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nection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved ; that measures should be immediately taken for procuring the assistance of foreign powers, and a Confederation be formed to bind the colonies more closely together. ‘The House being obliged to attend at that time to some other business, the proposition was referred to the next day, when the members were ordered to attend punctually at ten o’clock. Saturday, June 8th. They proceeded to take it into consideration, and referred it to a committee of the whole, into which they immediately resolved them- selves, and passed that day and Monday, the 10th, in debating on the subject.

It appearing, in the course of these debates, that the colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina, were not yet matured for falling from the parent stem, but that they were fast advancing to that state, it was thought most prudent to wait a while for them, and to post- pone the final decision to July Ist. But, that this might occasion as little delay as possible, a Committee was appointed to prepare a Declaration of Independence. ‘The Committee were John Adams, Dr. Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston and myself. ‘This was reported to the House on Friday the 28th of June, when it was read and ordered to lie on the table. On Monday, the Ist of July, the House resolved itself into a Com- mittee of the whole, and resumed the consideration of the original motion made by the delegates of Virginia, which, being again de- bated through the day, was carried in the affirmative by the votes of New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New. Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. South Carolina and Pennsylvania voted against it. Delaware had but two members present, and they were divided. ‘The dele- gates from New York declared they were for it themselves, and were assured their constituents were for it ; but that their instruc- tions having been drawn near a twelvemonth before, when recon- ciliation was still the general object, they were enjoined by them, to do nothing which should impede that object. ‘They, therefore, thought themselves not justifiable in voting on either side, and asked leave to withdraw from the question, which was given them. ‘The Committee rose, and reported their resolution to the House. Mr. Rutledge, of South. Carolina, then requested the determination might be put off to the next day, as he believed his colleagues, though they disapproved of the resolution, would then join in it for the sake of unanimity. The ultimate question, whether the House would agree to the resolution of the Committee, was ac- cordingly postponed to the next day, when it was again moved, and

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