Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the Fieeldíüt of the Unitod Stiltes of America: A PROCLAMATION. It Ua3 long been the pious custoin of our people with the closing of the year to look back upon the Messings lirought to them m the chauging course of eeasons and to return soleinn thauks to the All-giving Source f rom whoin they flow. And although at this penod, when the ialling leaf adnioniehes us that the time of our èacred duty is at hand, our nation Btill Ues in the shadow of a great bereavement, and the uiournlng whleh has filled our hearts stlll finds sorrowful expressiou toward the God before whom we out lately bowed in grief and supplication, yet the countless blesslngB which have showered upon us dmiD the past twelve mouths cali for our fervent gratlUide ani irake it fitting that we should rejoice wlih thanWulness that the Lord in bis infinito uiercy bas ruo&t sigually fayored our coustry and people. l'oace without and prosperity within have beeu vouchsafed to us. No peslilence bas visited our. shores; the abundant privileges of freedom whieh ur fathers lef t us in their wisdom are still our increasiug heritasto, and if In parte of our vast domain some afniction lias visited our urethren in thelr forest homes, yet even thiscalamity bas been teinpered and in a manner sauctified t y generous compassion for tbe sufferers wbieh bas been called fortb throughout our land. I'or all theso things it is meet that the voice of the natiou should go up to God in devout hoinage. Wherefore, I.Ohestet A Arthur. President of the ÜHited Statee, do recomuiend tbat all the people observe Thursday, tho 2ith day of November mst., as a day of natioual thauksgiving aud prayer, by ceasiuü so f ar as uiay be from their secular labora aud moaüug in their several places of worshtp, there to join in ascnbinif houor and praise to Almighty Uod, whose gooduess bas been so manifest in our bistory aud in our lives, and offering earnest prayers tbat bis bounües may continue to us and to our children. In w itness wheieof I have hereunto set my hand and caiued tho seal of the United States to befnxed. Done at the city of Washington, Ibis fourth day oï November, in tue year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eigbty-one, and of the independence of the Unitid States tbe onehuudredth and sixtb.