At a Council held at the Council Chamber in the Palace at New Bern on the 7th February 1771
His Excellency communicated to this Board a letter from Mr Francis Nash of Hillsborough without a date but inclosing Depositions of Reuben Tedrow and William Douglas dated the 2d instant giving information that a body of the people who call themselves the mob were assembling with a design to come down and enquire into the cause of Herman Husbands confinement, and to release him from Gaol and with a determination to lay New Bern in ashes—And that by their advertisement had fixed on Monday the 11th Instant to begin their march towards New Bern for carrying their designs into Execution—His Excellency then asked the Board if they had any particular Advice on this occasion. The Board thereupon gave it as their opinion that a Proclamation should issue to prohibit the sale of all fire arms, powder, lead and leaden bullets till further notice. And His Excellency take up and collect all the ammunition that can be procured for His Majesty's Service and the defence of this Province—Ordered a Proclamation issue in the following words—Vizt
North CarolinaBy His Excellency William Tryon Esqr &c, &c.A Proclamation.Whereas I have received information authenticated by the Oaths of Sundry credible Persons that the People who style themselves Regulators or the Mob have resolved to come down in a Body from their settlements to the Town of New Bern in order to release Herman Husband now under lawful confinement in His Majestys Gaol, And have threatened to destroy at the same time the said Town, and they are now making preparations to execute these their audacious
and wicked purposes, And whereas it is essential to the publick safety that all persons in this Province should be restrained for a reasonable time from vending or disposing of any fire arms and ammunition least the same should come into the hands of the said people called Regulators or the Mob—I have therefore thought fit by and with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council to issue this my Proclamation hereby prohibiting all Merchants, Traders and others from selling or supplying any Person whatever with powder, shot, or lead till further notice.Given under my hand and the Great Seal of The Province at New Bern the 7th February in the Eleventh year of His Majesty's Reign A. D. 1771.
God save the King.Wm. TRYON.