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At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Saturday, 8th April, 1775,
Present: The Honourable John Penn, Esquire, Governour, Benjamin Chew, James Tilghman, Edward Shippen, Esquires.
Pursuant to an Order in Council, on the 13th day of March last, a draught of a Proclamation for recalling that issued on the 2d of November, and confirming the Proclamation of the 15th of September last, agreeably to His Majesty' s permission signified to the Governour by the Earl of Dartmouth, was laid before the Board, and being duly considered was agreed to; and the Governour, by the advice of the Board, issued the same this day in the following words, viz:
By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Governour and Commander-in-chief of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, and Counties of NEW CASTLE, KENT, and SUSSEX, on DELAWARE:
Whereas, by my Proclamation bearing date the fifteenth day of September last, I did enjoin and require all persons residing to the Northward and Eastward of the lines and boundaries theretofore run, and marked as boundaries and division lines between the Province of Maryland and the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, by Commissioners for that purpose appointed and authorized, in pursuance of two Articles of Agreement made between the proprietors of the Province of Maryland, and the proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware; and also in pursuance of two several Decrees of the Lord High Chancellor of England, for the specifick performance of the said Articles, to yield obedience to the respective laws of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties aforesaid on Delaware: And I did further by my said Proclamation require all Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other Officers of justice appointed or to be appointed in the said Province and Counties, to put in execution the respective laws thereof against all offenders within the lines and limits aforesaid as by my said Proclamation may more at large appear: And whereas by my other Proclamation, bearing date the second day of November last past, I did, in obedience to his Majesty' s commands signified to me by a letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty' s principal Secretaries of State, enjoin all Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other
Given under my hand and the great seal of the Province of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, the eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and in the fifteenth 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, and so forth.
JOHN PENN.
By his Honour' s command:
JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jun˙, Secretary.
GOD save the King.
Pensylvania Council
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Officers of justice, to desist from exercising the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania or the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, beyond those places where it had been theretofore usually exercised, until His Majesty' s further pleasure should be known in the premises; any thing in my former Proclamation to the contrary notwithstanding: And whereas I am now informed by a letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, dated the seventh day of January last, "that His Majesty, on further consideration, hath been graciously pleased to approve of the arrangement made by my said Proclamation of the fifteenth of September last, and permit me to recall that of the second of November last:" I have, therefore, thought proper, by the advice of the Council, to issue this Proclamation, to make known the premises to all whom it may concern hereby, in pursuance of His Majesty' s pleasure and permission, revoking my said Proclamation of the second of November last, and requiring all Officers and others within the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, to yield obedience to, and in all things observe, the orders and injunctions in my said Proclamation of the fifteenth of September last contained, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.