with such fervour, such ardour, such correctness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime, for America, for Congress, for the province of the Massachusetts Bay, especially the town of Boston. It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here. I must beg you to read that Psalm. If there is any faith in the sortes Virgilianæ, or sortes Homericæ, or especially the sortes Biblicæ, it would be thought providential." Here was a scene worthy of the painter's art. It was in Carpenter's Hall, Carpenter's Court, between Third and Fourth streets, Philadelphia, a building which still survives in its original condition, though now converted into an auction mart, the forty-four individuals met to whom this service was read. Washington was kneeling there, and Henry, and Randolph, and Rutledge, and Lee, and Jay; and by their side there stood, bowed down in reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New Englaud, who at that moment had reason to believe that an armed soldiery was wasting their humble households. It was believed that Boston had been bombarded and destroyed. They prayed fervently for "America, for the Congress, for the province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston:" and who can realize the emotions with which they turned imploringly to heaven for divine interposition and aid? "It was enough," says Mr. Adams, "to melt a heart of stone. I saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, pacific Quakers of Philadelphia.” DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. On the 6th of May, 1776, John Adams moved a resolution, in Congress, that the colonies, which had not already done so, should establish independent systems of government; and this resolution, after having been strenuously debated for nine days, passed. The deed was done,-but the principle must be asserted. On the 7th of June, by previous concert, resolutions to that effect were moved by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, and seconded by John Adams, of Massachusetts. They were debated in committee of the whole, on Saturday, the 8th, and again on Monday, the 10th, on which last day the first resolution was reported to the House, in the following form: "That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; and that all political connexion between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." The final decision of this resolution was postponed till the first day of July, but in the meanwhile it was, with characteristic simplicity, resolved, in order, "that no time be lost, in case the Congress agree thereto, that a committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration, to the effect of the first resolution." The following day a committee of five was chosen. Richard Henry Lee, who had moved the resolutions for independence, and would of course have been placed at the head of the committee, had been obliged, by sickness in his family, to go home, and Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, the youngest member of the Congress, was elected first on the committee in his place. John Adams stood second on the committee; the other members were Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Chancellor Livingston. Jefferson and Adams were, by their brethren on the committee, deputed to draw the Declaration, and the immortal work was performed by Jefferson. Meantime the resolution had not yet been voted in Congress. The first day of July came, and at the request of a colony, the decision was postponed till the following day. On that day, July the 2d, it passed. The discussion of the Declaration continued for that and the following day. On the 3d of July, John Adams wrote to his wife, in the following memorable strain: "Yesterday, the greatest question was decided, which was ever debated in America; and greater perhaps never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed, without one dissenting colony, - That these United States are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." In another letter the same day, he wrote, "The day is passed; the second of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Al |