By the PRESIDENT
Of the UNITED STATES of America.
A Proclamation.

WHEREAS it is the Duty of all Nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty GOD, to obey his Will, to be grateful for his Benefits, and humbly to implore his Protection and Favor: And whereas both Houfes of Congreſs have, by their joint Committee, requeſted me " To recommend to the People of the United States, a Day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be " observed by acknowledging with grateful Hearts the many and ſignal Favors of Almighty GOD, ef- " pecially by affording them an Opportunity peaceably to eſtablish a Form of Government for their Safety " and Happineſs."

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and aſign THURSDAY the Twenty-fifth Day of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the People of theſe States, to the ſervice of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be: That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our ſincere and humble Thanks for his kind Care and Protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation;---for the ſignal and manifold Mercies, and the favourable Interpoſiti- ons of his Providence in the Courſe and Conſclusion of the late War;---for the great Degree of Tranquility, Union and Plenty, which we have ſince enjoyed;---for the peaceable and rational Manner in which we have been enabled to eſtablish Conſtitutions of Government for our Safety and Happineſs, and particularly the national one now lately inſtituted;---for the civil and religious Liberty with which we are bleſſed, and the Means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful Knowledge;---and in general, for all the great and various Favors which he hath been pleafed to confer upon us.

AND ALSO, That we may then unite in moſt humbly offering our Prayers and Supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beſeech him to pardon our national and other Tranſgreſsions;--- to enable us all, whether in public or private Stations, to perform our ſeveral and relative Duties properly and punctually;---to render our national Government a Bleſſing to all the People, by conſtantly being a Govern- ment of wife, juſt and conſtitutional Laws, diſcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed;---to proteſt and guide all Sovereigns and Nations, (eſpecially ſuch as have ſhewn Kindneſs unto us) and to bleſs them with good Government, Peace and Concord;---to promote the Knowledge and Practice of true Religion and Virtue, and the Encreafe of Science among them and us;---and generally, to grant unto all Mankind ſuch a Degree of temporal Proſperity as he alone knows to be beſt.

GIVEN under my Hand, at the City of New-York, the third Day of October,
in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-nine.

G. WASHINGTON.