1900.] HAYS—DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 73 
In Congress, July 4, 1776 | A Declaration | by the Representa- 
tives of the | United States of America| in General Congress 
Assembled. |. . . . | Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Con- 
gress | John Hancock, President | Attest | Charles Thomson, Sec- 
retary | Printed by John Dunlap. | 
It measures on the print 1634 inches in breadth and 2134 inches 
in length. A written indorsement on this copy states that it was 
found among the papers of David Rittenhouse, and the entry in the 
Donation Book of its gift to this Society is that on September 19, 
1828, Dr. Mease presented to the Library a copy of the ‘‘ Declara- 
tion of Independence of U. Statesof Am __ Printed on Parchment 
with the attestation of Cha* Thomson. Supposed to be printed at the 
time of Declaration, 4 July 1776 by Jno. Dunlap & found amn* 
the Papers of David Rittenhouse.”’ 
It will be recalled that the minutes of July 6, 1776, of the Council 
of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania record the receipt of the 
resolution of the Congress directing the transmittal of the Declara- 
tion to the Council, whereupon “‘ letters were wrote to the Counties 
. - - Inclosing copy of the said Declaration, requesting the same 
to be publish’d on Monday next [July 8"].”’ 
Since a single’ copy only of the Declaration had been transmit- 
ted by the President of the Congress, it seems probable that the 
Council of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania needed addi- 
tional copies for transmittal to the various Counties, Committees of 
Safety, etc., in the Province, just as we shall see hereafter did the 
Council of Massachusetts, and therefore ordered its printer, John 
Dunlap, to supply them. The type of the original edition in all 
probability had not been kept standing when Dunlap received this 
order and he was therefore obliged to set it up anew. He now 
saw that the document was one of more than usual importance and 
had it set up in larger and more imposing type. It seems, too, not 
unlikely that Dunlap at this time, recognizing the high historical 
value of this document, printed off a copy or two on vellum for 
purposes of presentation, and that he gave one of these to David 
Rittenhouse who was a leading member of the Council of Safety 
and afterwards its Vice-President. 
1QOn this point see Pudlic Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Vol. xv, 
1775-1776, p. 477: “ Letters from the Congress of 6th inst. came in (by ex- 
press) containing information of their late Declaration of Independence and a 
copy of it, requesting the same to be duly published, etc.” 
