940
 

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

in Continental
icent and adopt
o the happiness
—Jour. Provin.
 

1776         The new provincial congress af New Yotk, meeting at While

July   Plains, gives its sanction to tbe Declararion ot Independence in the
9   tollowing tesolution, the delegates having been electeil witb author¬
ity to forra a government for the "State of New York:"

"In Convention o( the Representatives of the State of New
York, White Plains, July 9th, 1776.

"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 cmel necessity which has rendered that measure un¬
avoidable, we approve the sarae, and will, at the risk of our lives
and fortunes, join with the other Colonies in supporting il.

"Resolved, That a copy ot the said Declaration and the afore¬
going resolution be sent to the chairman of tbe commiltee ot the
county of Westchester, with orders to publish the same, with heal
of dmra, at this place on Thursday next; and ro give directions
that it be published wilh all convenient speed in the several dis¬
tricts within said county; and that copies thereof be forthwith
transmitted 10 the other county Committees within the State of
New-York, with orders to cause the sarae 10 be published in the
several districts of their respective counties . . .
"Resolved, That the Delegates of tbis Slati
Congress be and tbey are hereby authorized lo co
all mch raeasures as they roay deero conducive
and welfare ot the United States ot America.'
Cong., T. 518. The resolution was written by John Jay.—Co
and Pub. Papers efjohn Jay, 1: 71 (footnote). The constitution ot
the State ot New York was adopted April 20, 1777 (q.v.).

The following announceraent is issued by Washington frora
"Head Quarters:" "The Honorable Continental Congress, im¬
pelled by the dictates of duly, poUcy Sc necesrity, have been
pleased to dissolve a connexion which subsisted between this
Country Se Great Britain, Se lo declare the United Colonies of
North Araerica free Se independent States.

"The several Brigades are to be drawn up this evening on their
respective parades at 6 o'clock, when the Declaration of Congress,
shewing tbe grounds Se reasons of this raeasure is to be read with an
audible voice. The General hopes this important point will serve
as a fresh incentive to every Officer Sc Soldier to act with fidelity Sc
courage, as knowing that now the peace Se safety of this Country
depends (under God) solely upon the mccess of our arms; and that
he is now in the service ot a State possessed ot suffident power to
reward his merit, and advance him to tbe highest honor ot a free
CoMntry."—Glover Corresp. (MS.), 155.

This order is dso found in the "Varick Transcripts" ot Washing¬
ton's general orders, I; 308, in Lib. ot Congress, which volume is at¬
tested by CoL Alexander Scammell, adjutant-general, as having been
copied by John Stagg, assistant adjutant-general, ot the continental
array. ITie following bibliographical note is supplied by the DIvirion
of Manuscripts of the Library ot Congress: "The 'Varick Tran¬
scripts' were made by Richard Varick, by order ot Gen. Washington,
inl78l-3, Thework wasbcguninl78l,andfiniEhed in 1783. The
general orders were copied in the spring or summer of 1781. The
exact date of this particular transcript is not earily ascertainable;
bul it was before the army left New York on its march south to
Virginia, in June, 1781. Col. ScammeU's attestation is in the end of
the volume, which covers the dales July 3, 1775, to Sept. 30, 1776,
and was made prior to July 1, 1781. He was killed at Yorktown.
The original orderly-book, trora which this Varick transcript was
madc,is not in the possession ot the Lib.of Congress." See also Hazle¬
ton, Declaration ef Independence (1906), 252,

The order is also found in the orderly-book of Capt. Lunt's
corapany, kept by Nathanid Mitchell, ot Newburyport, Mass.,
owned by tbe lale Joseph T. Brown, Sr., of New Rochelle, N. Y. To
this order another is added, in this orderly-book, which, when the
book was owned by Mr. Brown, was copied as follows by Mr.
Victor H. Paltsits, to show the manner in which tlie declaration
was distributed to tbe American army in NewYork: "The Brigade
Majors are to Recdve at the Adjutant Gen'' office Several of the
Dedaration to Be ddlver'd to the Brigadiers and Col" of Reg's
the Brigade Majors are Excusd from further attendance at Head
 

Quarters Except to Recieve Orders of the Day that thdr time   July
and attenlion May be withdrawn as littie as Possible trora the     9
duties of their Respeclive Brigades."

