Whereas, notwithstanding my repeated proclamations forbidding the meeting in convention of the persons stiling themselves Deputies from the several Counties for the choice of Delegate to represent this Colony in a Congress intended to be held in the City of Philadelphia, I have received information that such unlawfull meeting is at this time assembled, which will be highly offensive to the King and derogatory to the just Rights of power and authority of the General Assembly of this Province, I have thought fit with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council to issue this Proclamation hereby in the King's name to require and command all His Majesty's subjects so convened on their allegiance and on pain of incurring His Majesty's Highest displeasure to break up the said meeting and to desist from all such illegal unwarrantable and dangerous proceedings.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at New Bern the fifth day of April Anno Dom. 1775, and in the fifteenth year of His Majesty's reign.