Star.
London, England, 1810-06-22 00:00:00

r

CANADA

" Pr his Exeereney L H. ClA's, Captain General and Governer
Ip Chief of Canada, Upper Canatla,a,tid their depeaderaso.
A PROCLAMATION.
el 'Whereas, divers wicked, seditious, and treason-
able writings have been printed. published, and dis-
pers,d in this province, with the care and Govern-
ment :4f which I am entrusted ; and whereas such
writin have been expressly calculated to mislead his
good subjects, to impress their minds with
distract and jealousy of his Majesty's Government, to
alienate their affections' from his Majesty's person, 1
and :o bring into contempt and vilify the administra.
tion of justice, and of the Government of the coun-
try ; and whereas in the prosecution of these wicked
aid traitorous purpose,, it authors and abetters
have not scrupled andacinnsly to advance tha most
gross and daring falsehoods, whilst the industry that
has been employed in dispersing and disseminating
etem it a very great expense, but the snurce of Which
is not kn.)wn. strongly evinces the persevertnee and
i:nolacabili-y with which it is intended that these pur-
po-es should be pursued ; and whereas, consistently
with that duty which I owe to his Majesty, and that
tfe.::•4,11 and regard with which I view the welfare
and prosperity of the inhabitants of this colony, it
was impossible for me any longer to disregard or
stint- practices so directly tending to subvert the Go.
wrument of the former, and to destroy the happiness
. .

of the latter ; T do, therefore, hereby ;rnnolince, with

the advice and concurrence of his Majesty's Executive
Council, that, with the same advice and concurrence,
measures have been adopted, and that, due informa-
tion Laving been given to three of his Majesty's said
Executive Counselling. warrants, ax by law autho-
have been issued, under which some of the

;unbars, printers, and publishers of the writings afore-
, said, have been apprehended and secured.
" Deeply impressed with a desire to promote, in
all respects, the welfare and happiness of the good
people of this province, and acting under the iristruc-
yens of the most benevolent and best of Sovereigns,
whose faithful servant I have been for nearly as long'a
period as the oldest inhabitant has been his subject,
a d whose I.i:hest displeasure I should incur, if I
rreiele any Other than that happiness and welfare the
ri my conduct, it would indeed be, with a very
lace:-e v-ncern, that T should find reason to believe,
tat the arts of these factious and designing men had
p od.ieed any effect, and that doubts and jealousies
s'loald have founi their way, and have established
themselves in the minds of deluded persons.
To these, if any such there be, and, indeed, to
the public in general, I would recall the history of the
vitole period, during which they have been under his
Majesty's Government. het them remember the state
they were in when they became British subjects ; and
let them bear in their recollection diet rogressive ad-
*ances they have made to the wealth, happiness, secu-
rity, and tinbnunJed liberty which they now enjoy.
During 50 years that they have been tinder the Bri-
tish dominion, has one act of oppression, has one in-
stance of arbitrev imarisenment, or of violation of
property, occurred ? Have pin, in any one instance,
or under any one circumstance, been disturbed in the
free and unconttentled enjoyment of your religion ?
and lastly, while all Europe has been deluged in
blood, and while.varions of his Majesty's other co-
lonies ond possess?ens love, at times, experienced the
iilorrot'S of war, and soma; even under the vicissitudes
of that state, have undergone a deprivation of the

inesri-neble happiness, •o 1 living under British Laws
and British Government, by becoming etyrey totem-

