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Whereas, His Excellency, the President of Congress, hath transmitted to me sundry Resolutions of that Honorable Body in which it

is earnestly recommended to the Legislatures and Executives of the several States to adopt the most efficacious measures for the preventing and suppressing all traffic and illicit intercouse between their respective citizens and the enemy, an evil of the most dangerous kind, having a tendency to corrupt the patriotism of the said citizens, to weaken the foundation of public credit, thereby providing a market for British Merchandize, the circulating Specie from the United States and greatly discouraging honest and lawful commerce: To prevent the pernicious consequences of such illicit and infamous traffic (if any such be existing between the inhabitants of this State and the enemy) I have thought proper, by and with the advice of the Council of State, to issue this, my Proclamation, hereby strictly prohibiting all such clandestine trade and unlawful intercourse as aforesaid, on the pains & penalties of the Treason Law, which shall be inflicted on all those who shall offend herein, with the seizure and forfeiture of all such merchandize. And I do hereby command all Officers, Civil and Military of this State, on their Allegiance to use their utmost endeavours to detect such offenders and bring them to punishment, and do further order and require all the good citizens of the same to be aiding and assisting to them in this service, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.

Given under my hand and seal at Hillsborough the fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Two, and in the Seventh Year of the Independence of the said State.

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