382 | Proclamation Concerning the Stamp Act Riot of 14 Aug. 1765

    By His EXCELLENCY

    Francis Bernard, Esq;

    Captain-General and Governor in Chief, in and over His Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, and Vice-Admiral of the same.

    A PROCLAMATION

    WHEREAS Yesterday, towards Evening, a great Number of People unlawfully and riotously assembled themselves together, in the Town of Boston, armed with Clubs, Staves, &c. and with great Noise and Tumult, pulled down a new-erected Building, belonging to the Secretary of the Province, and having so done, surrounded his Dwelling-House, pulled down Part of his Fences, broke his Windows; at length with Force and Violence entered the House and damaged and destroyed his Furniture, and continued thus unlawfully assembled until Midnight, and committed divers other Outrages and Enormities to the great Terror of His Majesty’s liege Subjects:

    I have therefore thought fit, with the Advice of His Majesty’s Council, to issue this Proclamation, requiring all Justices of Peace, and all Officers civil and military, to use their utmost Endeavours for discovering, apprehending and bringing to Justice all and every of the Persons concerned in the unlawful Assembly aforesaid.

    And I do hereby promise, that whosoever shall discover and detect any of the Persons concerned in the Outrages aforesaid, so that they or any of them may be lawfully convicted, shall receive out of the Publick Treasury of this Province, the Sum of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS as a Reward, to be paid upon the Conviction of such Offender or Offenders: And any Person concerned therein over and above the Reward aforesaid, upon Discovery of any of his Accomplices as aforesaid, shall receive His Majesty’s free and gracious Pardon.

    • GIVEN at the Council-Chamber in Boston, the fifteenth Day of August, 1765, in the Fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of GOD, of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.

    By His Excellency’s Command,

    Fra. Bernard

    Jno’. Cotton, Dep. Secr.

    GOD Save the KING.

    Prt, RC Gage.