_Great-Britain_, _France_ and _Ireland_, KING, Defender of the
Faith, &c.

W. SHIRLEY.

_By order of the Governour, with
the Advice of the Council_,
J. WILLARD, Secr.

GOD save the KING.

No mention is made of either of these remarkable proclamations in any history of Boston, or other work that we have seen; and it can scarcely be generally known that Massachusetts indorsed the proclamation of the King of England, declaring war against "the French King," or that the colony, without regard to the King and his government, declared war, including the most desperate and bloody conditions, against the St. John's and Cape Sable's Indians, a hundred years after the settlement of the colony, and something more than one hundred and fifty years ago. It will be noticed that the sum of five pounds additional is offered in each case for man, woman, or child, if brought in alive; but considering the expense, danger, and trouble of doing so, it could hardly have been expected that any thing beyond the scalps of the victims, even of children, would be brought in; and it would seem, if any considerable number were killed or brought in, that the debt incurred would be likely to become somewhat burdensome upon the colony. The terms of the proclamation were based upon the votes and orders of the General Court, authorizing the payment of the rewards offered, passed on the 26th day of October. The records of Boston show that in 1756, January, L50 were paid for an Indian scalp, and it is to be hoped this was the only payment ever made for such a purchase.

FAST DAY.

This threatening proclamation was followed by another, on the 18th February, for a general fast, as at this time the expedition to Louisbourg, which soon followed, was in preparation:--

"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in his holy and sovereign Providence, to involve His Majesty's Dominions in War, which, notwithstanding the many instances of success, which, through Divine favor, have attended the arms of His Majesty and his allies, ought to be regarded as an effect of the anger of God against us; and, whereas, this government have, upon mature consideration, determined by the Divine permission, to prosecute an expedition against His Majesty's enemies, upon the success of which, the prosperity of His Majesty's subjects in North America, and more especially in this Province, does under God, much depend," &c., &c., therefore the 28th day of February instant, is appointed for a general fast, to be observed with fervent prayers and supplications, and all labor and recreation are strictly forbidden. "Given at the Province House, in Boston, the 18th day of February, 1744."

[The expedition sailed soon after, and arrived at Canso, under Col. Pepperell, on the 4th of April, having 3,250 Massachusetts troops. The fort and city of Louisbourg were surrendered and given up on the 17th of June; and two East India ships and one South Sea ship, worth L600,000, were captured at the mouth of the harbor.]

ANOTHER FAST.

On the 25th of March, 1745, Gov. Shirley issues another proclamation for a general fast, on Thursday, 4th day of April. The expedition for Cape Breton had just embarked and "taken their departure from this place," and this was deemed, in addition to the usual custom, occasion for a fast. The favor of Divine Providence was implored for the success of the expedition which the government had, at "great expense and labor, raised and fitted out with a large body of troops and a considerable naval force, for an expedition against the French at Cape Breton," &c.

THANKSGIVING REJOICING.

News of the success of the expedition was received in Boston, on the 2d of July, 1745, and there were great rejoicings and illuminations in the town in consequence; and on the 8th, Gov. Shirley issued his proclamation for a general thanksgiving, it having pleased God, as he elaborately expressed it, "by a wonderful series of successes to bring this great affair to a happy issue in the reduction of the city and fortress of Louisbourg." There was added, "All servile labor is forbidden on said day," and the bar against recreations is omitted; but all persons are called upon to preserve order.

GOV. PHIPS'S PROCLAMATIONS.

In September, 1745, while Gov. Shirley and his lady were absent on a visit to Louisbourg, the scene of the late success of his expedition, Spencer Phips, acting governor, issued three proclamations in the following three months: on the 6th of September, for a public fast, partly on account of the war with the Indians, and among other things "that His Excellency the Governor may be directed and succeeded in the important affairs he is transacting at Louisbourg and returned in safety." Signed S. Phips. By order of the honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the Council. J. Willard, Secretary.

The second was issued on the twenty-second day of November, 1745, on account of some disorders in Boston, committed by divers officers and seamen, belonging to His Majesty's ship "Wager," and other seamen belonging to the sloop "Resolution," late in His Majesty's service, by which two persons lost their lives. The constables and authorities of Boston and Charlestown are called upon to search for them in any justly suspected houses, &c. By order of the Honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the Council.

The third proclamation of acting Governor Phips was issued on the 25th of November, 1745, for a general thanksgiving, in "consideration of the manifold and remarkable instances of the Divine favor towards our nation and land in the course of the past year, which (though mixed with various rebukes of Providence manifesting the righteous discipline of God toward us for our sins) demand our publick and thankful acknowledgments." Signed, S. Phips. By His Honor's command, with the advice of the Council.

Besides the above there were two or three other proclamations, calling for troops and other objects. The first Fast Day held in the Plymouth Colony, so far as we know, was in the month of July, 1623, and the first in the Massachusetts Colony, July 30, 1630, soon after Winthrop's arrival.