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State of Maine.

By Albion K. Parris,

Governor of the State of Maine:

A Proclamation,

For a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise.

As the obligations of intelligent creations to that Being, who is the Supreme Disposer of all events, and the Dispenser of all blessings, are in proportion to the favor which they receive from His hand; and as He has been pleased to distinguish us by His favors in a manner which is almost without a parallel in the history of his goodness to mankind; He may justly expect from us, both as individuals and as a community, corresponding returns.

And while it is incumbent on us to cherish a grateful recollection of His past mercies, and to retain them in everlasting remembrance, the goodness with which he has crowned the present year, demands from us renewed public, as well as private, expressions of thankfulness:

I have, therefore, thought fit to appoint, and with the advice of the Council, do hereby appoint, Thursday, the fifth day of December next, to be observed by the inhabitants of this State, agreeably to ancient usage, as Day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise: That we may, as a community, with united hearts, offer Him our grateful acknowledgements for all His favors, and especially for these which have marked the present year.

And persons of every religious denomination are requested to assemble for this purpose on that day, in their respective places of public worship, and with emotions of gratitude proportionate to His unmerited goodness, to thank our Almighty Benefactor, that while some of our Sister States have been visited by distressing sickness, or alarmed by internal conspiracy, we have been favored with general health and tranquility; That while in some parts of the world the pressure of famine has been severely felt, the fears of our husbandmen have been banished by seasonable showers, and their labors recompensed by a plentiful harvest; That the exertions of our merchants, manufacturers, and mariners have been generally crowned with success; that our colleges and schools have been preserved in a flourishing state; that the enjoyment of our inestimable civil and religious privileges has been continued to us; And that so much has been done, under the blessing of Heaven, to meliorate the moral and religious state of our country, and of the world.

And while, with unfeigned gratitude, we render thanks to our Almighty Benefactor, for these various mercies, let us, in the exercise