Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by the Governor : having received from the President of the United States, a proclamation dated the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, recommending the nineteenth of February next to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer throughout the United States : I have thought fit ... to cause the same to be transmitted to the ministers of the several denominations of Christians in this Commonwealth ... Given at the Council-chamber in Boston, this sixteenth day of January ... one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five .