 On 2 April 1814 , Cochrane issued a proclamation to all persons wishing to emigrate . Any persons would be received by the British , either at a military outpost or aboard British ships ; those seeking sanctuary could enter His Majesty 's forces , or go " as free settlers to the British possessions in North America or the West Indies " . ( An historical precedent was Dunmore 's Proclamation of 7 November 1775 , although this offered freedom only to those who bore arms with British forces . ) 