Wro. Smith (now at Haverstraw) records in his diary: "My "
Brother John brought rae this Day the printed Renunciation of
the British Gov* in Future. He says , . , That the New York
Ddegates did not declare any opinion upon this great Point tor
Want ot Instructions—That Virginia PensUvania Massachusets Se
Connecticut hesitated at first for a previous Setllement respecting
their Limits—a Circumstance that ought to have alarmed N Y and
In wliich they should have joined to restrain the Avidity Sc Clairas
of tbe New England Colonies." Smith then ventures a prophecy
which corresponds so closdy to actual occurences as to seem alraost
uncanny: "I think it now raost probable that the Terras expected
by Lord Howe, and which I suppose wiil be similar to those sug¬
gested by Lord Drummond, will be unfavorably recieved—That
France wiU tamper with the Colonies tho' she will not declare for
them till Great Britain is exhausted Sc that then these Domestic
Quarrels may inkindle an European War—That ibis Province wiU
become the main Theatre of the civil commotions of Araerica in
consequence ot the access by Hudson's River Sc the Lakes—That
opposition at Home will be compelled to fly or attempt to raise the
collective Body in thdi Drfence, Sc that there is Reason to fear
when Great Britain Se France have worried each other, that a
Peace raay be patched up by a Partition of the Provinces.

"It strikes ray Attention with some Amazement that the
Declaration ot the 4th Ingt contains no Vindication trom the
Charge of having long since formed the Project of Independency
contained in the King's last Speech to Parliament on the 27th
Oct', which Opposition must take unkindly considcrlug thdr open
support of the American Cause.

"If the Fears Sufferings & Losses of the Nation create Troubles
at Home and a Change of Men and Measures the two Countries
may still be reconciled, but with great Advantages to Araerica Se
this perhaps is the best Event the Erapire can wish tor—I dread
France—She wiU be guided only fay Motives of Interest—No
Promises will bind her—She will percieve it more advantageous
to her Arabilion to fcrmcntViur aniraosities, than hastily to plunge
into a War—She wiU decieve both Parties that her Ends may be
atchieved at our Expence."—Wm, Smith's Diary (MS.), V,

The Declaration of Independence is read "al the Head of "
each Brigade after which a part of the So Psalm was sang, and
then M' Leonard made Prayers, atter that the whole Brigade
gave three Cheers."—From "Diary ot Ensign Caleb Clap," in
Hist. Mag., 3d ser.. Ill: 137-38; «. Y. Packet, June 11, 1776;
Memoirs of Maj.-Gen.Htaih (1798), 490. TheN, Y. Merc, July 15,
1776, Is ia error in giving Wed., July 10, as the date ot this event.
See also Gen. Webb's Correspondence, etc., I: 153. Benson J.
Lossing states:

"The brigades were forraed in hollow squares on ibelr respeclive
parades. The venerable Zachariah Greene (coramonly known as
'Parson Greene,' the father-in-law ot Mr. Thompson, historian of
Long Island), yet (1852) Uving at Hemstead, at the age of ninety-
three years, inforraed rae that he belonged to the brigade, then
encaraped on the 'Cororaon,' where the City Hall now stands.
The hoUow square was formed at about the spot where the Park
Fountain now is. He says Washington was within the square, on
horsebacb, and that the Declaration was read in a clear voice by
one of bis aids. When it was concluded, three hearty cheers were
given."—Piclorfa; Field-Book eflhe Rev. (1852), II; 801.

Washlngion, wriring to John Hancock, the prerident of con¬
gress, on July 10, acknowledging the recdpt ot the president's
letter of July 6 {q.v.) (which contained a copy ot the declaration
and the request that it be proclalroed at the bead of the army),
says: "... Agreeably to the request ot Congress, I caused the
Declaration to be prodaimed before aU the army under my immedi¬
ate command; and have the pleamre to inform them, that the
raeasure seemed to have thdr roost hearty assent; the expressions
and behavior, both of officers and men, testifying thdr warmest
approfaation of it . . . "—Writings of Geo. Washington (Ford
ed.), IV: 225.