A Proclamation by his Excellency Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Anthony Bozon, Major 93d Regiment, Senior Officer administering the Government of the Island of St. Lucia, &c. &c.

A Proclamation by his Excellency Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Anthony Bozon, Major 93d Regiment, Senior Officer administering the Government of the Island of St. Lucia, &c. &c.

WHEREAS it has appeared to me that some evil-disposed individuals have conspired and combined to impede and oppose the measures of the Executive Government of this Colony, and have induced others, by their influence and example, to co-operate in such measures: And whereas, under the influence of such illegal combination, the several stores and shops of this town have been closed since the morning of Monday the 16th instant, all business suspended, and all classes of the inhabitants exposed to serious and distressing privations by such proceedings: And whereas such measures are not only calculated, but evidently intended, to render inoperative His Majesty’s Order in Council of the 2d of November last, for ameliorating the condition of the slaves in this Colony, by affording a pretext to inconsiderate or designing persons of evading His Most Gracious Majesty’s humane and benevolent intentions towards the slave population of this Colony, under the plea of inability to obtain supplies of food and clothing for that portion of His Majesty’s subjects: And whereas such conduct is calculated to produce excitement among the slave population, and most injurious consequences to the community at large, and to afford a pretext of representing the slave population as undeserving of His Majesty’s favour and protection. Now I, Mark Anthony Bozon, Senior Officer administering the government of St. Lucia, acting under the power and authority in me vested, do hereby proclaim, That all persons who have heretofore entered into, or may hereafter enter into, such illegal combination, will be held responsible to the laws for high crimes and misdemeanors, and be punished accordingly: And I do hereby order and command all merchants, shopkeepers, and all other persons in this town, and throughout this Colony, concerned in such illegal combination, to re-open their stores and shops, and legally resume their several callings, on or before Monday morning, the 23d instant, under pain of the consequences: And I do hereby order and recommend all His Majesty’s loyal subjects within this Colony to govern themselves according to this Proclamation.

Done at the Government Office in Castries, this 18th day of January 1832, and in the second year of His Majesty’s reign.

By his Excellency’s command, George Washington Busteed, Chief Secretary

God save the King. GS