.MTU1Mg.MTc0NTg

These great and aggravated offenses; to deal with us in loving kindness and tender mercy; and to be our God, as he has been the God of our fathers. And while unitedly addressing to Him our supplications, let us intreat [entreat] Him as the Giver of every good and perfect gift, to supply our wants, and the wants of all His great family, during the present year: To cause the earth to yield her increase, and the trees their fruit: To preserve the health of our fellow citizens and grant them in their several occupations and enterprises, such a measure of success as shall be most conducive to their best interests: to smile upon our Colleges and Seminaries of Learning, and render them instruments of the moral, as well as the intellectual improvement of their pupils; to watch over the peace and prosperity of this State, and of our common Country; to bless the Chief Magistrate of the Union, and all who are invested with Legislative, Executive or Judicial authority in the General and State governments; to assist the ministers of the everlasting Gospel in their arduous work, increase their number and crown their labors with success; to bless the executions of every association whose object it is to disseminate the Scriptures, or in any other way to supply the spiritual wants and alleviate the miseries of mankind; to lock with an eye of pity on the oppressed and enslaved in every part of the world; to hasten the time when civil and religious liberty shall be every where enjoyed, righteousness and peace universally prevail, and the knowledge of god fill the earth as the waters cover the seas. And the inhabitants of this State are request to abstain from all labor and recreation inconsistent with the services of said day.

Given at the Council Chamber in Portland, the eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty three; and in the forty seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America.

Albion K. Parris.

By the Governor:

Amos Nichols, Secretary of State.