190 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1739/40.

Lib. C. B.

Maryland ss^t

By His Excellency Samuel Ogle Esq^r Governor and Com-
mander in Chief in and over the Province of
Maryland

A Proclamation

Whereas a Wicked and Dangerous Conspiracy hath been
discovered to have been lately entered into by several Negroes
in Prince Georges County to kill and Murder the white people
within the said County and other parts of this province several
of which Conspirators are now Actually in prison and Infor-
mations given against many others not yet Apprehended In
Order therefore to Avert so great and Eminent A Danger and
as much as in me lies to secure his Majestys Subjects in their
Lives and Propertys and to prevent their being Sacrificed to
the rage and fury of merciless and Barbarous Slaves I have
thought fit with the Advice of his Lordships Council of State
to Issue this my Proclamation Strictly Commanding and requir-
ing all Officers as well Civil as Military within this province
in their Several and respective Stations to be particularly
careful in putting the several Laws in Execution to prevent
the Tumultuous meeting of Slaves and all other Laws for the
Safety of the People and to Apprehend all such Slaves as
shall be found wandering who cannot give a good and Satis-
factory Account of themselves and to Secure them that they
may be Amesnable to Justice and dealt with according to

p. 62

Law, And to require all Persons to be aiding and assisting to
the several Officers in the due and faithful Execution of their
duty in the Premises, And also to Exhort all his Majestys
Subjects to be upon their guard and to prepare in the best
and most Expeditious manner they can for the defence of
themselves and their Neighbours and for the better exacting
an Obedience from the Civil Officers in the Execution of their
Duty in the Premises I hereby earnestly recommend to the
Magistrates of the several Counties a Careful and strict Ob-
servance and notice of such Civil Officers as may be negligent
or remiss in their said Several Dutys In Order for their Punish-
ment according to Law, And I do hereby Strictly charge and
require the several Sheriffs of this province to make this my
Proclamation publick in their said Counties in the usual man-
ner as they will Answer the Contrary at their Peril Given at
the City of Annapolis this 24^th day of January in the 25^th year
of his Lordships Dominion Anno Domini 1739

the following Commission being produced by the Honble
Col^o Charles Hammond is ordered to be Entered