APPENDIX. NO. XX.

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No. XX.

PROCLAMATION

OF

His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias..

We, Alexander the First, by the grace of God, &c. &c.being desirous of giving a proof of our particular esteem andaffection towards the sovereign order of St. John of Jerusalem,declare, that we take the said order under our imperial pro-tection ; and that we will employ every possible care and at-tention to maintain it in all its rights, honours, privileges, andpossessions.

For this purpose, we command and ordain, that our ge-neral field-marshal bailiff comte de Soltikoff should continueto exercise the functions and authority of lieutenant of thegrand-master of the said order, and convene a sitting of thesacred council to make known our intentions that the imperialresidence should be still regarded as the chief seat of the so-vereign order of St. John of Jerusalem, until such time as cir-cumstances shall permit the election of a grand-master accord-ing to the ancient forms and statutes.

In the interim, we ordain, in our quality of protector, thatthe sacred council shall have the government of the order, andshall make known to all the languages and priories this our

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