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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
August 30, 1771
Volume 09, Pages 27-29

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
COUNCIL JOURNALS.

At a Council held in the Council Chamber in the Palace at New Bern Friday the 30th August 1771.

Present
His Excellency the Governor.
The Honble James Hasell Esquire.
The Honble Martin Howard Esquire.
and
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire.

His Excellency desired the advice of the Council as to the Meeting of the General Assembly on the 10th of October to which time it now stands prorogued, laying before them sundry reasons for proroguing it to a future time, it is the opinion of the Board for the reasons offered by his Excellency that it will be expedient to prorogue the said General Assembly until the 15th of November next, then to meet at New Bern for the dispatch of Public Business.

It was then ordered by His Excellency that the following Proclamation issue immediately—Vizt


North Carolina—Ss.

By His Excellency Josiah Martin Esq. Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief &c.

A Proclamation.

Whereas the General Assembly is appointed to meet at Newbern the 10th day of October next, and as it is found expedient to prorogue the same,

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I do therefore by and with the advice and consent of His Majestys Council issue this my proclamation, hereby proroguing the said Assembly until the 15th day of November next then to meet at New Bern for the dispatch of Public Business.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of this Province at New Bern the 30th August 1771.

JOSIAH MARTIN
By His Excellencys Command
Wm Palmer, D. Secy.
God save the King.

At the same meeting his Excellency laid before this Board a Proclamation for the encouragement of religion and virtue, recommending that the same should be issued. The Board unanimously concurred in opinion with His Excellency as to its expediency, and it was accordingly Ordered to be issued.


North Carolina—Ss.

By his Excellency Josiah Martin Esquire, Captain General and Commander in Chief &c. &c.

A Proclamation

Whereas it is an indispensible duty above all things to promote the honor and service of Almighty God and to discourage and suppress all vice, profaness, debauchery and immorality, which are a reproach to religion and government and have a fatal tendency to the corruption of manners. And whereas nothing can so effectually engage the Divine Blessing as a strict observance of the duties enjoined by religion, in which our most Gracious Sovereign is an illustrious example to all his people. And that it is most truly pleasing to his Royal mind to see religion, piety and good manners flourish and extend over all his Dominions; I have in consideration thereof, and by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's Council thought fit to issue this proclamation hereby enjoining all persons in Authority to give all possible encouragement to religion and virtue as well by their own examples, as by their countenance to all orderly and well disposed persons and their utmost discouragement and restraint of the profane, disorderly and licentious of all denominations. And I do hereby strictly charge and command all his Majesty's Judges, Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, and all others whom it may concern within this province to be vigilant and strict

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in the discovery and the effectual prosecution and punishment of all persons who shall be guilty of drunkenness, blasphemy, profane swearing and cursing, lewdness, profanation of the Lord's Day, or other dissolute immoral or disorderly practices, and that they take care to put in execution all Laws now in force in this province for the punishing and suppressing vice and irreligion.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said province at New Bern the 30th day of August Anno Dom 1771.

JOSIAH MARTIN.
God save the King.
By his Excellency's Command
William Palmer D. Secy