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ritory of the United States North West of the River Ohio

By His Excellency Arthur St Clair Esquire, Governour and Commander in Chief --

Forasmuch as it is incumbent on all Men to acknow- ledge with Gratitude their infinite Obligations to Almighty God for Benefits received, & to implore his superintending Care & Providence for future Blessings - I have thought proper to set apart a Day for that Purpose, & do hereby ordain, that Thursday the 25th. Day of December be observed as a Day of solemn Thanksgiving & Praise; that the People may with one Voice & sincere Hearts express their grateful Sensations, and consecrate themselves to the Will & Pleasure of their divine Benefactor - And, that together with their Ack- nowledgments, they may unite in humble Suppli- cations to Almighty God, that he would be graciously ple- ased to prosper this Infant Settlement, & the whole Territory, in their Husbandry, Trade, & Manufactures, and by his own nurturing Hand, mature & bring to Perfec- tion all Seminaries of Learning, & the Promotion and Enlargement of Piety & true Religion amongst all the Nations of the Earth.

And I do prohibit all servile Labour on that Day.

Given at Marietta this 17th. Day of December in the year of our Lord 1788 & in the thirteenth year of the Independence of the United States.