Thursday the Eleventh day of October next coming, Earnestly Recommending the due Observation thereof to the Ministers and people throughout this province, with a be coming Selfe Abasement and Devotion and Sincere Confession of Sinn Joyned with ffervent Effectual prayer, [P. 285.] Humbly to Implore the Divine Mercy to our Soveraigne Lady the Queen, Her Kingdoms and Just Arms, To Her Majesties officers and forces in Service within these Her Majesties Northern plantations; And for all Needfull Blessings Spiritual and Temporal to be Gratiously Bestowed upon the poor, Afflicted and Distressed people of these plantations; And all Servile Labour is forbidden upon the said day. Given at the Council Chamber in Portsmouth the twenty Eighth day of September in the tenth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne, by the Grace of God, of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, Queene, Defender of the faith, &c. By Order of the J. DUDLEY. CHAS. STORY, Secretary. God Save the Queen. [P. 286.] Province of New Hampshire. Att a Councill held at Portsmouth, the 15th of November, Anno Domini, 1711. Present. Saml. Penhallow, Major Wm. Vaughan, Esqs. John Plaisted, Richard Waldron, Mark Hunkin, Esqs. Ordered, that the Secretary Issue forth proclamation to the Several Towns of this province that a day of publick Thanksgiving be sett a part throughout this province, on Thursday, the 29th Currt. And that the proclamations be in hæc verba sequen: By His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq. Captaine General and Governour in Chiefe of Her Majesties province of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, in New England, &c. A Proclamation for a Publick Thanksgiving. Amidst the Various Awfull Rebukes of Heaven wherewith we are Righteously Afflicted in the late disappointment of an Important Expedition (1), attended with soe many Smiles of providence in the beginning and progress thereof, and promising Hopes of Success; in the late Dreadfull Desolations by Consuming Fire and other Calamities (2), which demand our Deepest Humiliations and Contrition of Heart; We are still under the Highest obligations of Gratitude for the many Instances of Divine Goodness in the favours Vouchsafed, particularly for the preservation of our most Gratious Soveraigne Lady the Queen; The prosperous Success of Her Majesties Just Arms in Europe; the Seasonablenesse of the Weather in the Summer past; the plentifull Harvest, the Great Measure of Health, the preservation and Safe returne of the Forces of these provinces, The Restraints of the Enemy and many other Undeserved Blessings Spiritual and Temporal, not to be enumerated. [P. 287.] I have therefore thought fitt with the Advice of Her Majesties Council, and at the desire of the Representatives in their present Session to Order and appointe Thursday, the twenty Ninth day of November Currant, to (1) The expedition against Canada, besides the land forces under Gen. Nicholson, consisted of a "Fleet of 68 vessels, commanded by Sir Hovenden Walker, and having on board 6463 soldiers. The fleet sailed on the 30th of July, and arrived at the mouth of the St. Lawrence on the 14th of August. In proceeding up the river, the fleet, through the unskillfulness of the pilots, and by contrary winds, was in imminent danger of entire destruction. On the 22d August, about midnight, the seamen discovered that they were driven to the north shore among rocks and islands. Eight or nine of the British transports, on board of which were about 1700 officers and soldiers, were there cast away, and nearly 1000 men lost. Upon this disaster, the admiral bore away for Spanish River bay, at Cape Breton, where a council of land and naval officers, in consideration that there was but ten weeks' provis on for the fleet and army, and that a seasonable supply from New England could not be expected, judged it expedient to relinquish the design. The Admiral sailed directly for England; and the provincial troops returned home. General Nichsolson, who had advanced to Lake George, hearing of the miscarriage of the expedition on the St. Lawrence, retreated with the land army, and abandoned the enterprise." See Holmes Ann., Vol I., p. 595; also Farm. Belk., ., pp. 180-181, and Penhallow's Ind. Wars, Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. Vol. I., pp. 72-76.