By Richard Viscount Howe of the Kingdom of Ireland, and William Howe Esquire, General of His Majesty's Forces in America, the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace to His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America, &c. &c. &c.
Declaration.
Whereas by an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament to prohibit all Trade & Intercourse with the Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachuset's Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, 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 issuing of such Proclamation," the said "Act, with respect to such Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, County, Town, Port, District, or Place, shall cease, determine, and be utterly void." 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 Sixth Day of May in the Sixteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign, to nominate and appoint us, 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: We 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 Pardons shall be granted, dutiful Representations received, and every suitable Encouragement given, for promoting such Measures as shall be conductive to the Establishment of legal Government and Peace, in pursuance of His Majesty's most gracious Purposes aforesaid.
Given at Staten Island the Fourteenth Day of July, 1776.
