"14 Nov. 1791—11 Nov. 1793" 349

that a malignant and highly contagious fever is at this time raging in the City of Philadelphia,
and that through the constant intercourse between that City and Baltimore there is great
reason to apprehend that this fatal disease will be introduced into the said town unless
immediate measures are taken to prevent so great an evil, And Whereas by the Constitution
of this State, the Governor for the time being is authorised to order and compel any Vessel to
ride quarantine, if such Vessel or the port from which she may have come, shall on strong
grounds be suspected to be infected with the Plague and Whereas in the present case the
exercise of this authority according to the letter thereof without taking similar precautions
by Land would not effect the purpose evidently contemplated by the said Article of the Con-
stitution, of securing the good people of this State from such dreadful visitations, I have
therefore thought proper [p. 264] to issue this my Proclamation Ordering the directing
that all vessels coming immediately from Philadelphia or from any place to which the afore-
said Malignant disorder may have spread, and all vessels having persons or goods on board
coming from Philadelphia or any other infected place be subject on approaching the Harbour
of Baltimore town or any other Harbour within this State to the performance of a quarantine
not exceeding forty days; or as much less as shall be judged safe by the persons appointed
or to be appointed Health Officers for the different towns and Harbours aforesaid, and I
have with the advice of the Council thought fit further to direct that all persons coming to
Baltimore town, to Havre de Grace, to the Head of Elk or by any other route making
their way into this State from Philadelphia or any other place known to be infected with
the said disorder shall be subject to be examined and prevented from proceeding, by the
persons who will be appointed for the said purpose, and who will be instructed to take the
opinion and advice of the Medical faculty in every case, in order that private affairs and
pursuits may not be unnecessarily impeded.

And as the town of Baltimore by its extensive [p. 265] trade and population is
the place in which the introduction of the said disorder is most likely to happen, and its
effects the most to be apprehended, I have thought proper to proceed without delay to the
nomination of persons for that place, and do accordingly appoint Doct'r John Ross Health
officer for the approach by water, and Doct'r John Worthington Health Officer for the
approach by Land to the said town, with full power to stop and prevent the landing or
entrance of all persons who according to appearances and the best information they can
procure shall have come immediately from the City of Philadelphia or other infected place and
in like manner of goods or articles of any kind, and the Faculty of Baltimore town are
hereby authorised and requested to assist the said Health Officers with their Judgment and
advice in every doubtful Case: and until particular persons shall be appointed for other places,
the Justices of the Peace and officers of every kind are hereby authorised to take steps
consistent with the tenor of this proclamation for their own safety, and that of their fellow-
Citizens and all public Officers and the good Citizens of this State in general are hereby called
upon to be aiding and assisting towards effecting the object of this Proclamation.

[p. 266] Given at the City of Annapolis under the Seal of the State of Maryland

this twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
seven hundred and ninety three

Tho. S. Lee

By his Excellency's Command
T. Johnson J'r Sec'y.