The following proclamation of a Fast, by King George III, on the first day of the nineteenth century, may be of interest to our readers. It is to be feared the spirit manifest in it is not to be found in our rulers now.
PROCLAMATION FOR A GENERAL FAST
George R.
We, taking into our most serious consideration the heavy judgments with which Almighty God is pleased to visit the iniquities of this land, by a grievous scarcity and dearth of divers articles of sustenance and necessaries of life; moreover taking into our most serious consideration the just and necessary war in which we are engaged, for the maintenance of our Crown, for the defence of the commerce, and of the rights and liberties, civil and religious, of our subjects; and trusting in the mercy of Almighty God, that, notwithstanding the sore punishment which He hath laid upon us and upon our people, He will, if we return to Him in due contrition and penitence of heart, not only withdraw his afflicting hand, but moreover graciously bless our arms, both by sea and land, have therefore resolved, and do by and with the advice of our Privy Council, hereby command, That a Public Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout that part of our kingdom called Scotland, on Thursday, the 12th of February next; that so both we and our people may humble ourselves before Almighty God, in order to obtain pardon of our sins; and may in the most devout and solemn manner, send up our prayers and supplications to the Divine Majesty for the removal of those heavy judgments which our manifold sins and provocations have most justly deserved, and under which we at this present time labour; and for imploring His blessing and assistance on our arms, and for restoring and perpetuating peace, safety, and prosperity to us and our dominions: And we do strictly charge and command that the said Public Fast be reverently and devoutly observed by all our loving subjects in Scotland, as they tender the favour of Almighty God, and would avoid His wrath and indignation; and upon pain of such punishment as we may justly inflict on all such as contemn and neglect the performance of so religious and necessary a duty. Our will is therefore, and we charge, that this our proclamation seen, ye forthwith pass to the Market Cross of Edinburgh, and all other places needful, and there, in our name and authority, make publication hereof, that none pretend ignorance; and our will and pleasure is, that our Solicitor do cause printed copies hereof to be sent to the sheriffs of the several shires, stewards of the several stewardries, and bailiffs of regalities, and their clerks, whom we ordain to see them published; and we appoint them to send copies hereof to the several parish churches within their bounds, that upon the Lord’s day immediately preceding the day above mentioned, the same may be published, and read from the pulpits immediately after divine service.
Given at our Court of St. James’s, the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and one, in the forty-first year of our reign.
GOD save the KING.