"GIVEN under my Hand at Salem, the 17th Day of June, 1774, in the Fourteenth Year of his Majesty's Reign.
By his Excellency's Command,} } T. GAGE. THO'S FLUCKER, Secretary. }
Gen. Gage's next proclamation was against the existence of the famous "Committee of Correspondence," which Samuel Adams had originated, and the "solemn league and covenant" "to suspend all commercial intercourse with the island of Great Britain," &c. And "in tenderness to the inhabitants of this province," he issued this proclamation of warning.
Then, as if to cap the climax of pretension and folly, not to say hypocrisy, on the 25th of July, while he relied upon the counsels and efforts of the tory party, issued what may be called a very curious proclamation, such as possibly, under some circumstances, might have been issued by Gov. Endicott, in the early days of New England Puritanism; but the Puritans had long before this time passed out of power. The following is the proclamation:--
_For the Encouragement of Piety, and Virtue, and for preventing and punishing of vice, profanity and immorality._
In humble imitation of the laudable example of our most gracious sovereign _George_ the third, who in the first year of his reign was pleased to issue his Royal proclamation for the encouragement of piety and virtue, and for preventing of vice and immorality, in which he declares his royal purpose to punish all persons guilty thereof; and upon all occasions to bestow marks of his royal favor on persons distinguished for their piety and virtue:
"I therefore, by and with the advice of his Majesty's Council, publish this proclamation, exhorting all his Majesty's subjects to avoid all hypocrisy, sedition, licentiousness, and all other immoralities, and to have a grateful sense of all God's mercies, making the divine laws the rule of their conduct.
"I therefore command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other Officers, to use their utmost endeavors to enforce the laws for promoting religion and virtue, and restraining all vice and sedition; and I earnestly recommend to all ministers of the gospel that they be vigilant and active in inculcating a due submission to the laws of God and man; and I exhort all the people of this province, by every means in their power, to contribute what they can towards a general reformation of manners, restitution of peace and good order, and a proper subjection to the laws, as they expect the blessing of Heaven.