-ED. (2) On the 2d October, 1711, a fire broke out in Boston, near the centre of the town, and consumed all of the houses on each side of the main street, from School street to the foot of Cornhill. Besides the buildings in Cornhill, "all the upper part of what is now called State street, on the north and south sides, together with the town house, was burnt." Holmes Ann. Vol. I., p. 505.-ED. be Celebrated as a day of publick Thanksgiveing throughout this province; Strictly forbidding all Servile Labour thereon, and Exhorting all Ministers and people in their Respective Assemblies on the Said Day, To offer upp Humble and Sincere thanks to Almighty God for His many Favours as aforesaid, and other Blessings bestowed upon a Sinfull people. Given at the Council Chamber at Portsmouth the fif teenth day of November, 1711; In the tenth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne, by the Grace of God of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the faith, &c. By Order of the Governor with the Advice of the Council, and J. DUDLEY. Cha. Story, Secretary. God Save the Queen. Province of New Hampshire. Wm. Vaughan, At a Council Held at Portsm on Thursday, the 10th January, Anno Domini, 1711. Present. Saml. Penhallow, Esqs. Rich. Waldron, Esqs. John Plaisted, Robert Elliott, Mark Hunking, Esq. one of the members of Her Majesties Council in this province, his name was this day at this Board Incerted in the Commission of the peace, who took the oathe of a Justice of the peace, as also the oathe appointed by Law, &c. Ordered, that the Secretary Issue forth proclamation to the Several Towns of this province, that a day be Sett apart throught the Said province for a General Fast, and that proclamation goe forth in the method following: By His Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esq. Capt. General and Governour in Chiefe in and Over Her Majesties provinces. of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, in New England. A Proclamation for a General Fast. Upon Consideration of the Various Rebukes of Heaven wherewith it has pleased the Holy God to manifest his Just Anger against us; Particularly in ffrustrating the Chargeable and Hopefull Expedition in the Summer past, and Since in the Awfull Desolations made in the Town of Boston by Consuming Fire; And the Great Mortalitye in the Neighbouring Governments; Considering alsoe the Vast Importance of the Councils and Resolutions that may be now takeing in Europe for the further prosecution of the long Calamitous warr, or of Overtures for peace; And the Influences they may have upon Her Majesties provinces; All which demand our Deep Humiliation, with ffervent Supplications to Almighty God, who Orders all things in Infinite Wisdom and Council : I have therefore thought fitt by and with the Advice of Her Majesties Council, to [P. 289.] Appointe and Order a General Fast to be Observed throughout the province, upon Thursday, the thirteenth day of March next, for the Afflicting our Souls before God in humble penitential Confession of Sinn, Joyned with Ardent ffervent prayer; Humbly Imploring the Divine Mercy for Spiritual as well as Temporal Blessings, Particularly for the preservation of her Majesties Sacred person, For Direction to Her Councils, and prosperity to Her Just Arms, And Her Favorable regards towards Her Good Subjects of this province and the Government thereof; For protection and Defence from our Enemies, Continuance of our Own, & Restoreing Health of our Neighbours, And for Restoreing our Wastes made by ffire; For a Suitable Seede time in the Advanceing Spring, And a Blessing on the Fruits of the Earth in the Summer following; For the prosperity of the Church of God, That peace and Truth may be Established in the Earth, And that all the Kingdoms of this world may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hereby forbidding all Servile Labour on the day aforesaid. Given at the Council Chamber in Portsmouth the 224 day of February, in the tenth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne, by the Grace of God, of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the faith, &c. By Order of His Excellency with the Advice of the Council. J. DUDLEY. Cha. Story, Secretary. God Save the Queen. [P. 290.] Province of New Hampshire. Att a Council held at Portsmouth 6th Colonel Richard Waldron, of the Council. Mr. Commissary General Penhallow, of the Council. Lieut. Colonel Vaughan. Richard Gerrish, Speaker of the Representatives, Assisted by Mr. Secretary Story. The following letter was read at this Board, in hæc verba sequen: |