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 Houſes 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 offered by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, eſpecially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to eſtabliſh a form of government for their ſafety and happineſs."
Now therefore I do recommend and aſsign Thursday the 26th 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 favorable interpoſitions of his providence, which we experienced in the courſe and concluſion 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 diffusing uſeful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleaſed 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 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 government of wiſe, juſt, and conſtitutional laws, diſcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (eſpecially ſuch as have ſhown 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 encreaſe 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 1789.
