falsehood on the innocent people, extravagantly profaning even the most sacred name of the Almighty, to promote their flagitious purpose of exciting rebellion, until they have shaken the allegiance and duty of great numbers, and actually involved some of the people in the most horrid crimes against their Sovereign, and the Laws and Constitution of their Country. And I do hereby next especially admonish His Majesty’s faithful subjects in this Colony, that the holding what is called a Provincial Convention at Hillsborough, in the heart of this Province, is calculated to extend more widely the traitorous and rebellious designs of the enemies of His Majesty and his Government, and the Constitution of this Province, and particularly to influence, intimidate, and seduce His Majesty’s faithful and loyal subjects in that neighbourhood from their King and Country, which they have hitherto so faithfully maintained; for the furtherance of which purposes, a certain Richard Caswell, one of the three persons deputed by a former illegal Convention, in this Colony, to attend a Congress, no less illegal, at Philadelphia, is sent an emissary from that Assembly, that hath already denounced ruin and destruction to America, to forward and superintend this meeting at Hillsborough, and to inflame it with the fatal example of said Philadelphia Congress—a part which he has entered upon with the most active zeal, after having often declared his principles averse to the cause in which he is engaged, thus exhibiting himself to the world a monstrous engine of double treason against his own conscience, and his King and Country. And whereas, I consider this is a most open and daring attempt to stir up unnatural rebellion in this Colony against His Majesty and his Government, I do hereby advise, forewarn, and exhort all His Majesty’s subjects within this Province to forbear making any choice of Delegates to represent them in the proposed Convention at Hillsborough, as they would avoid the guilt of giving sanction to an illegal assembly, acting upon principles subversive of the happy Constitution of their Country, and that they, by every means in their power, oppose that dangerous and unconstitutional assembly, and resist its baneful influence. And whereas, to encourage the people to proceed in the treasons to which they have been blindly influenced and misled by the persons who have set themselves up for leaders among them, it has been represented, in order to inflame and render the people desperate, that they have offended past forgiveness, and that having no mercy to hope for from the King, their better chance is to prosecute their treasons to open rebellion and resistance of His Majesty and his Government, I think it proper, in tenderness and pity to the poor misguided multitude, and to obviate this abominable design of engaging them more deeply in transgression, hereby to offer, promise, and declare to all, each, and every of them, His Majesty’s most gracious pardon for all violences done and committed to the date hereof, on their return to their duty to the King, and obedience to lawful Government, and renouncing their seditious and treasonable proceedings; and thereby offer ample reward and recompense to the people, or any of them, who shall yield and deliver up to me the few principal persons who seduced them to the treasonable outrages herein before-mentioned, to be dealt with according to law.

And whereas, the people in many places have been seduced to the choice and appointment of military officers among themselves, which is an usurpation and invasion of His Majesty’s just and lawful prerogative; and whereas, no person whatever is entitled to hold, exercise, or enjoy any commission or authority over the Militia of this Colony, but such as are commissioned by His Majesty, or his Governour of this Province; and whereas, a certain John Ashe, herein before-named, who lately resigned to me his commission of Colonel in the Militia of the County of New-Hanover, has presumed to influence and conduct a body of armed men of the said County, and of other adjacent Counties, to the most daring and treasonable outrages; and a certain Robert Howes, alias Howe, hath also presumed, without commission from me, or any lawful authority, to take upon himself the style and title of Colonel, and to advertise and summon the Militia of the County of Brunswick to meet, in order to be trained to arms, I do hereby forewarn the people against any and every such election of officers to which they are or may be invited, and caution them against any obedience and regard to any persons who have been or may be so appointed and chosen, hereby declaring every such election illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void to all intents and purposes; and that the said John Ashe and Robert Howes, alias Howe, before-mentioned, and both of them, and every other person and persons who hath or have presumed to array the Militia, and to assemble them in arms within this Province, without any commission or authority, have invaded His Majesty’s just and royal prerogative, and violated the laws of their Country, to which they will be answerable for the same.

And whereas, it is out of doubt that a majority of the people of this Colony, left to follow the impulses of their own hearts and understandings, are loyal and faithful subjects to His Majesty, and true and firm friends to the Constitution and Laws of their Country; and whereas, it appears that the assembling a Convention at Hillsborough will bring the affairs of this Country to a crisis which will make it necessary for every man to assert his principles, I do hereby conjure the good people of this Province, as they tender and regard the blessings of British subjects, that they do firmly persist and persevere in their duty and allegiance to His Majesty, hereby assuring them, in the King’s name, and by His Majesty’s authority, of his firm and determined resolution to maintain his faithful subjects in the full and free enjoyment of all their religious and civil rights, liberties, and privileges, and of His Majesty’s utmost encouragement to them in the defence and support thereof against all enemies, rebels, and traitors whatsoever.

And I do hereby strictly require and command all His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, and other officers, and all His Majesty’s liege subjects, to exert themselves in the discovery of all seditious treasons and traitorous conspiracies, and of bringing to justice the principals and accomplices therein. And I do further strictly enjoin them to give all, and all manner of aid, countenance, assistance, and protection to all His Majesty’s loyal and faithful people; and all persons are hereby required to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, on board His Majesty’s Ship Cruiser, in Cape Fear River, this eighth day of August, Anno Domini 1775, and in the fifteenth year of His Majesty’s reign.

JOSIAH MARTIN.

J. BIGGLESTON, D. Sec’y.

GOD save the King.

NORFOLK BOROUGH (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

Norfolk Borough Committee Chamber, August 8, 1775.

Whereas, it appears from undoubted testimony, that a certain John Schaw, of this Borough, did, in the presence of Lord Dunmore, officiously point out to the Soldiery at Gosport one Alexander Main, Fifer to one of the Volunteer Companies of this place, as a person who ought to be apprehended for his impudence (as the said Schaw expressed himself) in wearing a hunting-shirt in their presence, in consequence of which the unhappy man was apprehended, and is now, by his Lordship’s order, confined on board the Otter, sloop-of-war; we therefore think it our duty to declare, that the said Schaw has herein shown himself a busy tool, and an enemy to American liberty, and as such, we advise every friend to his Country to have no further dealing or connection with him.

WILLIAM DAVIES, Secretary.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE.

The Committee met Tuesday, August 8, 1775. Present: