this Event takes Place; every Act we join in may then be considered as in some Measure acceding to the Vote of Independency and binding our Colony on that Score We wish therefore for your earliest Advice & Instructions whether we are to consider our Colony bound by the Vote of the Majority in Favour of Indepency and vote at large on such Questions as may arise in Consequence thereof or only concur in such Measures as may be absolutely necessary for the Common safety & defence of America exclusive of the Idea of Indepency We fear it will be difficult to draw the Line; but once possessed of your Instructions we will use our best Endeavours to follow them-"

The note in the handwriting of Wisner, also dated the 2d and signed by Wisner said: "[Al] Since Writing the inclosed the question of independance has Been put in Congress and Carried in the afirmative without one Desenting vote [New York, of course, not voting] I therefore Beg your answer as quick as posable to the inclosed [.]"

The second letter 21, which enclosed the copy 21 of the Declaration, was dated (probably) the 5th.

The Declaration was entered in full on the minutes and was then together with the letters and the note— referred to a committee, composed of Jay, Abraham Yates, John Sloss Hobart, Abraham Brasher and William Smith.

The committee reported a resolution 22 that very evening, which was at once adopted. It read: "Resolved, unanimously, That the reasons assigned by the Continental Congress for declaring the United Colonies free and independent States, are cogent and conclusive; and that

while we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered that measure unavoidable, we approve the same, and will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, join with the other colonies in supporting it. Resolved, That a copy of said Declaration, and the aforegoing Resolution, be sent to the Chairman of the Committee of the County of Westchester, with orders to publish the same with beat of drum, at this place, on Thursday next, and to give directions that it be published with all convenient speed in the several Districts within the said County, and that copies thereof be forthwith transmitted to the other 23 County Committees within the State of New-York, with orders to cause the same to be published in the several Districts of their respective Counties. Resolved, That five hundred copies of the Declaration of Independence, with the two lastmentioned Resolutions of this Congress for approving and proclaiming the same, be published in handbills, and sent to all the County Committees in this State. Resolved, That the Delegates of this State in Continental Congress, be, and they are hereby, authorized to consent to and adopt all such measures as they may deem conducive to the happiness and welfare of the United States of America. Ordered, That copies of the aforesaid Resolutions be transmitted 25 to the Continental Congress."

24

We have already 26 followed the course of events in Pennsylvania to the close of the 7th of June—the day when R. H. Lee introduced into Congress the initial resolution respecting independence.

On the next day (Saturday), the Assembly "resumed the consideration of the Instructions to the Delegates of

this Province in Congress; which, being gone through, and approved of, were ordered to be transcribed. A Member proposed to the House, and read in his place, a resolution, as a further instruction to the Delegates ; which, being seconded, was postponed to Tuesday next for consideration."

Meanwhile on Monday, the 10th, the military met 28, both in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the Colony. Of the First and Second Battalions, one thousand persons were present, and, "29 with only 24 dissentients in the First, and two in the Second Battalion," approved the resolution of Congress of May 15th and the proceedings of the public gathering of the 20th. At the meeting of the Third Battalion, the Lieutenant-Colonel refused to put the questions proposed to the First and Second; and this gave great umbrage to the men, one of whom replied to him in a genteel spirited manner: How our Delegates in Congress may act we know not, though we have a right to know, and intend to promote an inquiry for that purpose. The Counties, such as we have heard from, are for a Convention. The Committee of Bucks County have appointed Deputies to the Conference to be held in this City on the 18th instant.'" The Fourth Battalion assembled "on the usual place of parade" - the Colonel (M:Kean) and the other officers and the privates of nine companies being present. M:Kean "informed them that since he had proposed this meeting . . . he had been waited upon " with a resolution of the 6th of the committee of privates of the five battalions and that he was happy" to find that his own idea of the propriety of this measure was supported by so respectable a body as

the Committee of Privates." The resolution of Congress of May 15th and the proceedings of the public meeting on the 20th were then read and unanimously approved. Following this, the question was put, "Whether they wish the Province of Pennsylvania to be a free and independent State, and united with the other twelve Colonies represented in Congress?"; and this also was carried unanimously in the affirmative. Similar evidence of loyalty to the cause was given by the Fifth Battalion, of which Timothy Matlack was Colonel, by the First Battalion of Chester County, of which Moore was Colonel, and by Colonel James Crawford's Battalion, which met at its place of parade in Leacock Township, Lancaster County.

This meeting (of the military) had a great effect upon the Assembly. Neither in the morning nor in the afternoon had they a quorum; and, on the 11th - the day to which the "further instruction to the Delegates" had been postponed and the day on which Congress selected a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence — and on the 12th also both in the morning and in the afternoon, they met, and still without a quorum. On the morning of the 13th, again nothing was done; and, in the afternoon, there was again no quorum. The next day (Friday, the 14th), they paid the Delegates to Congress; and, at 3 o'clock, "The Instructions . . being transcribed according to order, were signed by the Speaker [John Morton] ." These read as follows: "When, by our instructions of last November, we strictly enjoined you, in behalf of this Colony, to dissent from, and utterly reject any proposition, should such be made, that might

A

this Province in Congress; which, being gone through, and approved of, were ordered to be transcribed. Member proposed to the House, and read in his place, a resolution, as a further instruction to the Delegates ; which, being seconded, was postponed to Tuesday next for consideration."

Meanwhile on Monday, the 10th- the military met 28, both in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the Colony. Of the First and Second Battalions, one thousand persons were present, and, "29 with only 24 dissentients in the First, and two in the Second Battalion," approved the resolution of Congress of May 15th and the proceedings of the public gathering of the 20th. At the meeting of the Third Battalion, the Lieutenant-Colonel refused to put the questions proposed to the First and Second; and this

gave great umbrage to the men, one of whom replied to him in a genteel spirited manner: How our Delegates in Congress may act we know not, though we have a right to know, and intend to promote an inquiry for that purpose. The Counties, such as we have heard from, are for a Convention. The Committee of Bucks County have appointed Deputies to the Conference to be held in this City on the 18th instant.'" The Fourth Battalion assembled "on the usual place of parade' the Colonel (M:Kean) and the other officers and the privates of nine companies being present. M:Kean "informed them that since he had proposed this meeting . . . he had been waited upon " with a resolution of the 6th of the committee of privates of the five battalions and that he was happy" to find that his own idea of the propriety of this measure was supported by so respectable a body as

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