porary conquest—have you nrt enjoyed the most per-
fect security: and tranquillity, under the powerful pro-
• t .etion of the same Government, whose fostering and
paternal care has been equally employed in promoting
your internal welfare ?
46 What then can be the means used by these evil-
disposed an) wicked persons, by which they can hope
to bring about their traitorous and ambitious designs?
By what arguments can they expect, that a people, in
the enj )yment of every blessing that can contribute
to happiness in this world, shall renounce that happi-
ness, to embrace their views ? By what argument
can they expect that a brave and loyal people, hither-
to impressed with the warmest and sincerest attacli-
ment to the best of Kings, whose whole reign has been
one series of benefits bestowed on them, shall abandon
that loyalty, and become monsters of ingratitude, fit
to be held up to the detestation of the world, to pro-
mote their projects ? It is true, the most base and
diabolical falsehoods are insidiously promulgated and
dissem.nated. In one part, it is announced as my in-
tention to embody and make soldiers of you, and that
having appplied to the late House of Representatives
to enable me to assemble 12,000 of you for that pur-
pose, and they having declined to do so, I had there..
fore dissolv'ed them. This is not only directly false,
such an idea never having entered into my mind, nor
the slightest mention having ever been made of i t .;
bu-t it is doubly wicked and Atrodo•ts, becauSe it has
been advanced by persons who trust have been sup-
posed to speak with certainty on the subjectond
therefore, the more c dettlated to impose upon you.
•44 In another part you are told, that I wanted to
tax your lands, and that the late House of Assembly
wiould consent only to tax wine, and upon that ac-
count, I had dissolved the House. Inhabitants of
St. Denis ! this is also directly false.' I never had
' the most distant idea of taxing you at all ; such had
nes‘er even been for a moment'the subject of my de-
notations ; and when the late House offered to pay
the Civil List. I could not have taken any step in a
matter of such importance without the King's in-1
strnetions'; and therefore, it was still long before we.
'erne to the consideration of how it was to be paid.
In truth, not one word was ever, to my knowledge,
mentioned on the subject.
46 In other parts, despairing of producing in-
stances from what I have done, recourse is had to
what. I intend to do ; and it is boldly told you that. I
mean to oppress you. Base and daring. fabrications
of falsehood ! on what part or what act of my life do
-, you found such an askrtion ? -What do you know of
me or of my intentions ? Canadiansoask of those to
• 4- whoni you formerly looked with intention and respect
—ask the Heads of your Church, who have oppm-tu-
skies of knowing me ; these are men of honour and
Atnowledee—rthese are men from whom you ought to
seek for inforMation and advice ; the Leaders of Fac-
tion, the Demagogues of a Party, associate not with
1113 e they cotuot me.
66 Far erluitaurpeee should I oppress you ? it to
_.• .• .• •_.

1 s

' sere thirElng ? Will that Monarch,:. who," during
fifty years, has-never issued one order that bad you
for its object, that was not for your benefit and hap-
piness—will he npw, beloved, homsured, adored by
his subjects, coveted with glory, descending into the
vale of years, accompanied wilt the prayers mud
blessings of a grateful people, will he, contrary to
-the whole tenor of a-life of honour and • virtue, now
give orders to his servants to oppress his Canadian
subjects ?It impossible that you can for a moment
believe It. You will spurn from you, with just indig.
nation, the miscreant who will suggest such a thought
to yog.
Is it for myself, then, that / should oppress
you ? Vor what should /oppress you ? Is it from am-
bition ? What can you give me ? Is it for power?-.
Alas ! my good friends! with a life ebbing not slowly
to its period, under the pressure of disease acquired
in the service of my country, I look only to pass,
war it may please GOD to suffer to remain of it, in
the comfort of retirement afnong my friends. I re-
main among you only in obedience to the commands
of my King. What power can I wish for ? Is it,
then, for wealth that I would oppress you ? Inquire
of those who know me, whether I regard weaith ?
I never did, when I could enjoy it; it is now of no
use to me ; to the value of your country laid at my
feet, I would prefer the consciousness of having, in
single instance, contributed to your happiness and
prosperity.
" These personal allusions to myself—these details,
in any other case, might be Unbecoming and beneath
me ; but nothing can be unbecoming or beneath me
that can tend to save you from the gulph of crimes
and calamity into which guilty men would plunge you.
" It is now my dnty, more particularly to advert
to the intent and parpose for which this Proclamation
is issued. I do, therefore, by and with the advice of
his Majesty's Executive Council, hereby warn; and
earaesly exhort, all his Majesty's subjects, to be on
their guard against, and to be cantinas how they •
listen to the artful suggestions of designing and wick-
ed men, who by the spreriding of false reports, and
by seditious and traitorous writings, ascribe to his
Majesty's Governnient evil and malevolent purposes,
iskeeking only thereby to alienate their affections, and
lead them into acts of treason and rebellion ; calling
upon all well-disposed persons, and particularly upon
all Curates end Ministers of don's holy religion, to
use their best_endeavours to prevent the evil effects
of such incendiary and traitorous doings, to illicit..
ceive, to set aright, such as may have been misled by
them, and to inculcate in all, the true principles of
loyalty to the King, and obedience to the Laws.
" And I do hereby strictly charge and command
all Magistrates, in and throughout this province, all
Captains of Militia, PeaceDilicers, and others, his
Majesty's good subjects, that they do severally makt-
dligent inquiry and search to discover, as well the
authors as the publishers and dispersers of • all such
wicked, seditious, and traitorous writings as afore-
said, and of false news, in any way dangatory. to
his Majesty's Government, or in any manner tending
to inflame the public mind, and disturb the public
peace and tranquility ; to the end that, by a vigo-
rous execution of the laws, all offenders in the pv-
mises may be brought to such punishment as may
deter all persons from the practice nf any acts what-
ever, which may in any way affect the safety, peace,
or happiness of his Majesty's loyal and faithful sub-
jects of this province. Given, &c. " .r. H. otAIG."

