[Editor: Governor King declares Martial Law in areas of New South Wales, following the outbreak of the Castle Hill rebellion. Published in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 11 March 1804.]
Proclamation
By Philip Gidley King, Esq, Captain-General and Governor in Chief in and over His Majesty’s Territory of New South Wales and its Dependencies, &c. &c. &c,
Whereas a Number of Labouring Convicts of Castle Hill and other Parts in this District have assembled, and in a Rebellious and daring manner have Attacked and Robbed several of His Majesty’s peaceable and loyal Subjects of their Property and Arms, and proceeded therewith to great acts of Outrage, which the Preservation of the Lives and Property of His Majesty’s liege Subjects demand an immediate Stop being put to by the most effectual means:
I do therefore Proclaim the Districts of Parramatta, Castle Hill, Toongabbee, Prospect, Seven and Baulkham Hills, Hawkesbury and Nepean to be in a
STATE OF REBELLION
And do Establish MARTIAL LAW throughout those Districts.
I do therefore strictly Charge and Command all His Majesty’s liege Subjects to be assisting in apprehending and giving up to the nearest Officer or Magistrate every Person they may stop who is unprovided with a Pass, under pain of being tried by a Court Martial.
And every Person who is seen in a State of Rebellious Opposition to the Peace and Tranquillity of this Colony, and does not give himself or themselves up within Twenty-four Hours, will be tried by a Court Martial, and suffer the Sentence passed upon him or them.
And if they, or any of them give up the Ringleaders to Justice, it may be an effectual means of procuring them that amnesty which it is so much my wish to grant.
Given under my hand at Head-Quarters, Parramatta, this 5th of March, 1804.
(signed) Philip Gidley King.
GOD Save the KING!
By Command of His Excellency, W. N. Chapman, Sec.
Source:
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (Sydney, NSW), Sunday 11 March 1804, page 1
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