Hardwicke, C. Hartington,
Granville, P. Holdernesse.[1]
Whereas by Letters Patent of his present Majesty, under his great
Seal, which erected the Territories and Country of Georgia in America
into One Free Province, under the Trustees for establishing the Colony
of Georgia in America, the immediate Government thereof was, after
the Determination of a Term of Twenty-one Years therein mentioned, to
come to his said Majesty, his Heirs and Successors; which Term is not
yet expired: And whereas the said Trustees having voluntarily made
a Proposal to his Majesty, to make an absolute Surrender of all the
Powers, Rights, and Trusts, vested in them by the said Charter; which
his Majesty having been pleased graciously to accept, the said Trustees
did, by their Indenture of Grant and Surrender, bearing Date the
Twentieth Instant, grant and surrender to his Majesty, his Heirs, and
Successors, the said Charter, and all Powers, Jurisdictions, Countries,
and Territories, thereby granted to them; by which, the immediate Care
of the said Province, and of his Majesty's Subjects there, is now
devolved upon his Majesty;[2] We being desirious of making Provision
for the present Government of the said Province, and securing the
Peace and good Order thereof, until his Majesty shall establish such
other Form and Order of Government therein, as to his Majesty, in his
Royal Wisdom, shall seem most for the Honour of his State, and the
Happiness of his Subjects there; have thought fit, with the Advice of
his Majesty's Privy-Council, to issue this Proclamation; and do hereby
order, signify, and declare his Majesty's Pleasure, That all Persons
who now are, or, at the Time of the Publication of this Proclamation,
shall be duly and lawfully possessed of, or invested in, any Offices or
Places of Authority, Government, or Employment, Ecclesiastical, Civil,
or Military, in his Majesty's said Colony of Georgia, and particularly
all Governors, Lieutenants, or Deputy Governors, President, and
Assistants, Council, Judges, Justices, Magistrates, Provost Marshals,
Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, and all others in any Place or Rank of
Government, or concerned in the Administration of Government, either
Inferior or Superior, and all other Officers and Ministers holding any
Office, Place, or Employment there, shall hold under his Majesty, and
be continued in their said several and respective Places, Offices,
or Employments, and enjoy the same with the like Salaries, Fees, and
Emoluments thereto belonging, which have hitherto been actually paid,
until his Majesty's Pleasure be further known, or other Provision be
made for the due Government and Ordering of his Majesty's said Colony:
And that in the mean Time, for the Preservation of the publick Peace
and Tranquillity of the said Province, We do strictly command all the
said Persons, of whatsoever Rank, Degree, or Condition, to proceed
in the Execution of their respective Offices, and to perform all
the Duties thereunto belonging: And further, We do hereby will and
command all and singular his Majesty's Subjects in the said Colony,
of what Estate or Degree they, or any of them, be, to be obedient to,
and aiding, helping, and assisting the said Officers and Ministers
in the Performance and Execution of their said Offices, Places, and
Employments, as they tender his Majesty's Displeasure, and will answer
the contrary at their utmost Perils: All which Matters and Things,
herein before commanded and directed, We do, by this Proclamation,
order and direct to be done, performed, submitted to, and obeyed,
until his Majesty shall further make known his Royal Will and Pleasure
thereupon.
Given at Whitehall the Twenty-fifth Day of June, 1752, in the Twenty
sixth Year of his Majesty's Reign.