[Encouraging Trade with America.]

BY THE KING.

A PROCLAMATION

George R.

Whereas by an Act passed this present Sessions of Parliament, intituled, An Act for the more effectual securing and encouraging the Trade of his Majesty's British Subjects to America, and for the Encouragement of Seamen to enter into his Majesty's Service;[1] it is, among other Things, enacted, for the encouraging his Majesty's Subjects to engage in joint and united, as well as separate Expences, Expeditions, and Adventures, That We, our Heirs, and Successors, be impowered, from time to time, during the Continuance of the present or any future War[2], to grant Charters or Commissions for the more effectual enabling any Societies, or particular Persons to join in Expeditions by Sea or Land, and to sail to, and in any of the Seas in America, for the attacking, taking, or destroying any Ships, Goods, Moveables or Immoveables, Settlements, Factories, Creeks, Harbours, Places of Strength, Lands, Forts, Castles, and Fortifications, now belonging, or hereafter to belong to, or to be possest by any Enemy, in any Part or Parts of America; and for the better making and carrying on any Preparations for such Purposes, and for the making and assuring to the Societies or Persons concerned, their Heirs, Successors, Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, full and undoubted Properties, Rights, and Titles, in and to the same, which such Societies or Persons shall take or cause to be taken from the Enemy, under such Regulations, and in such Manner and Form, as We, our Heirs and Successors, shall think fit, and at any Times hereafter, by any further Grants or Charters to confirm, and further assure the Premisses to them, so as to enable them to have and enjoy the full Benefit thereof, but so, as that nothing therein contained shall extend to exclude or restrain any of our Subjects from having a full and free Trade to and in any Part of America: And whereas We are desirous, that none of our loving Subjects should be ignorant of the said Encouragement, We have thought fit, with the Advice of our Privy Council, to publish the same, by this Our Royal Proclamation, to the End that all Officers, Seamen, Marines, Soldiers, and others, Our Subjects, may be fully informed of the Benefit thereby intended for such of them, as shall be willing to assist by their Endeavours in the vigorous Prosecution of the War, and the Annoyance of the Enemy.

Given at our Court at St. James's the Ninth Day of April, 1740, in the Thirteenth Year of our Reign.

God save the King.

London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty. 1740.

1 p. folio. Copies in Dalk., and P. C.; also in N. Y. Public Library. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, II Geo., vol. 7, p. 9. Printed in "London Gazette," April 12, 1740.

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