By His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esquire, President, and Supreme Executive Council, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: A Proclamation. WHEREAS the honourable the Congress of the United States of America, by their resolve of the eighteenth day of October last, did recommend the following words to wit. "Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, the father of all mercies, amidst the vicistudes and calamities of war, to bestow blessings on the people of these states, which call for their devout and thankful acknowledgements, more especially in the late remarkable interposition of his watchful providence, in rescuing the person of our Commander in Chief and the Army from imminent dangers, at the moment when treason was ripened for execution; in prospering the labours of the husbandman, and causing the earth to yield its encrease in plentiful harvests; and above all, in continuing to us the enjoyment of the gospel of peace: It is therefore recommended to the several states, to set apart Thursday the seventh day of December next, to be observed as a day of public THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER that all the people may assemble on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor; to confess our unworthiness of the least of his favours, and to offer our servent supplications to the God of all Grace, that it may please him to pardon our heinous transgressions, and incline our hearts, for the future, to keep all his laws; to comfort and relieve our brethren who are any wise [illegible: afflicted?] or distressed; to smile upon our husbandry and trade; to direct our public councils, and lead our forces by land and sea to victory; to take our illustrious Ally under his special protection, and favour our joint councils and exertions for the establishment of speedy and permanent peace; to cherish all schools and seminaries for education, and to cause the knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the earth." WHEREFORE, as well in respect of the said recommendation of Congress, as the plain dictates of duty, to acknowledge the favour and goodness of Providence, and implore its further protection; WE do hereby earnestly recommend the good people of Pennsylvania, to set apart THURSDAY the seventh day of December next, for the pious purposes expressed in the said resolve, and that they abstain from all labour on that day. Given, by order of the council, under the hand of his excellency Joseph Reed, esquire, president, and the seal of the state, at Philadelphia, this tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty. JOSEPH REED, President. Attest T. Matlack, Secretary. GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH.