By Richard Viscount Howe of the Kingdom of Ireland, one of the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace to his Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America, &c.&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, Massachusetts 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 that: It is Enacted
It shall and may be lawful to and for any Person or Persons, appointed and authorized 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, 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 issuing of such Proclamation, the said Act, with respect to such Colony or Province, Colonies and Provinces, County, Town, Port, District or Place, shall cease determine, and be utterly void; ー
And Whereas, the King, desirous to deliver all his subjects from the Calamities of War and other oppressions which they now undergo, and to restore the said Colonies to His Protection and Peace as soon as the Constitutional Authority of Government therein may be replaced; Hath been graciously pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal, dated the sixthday of May in the sixteenth year of his Majesty's Reign, to nominate and appoint me, Richard Viscount Howe of the Kingdom of Ireland, and William Howe Esquire, 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 Disorder 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 Favor, 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 ー That due consideration shallbe 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 Pardons 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 Massachusetts
Bay, the Twentieth Day of June, 1776.
