Source 4

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G e o r g i a

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

Sir JAMES WRIGHT, Baronet,

Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief OF His Majesty’s Province of GEORGIA, Chancellor, Vice-Admiral, and Ordinary, of the same,

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS I have received Information, That, on Wednesday the twenty-seventh Day of July last past, a Number of Persons, in consequence of a printed Bill or Summons, issued and dispersed throughout the Province by certain Persons unknown, did unlawfully assemble together at the Watch-House in the Town of Savannah, under Colour or Pretence of consulting together for the Redress of public Grievances, or imaginary Grievances. And that the Persons so assembled for the Purposes aforesaid, or some of them, are, from and by their Authority, by a certain other Hand-Bill, issued and dispersed throughout the Province, and other Methods, endeavouring to prevail on His Majesty’s liege Subjects to have another meeting, on Wednesday the tenth Instant, similar to the former, and for the Purposes aforesaid, which Summonses and Meetings must tend to raise Fears and Jealousies in the Minds of his Majesty’s good Subjects: AND WHEREAS an Opinion prevails, and has been industriously propagated, that Summonses and Meetings of this Nature are constitutional and legal, in order, therefore, that His Majesty’s liege Subjects may not be misled and imposed upon by artful and designing Men, I DO, by and with the Advice of His Majesty’s Honourable Council, issue this my Proclamation, notifying, that all such Summonses and Calls by private Persons, and all Assembling and Meetings of the People, which may tend to raise Fears and Jealousies in the Minds of his Majesty’s Subjects, under pretence of consulting together for Redress of public Grievances, or imaginary Grievances are unconstitutional, illegal, and punishable, by Law: AND I do hereby require all His Majesty’s liege Subjects within this Province to pay due Regard to this my Proclamation, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril.

GIVEN under my Hand and the Great Seal of His Majesty’s said Province in the Council-Chamber at Savannah, the fifth Day of August, in the fourteenth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, and in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four.

J.A. Wright

By His Excellency’s Command

Thomas Moodie Deputy Secretary

God Save the King