Council, that, with the same advice and conce
measures have been adapted, and that, due ii
tion having been eiven to three of his Majest;
Executive Counselling. warrants, as by law
riled, have been issued, under which some
anthers, printers, and publishers of the writing
said, have been apprehended and secured.
" Deeply impressed with a desire to prop
all respects, the welfare and happiness of tt
people of this province, and acting under the
tines of the most benevolent and best of Soy
whose faithful servant I have been for nearly
period as the oldest inhabitant has been his
a d whose Li:hest displeasure I should inc
made any other than that happiness and wel
whoa. of my conduct, it would indeed be, wit
s'ace:-e concern, that T should find reason to
tat the arts of these factious and designing r
p odaced any effect, and that doubts and jc
s'loold have founi their way, and have est
themselves in the minds of deluded persons.
To these, if any such there be, and, ini
the public in general, I would recall the histo
whole period, during which they have been u
Majesty's Government. het them rememberl
they were in when they became British subjei
let them bear in their recollection the trogres
Vances they have made to the wealth, happinc
-rity, and Unbounded liberty which they nee
Poring 50 years that they have been under
• fish dominion, has one act of oppression, has
stance of arbitrary imarisonment, or of viol
property, occurred ? Have pia, in :try one i
or under any one trircurnstanCe, been disturbu
free and uncontiouled enjoyment of your r
and lastly, while all Europe has been del
blood, and while.various of his Majesty's t;
loniecand possess3ons iffre, at times, experie
illorroOt of war, and some even under the vic
6f that state, have undereone a deprivatio
iner-zanible happiness, •of living under Briti,
and British Government, by becoming it pre:
porary conquest—have you nrt enjoyed the n
test security. and tranquillity, under the powe
• t .ction of the same Government, whose foster
paternal care has been equally employed in pr
your internal welfare ?
46 What then can be the means used by th
disposed an) wicked persons, by which they
to bring about their traitorous and ambitious
By what arguments can they expect, that a r
the enj iyment of every blessing that can ci
to happiness in this world, shall renounce tle
oass, to embrace their views ? By what a
can they expect that a brave and loyal peoph
to impressed with the warmest and sincerest
' ]client to the best of Kings, whose whole reign
one series of benefits bestowed on them, shall
that loyalty, and become monsters of ingrat
to be held up to the detestation of the world
mote their projects ? It is true, the most I
diabolical falsehoods are insidiously promulg
dissem.nated. In one part, it is announced
tention to embody and make soldiers of you,
having appplied to the late House of Repres
to enable me to assemble 12,000 of you for
pose, and they having declined to do so, I h
fore dissolv'ed them. This is not only direct
such an idea never having entered into my n
the slightest mention having ever been made
but it is doubly wicked and atrocloas, becau
been advanced by persons who mist have t
posed to speak with certainty on the subject,
therefore, tha more c ilccilated to impose tip,
" In another part you are told, that I
• tax your lands, and that the late House of I
wiiould consent only to tax wine, and npoe
count, I had dissolved the House. Inliat
St. Denis ! this is also directly false.' I n
' the most distant idea of taxing you at all ;
nes‘er even been for a moment'the subject c
notations ; and when the late House ()Wen
the Civil List. I could not have taken any
matter of such importance without the
struetionsa and thetefore, it W3S still long
same to the consideration of how it was to
In truth, not one word was ever, to my k:
mentioned on the subject.
" In other parts, despairing of prod
stances from what I have done, recourse
what I intend to do ; and it is bi-Idly told
mean to oppress you. Base and daring f
of falselmoi ! on what part or what act of
• you found such an astertion ? -What du yet
• me or of my intentions ? Canadians,eisk
• whomyou formerly looked with intention
4r- —ask the Heads of your Church, who has
skies of knowing me ; these are men of
,knowledee—these are men from whom yo
seek for infolinttion and advice the Lead
tion, the Demagogues of a Party, associat
ale ; they c 4sinQt kn:Av me.
•
99 Fat
.witataurpeee should I oppress yi