87

at the time agreed, that in point of fortune, few risked more than Charles Carroll of Carrollton." "The story often repeated and as often denied," writes Kate Mason Rowland, "that Charles Carroll added ' of Carrollton' to his signature, when jestingly reminded by one of his colleagues that there were others of his name in Maryland, and he would therefore incur little risk [unless he added these words], though a pretty legend is, of course, not tenable as history. It has been seen that Charles Carroll had signed himself as ' of Carrollton's from the time of his return to America in 1765."

All of those who appear as subscribers to the Declaration on parchment, however, did not sign on this dayAugust 2d.

Thornton cannot have signed before November 4th; for only then he appeared in Congress and produced his credentials. He was not elected even until September 12th. He took the place of Langdon.89

M:Kean also was a post-signer; for Cæsar Rodney writes, from Philadelphia to Thomas Rodney (?), August 8th: "[Tr] M McKean is Yet in the Jerseys, and not likely soon to return

"

Indeed, M:Kean himself writes, to Alexander J. Dallas, August 4, 1796: "I had not heard that the Instrument had been engrossed on parchment and signed until some weeks after I returned from Camp, and (I believe) until I returned from Newcastle, where I had been employed some weeks, as a member of the Convention chosen to form a new Government for that State; but I subscribed my name to it in the presence of the Congress sometime in the year 1776."

The exact date 22 of his signing, however, has never been ascertained.

Gerry 93 too was absent on August 2d.

John Adams writes, from Philadelphia, to his wife, July 15th: "[Qy] My very deserving Friend, Mr Gerry, Setts off, tomorrow, for Boston, worn out of Health, by the Fatigues of this station -- He is an excellent Man, and an active able statesman. I hope he will soon return hither." Four days later, Joseph Trumbull writes from New York, to Hancock: "Mr. Gerry is here better than when he left Philadelphia"; and, on the 25th, he writes from the same place, to Samuel and John Adams: "[SA] Our Friend Mr Gerry left us on Sunday in pretty good Health" On the 25th, also, at 8 o'clock in the evening, Mifflin-at "[S]Camp on Mount Washington"—writes, to Washington: "I have this Minute received a Letter from Mr Gerry at Norwalk on his way to Boston." The next day (Friday), (Jonathan) Trumbull writes from Lebanon, to Williams: "Mr. Gerry keeps Sabbath here."

Gerry himself on his way back— writes, from Hartford, to Gates, August 24th: "[NY] I am here on my Journey to Philadelphia, from which I have been absent about a Month for Health . . ." He was chosen upon a committee on September 20th.

Wolcott was another absentee.

He left Philadelphia probably 5 on June 27th;

<< 96

6 In

a letter to his brother-in-law, Deputy-Governor Matthew Griswold, dated New York, July 1 . . . [he wrote]: I am on my way home for the recovery of my health and to see my family: for three weeks past 8 have been much

98

97

unwell, owing, I suppose, to a too long confined way of living.'"; and he arrived home doubtless 99 on July 4th.

On August 13th, Trumbull writes, from Lebanon to Washington: "[S] Immediately upon receipt of your Letter [dated the 7th] I Summoned my Council of Safety, and Ordered Nine Regiments of our Militia in addition to the Five Western Regiments, Fourteen in the whole to march without loss of Time and join you, under the Comand of Oliver Wolcott Esqr Col of the Regiment as their Brigadier General, who is appointed and Commissioned to that Office"; and, two days later, Wolcott — at Litchfield — replies: "I shall most cheerfully render my country every service in my power, and am sorry my health is not better to go through the duties of a military life, and more so that my inexperience and want of knowledge in this service are so very considerable .

He returned to Philadelphia on October 1st, as shown by a letter from him of that date from that city to his wife: "[MsS] This morning I arrived safe in this City, with as much Health as when I left Home, tho' a little fatigued with a long Journey."

Indeed, Lewis Morris, R. H. Lee 100 and Wythe 100 also had left Philadelphia and had not yet returned.

101

Morris, as we have seen ', was in attendance upon the Convention of New York upon August 2d.

Lee doubtless 102 departed on June 13th.

His purpose seems to have been to attend upon the Convention.103 At least, we hear of him there on June 29th104; and he was in attendance there certainly also on July 1st, 3d and 5th. On the last day, the Con

vention adjourned to the first Monday of October. In fact, he himself writes from Williamsburg, to Samuel Adams, on July 6th: "[SA] A fortnights stay here has enabled me to assist my Countrymen in finishing our form of Government . . . Surely the great business of Independance and Foreign Alliance is rightly determined before now-I shall be rejoiced to hear it . . . I leave this place today for Chantilly, where I shall remain until the last of August when I sett out for Congress."

On the 15th 105 of July, Samuel Adams writes to him, from Philadelphia: "[A] Pray hasten your Journey hither your Country most pressingly solicists, or will you allow me to say, demands your Assistance here"; on the next day, Francis Lightfoot Lee writes to him. from the same city: "[N] I have written you every post, since you left this . . . ... The 11th of next month Cols Harrison & Braxton are no longer delegates & as Mr Jefferson is determined to go home then, we shall be without a representation, unless you join us. we have not heard when Mr Wythe intends to be here. I have now got a very good house, near the State house, in which you may have choice of good rooms well furnished, except with beds, as we have but one, it is necessary we shoud know as soon as possible when to expect you, that we may provide for you. We have this house certainly till the last of Octr & a chance for the winter"; and, on the 30th 106, Chase also writes from Philadelphia to him —"[A] at Chantilly": "Your Letter of the 14 Inst: followed Me to this City, and your other favour of the 21 was delivered by yesterdays Post."

Meanwhile, on July 21st, and evidently before any of

these letters was received, Lee, at Chantilly, writes also to Jefferson: "[S] Our Friend Mr Wythe proposes to me by letter that I meet him at Hooes Ferry the 3a of September, and I have agreed to do so, unless some pressing call takes me to Congress sooner. Can you

have patience so long 107?"

On July 29th, still at Chantilly, he replies to Samuel Adams' letter: "[SA] I am much obliged to you for your favor by last post . . . I hope to be with you soon after the middle of August."

Jefferson writes to Page, August 5th: "[Tr] Colo Lee being unable to attend here till the 20th inst. I am under the painful necessity of putting off my departure . . ."

On the 20th of August, Lee was at Belle View; for, on that day, he writes thence, to Henry: "[Q] I am thus far on my way to Congress, having been sometime delayed by the slowness of the Workman that made my Carriage wheels, the old being quite shattered and

useless."

Indeed, Jefferson writes, as late as August 26th: "[Ms] Colo Lee being not yet come I am still here, & suppose I shall not get away till about this day se'nnight.108 I shall see you in Williamsburgh the morning of the Assembly"; though Lee must have arrived in Philadelphia that same or the next day, for the Journal shows that he was chosen upon a committee on August 27th.

Wythe would seem to have departed with Lee. As shown by Jefferson's notes, he was in Congress on either June 8th or 10th or on both days.

Certainly as early as June 29th (and on July 1st, 2d, 4th and 5th), however, he was in Williamsburg, in attend