1900.] HAYS—DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Ft 
Assembled |. . . . | Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Con- 
gress | John Hancock, President. | Attest. | Charles Thomson, 
Secretary | Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap. 
; Copies of this broadside edition of the Declaration were at once 
sent, by President Hancock, in accordance with the resolution of 
the Congress, ‘‘ to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Com- 
mittees, or Councils of Safety, and to the several Commanding 
Officers of the Continental Troops.”’ 
The minutes of the Council of Safety of the Province of Penn- 
sylvania for Saturday, July 6, 1776,’ state that 
‘‘ The President of the Congress this day sent the following Re- 
solve of Congress, which is directed to be entered on the Minutes 
of this Board: 
‘*In Concress, 5th July, 1776. 
“** Resolved, That Copies of the Declaration be sent to the several 
Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils of Safety, and to the 
several Commanding Officers of the Continental Troops, that it be 
proclaimed in each of the United States and at the Head of the 
Army. ‘** By order of Congress, 
**Sign’d, JoHN Hancock, Presid’t. 
“* In consequence of the above Resolve, Letters were wrote to the 
Counties of Bucks, Chester, Northampton, Lancaster, and Berks, 
Inclosing Copy of the said Declaration, requesting the same to be 
publish’d on Monday next, at the places where the Election for 
Delegates are to be held.’’* 
On the afternoon of the same day the Council of Safety 
‘< Ordered, That the Sheriff of Philad’a read, or Cause to be read 
and proclaimed at the State House, in the City of Philadelphia, on 
Monday, the Eighth day of July, instant, at 12 o’Clock at Noon of 
the same day, the Declaration of the Representatives of the United 
Colonies of America, and that he cause all his Officers and the 
Constables of the said City, to attend the reading thereof. 
“« Resolved, ‘That every Member of this Committee in or near the 
City, be ordered to meet at the Committee Chamber, before 12 
1 Colonial Records, Vol. x, p. 634. 
2In Penna. Magazine of History, etc., 1892, Vol. xvi, p. 309, will be found 
a facsimile of the bill of Michael Kuhn to the Committee of Safety and approved 
by Owen Biddle, for £11 12, 6 for riding as an express to Chester, Lancaster, 
Potts-Grove and Bucks in accordance with the above resolve. 
