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BEN PONDER From Common Sense to the Declaration Independence AMERICAN

American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder

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Page 1: American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder

BEN PONDER

From Common Sense to the Declaration

Ponder

IndependenceAMERICAN

Page 2: American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder

AMERICANINDEPENDENCE

Page 3: American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder
Page 4: American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

From Common Sense to the Declaration

BENJAMIN PONDER

ESTATE FOUR PUBLISHERS ESTATEFOUR.COM

Page 5: American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder

© 2010 by Benjamin Ponder All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Visit our Web site: www.estatefour.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-0-615-35182-7

Page 6: American Independence (Front Matter) by Ben Ponder

FOR AMY, my beloved

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Acknowledgments

he shortcomings of this book are of my own manufacture, but I cannot saythe same of the study’s strong suits. The robust support of the following

individuals and organizations was instrumental to the development of this work: David Zarefsky, Timothy Breen, Betsy Erkkila, Robert Hariman, Luke andEmily Anderson, John and Dana Kim, Dave and Rachel Hansen, Joe and KariLamancusa, Tom and Shana Christian, Dan and Barb Beitz, Tom and Jennifer Noble, David and Nary Houcque, Ken and Tammy Shull, Lee Huebner, IrvRein, Dilip Gaonkar, Keith Topper, Angela Ray, the late Scott Deatherage, Tom Goodnight, the late Mike Leff, John Kirby, the late Tom Farrell, Tom Frentz and the late Janice Rushing, David Davidson, Andy Wehrman, JamesColtrain, David Keenan, Vicki Brantly, Susan Bergman, Eugene Peterson, PaulStevens, Elton Conrady, Kerim Zagra, David Wei, Andrew Wachtel, SimonGreenwold, Jenny Mann, Guy Ortolano, Rana Ozbal, John Pham, Kwame Onoma, Sean Murphy, Chris Campbell, Alan Brothers, Rhiannon Stephens,Kristen Syrett, Carmen Niekrasz, Paul Cadden-Zimansky, Ben Chen, YaëlKatz, Tomasz Strzalecki, Tobin Miller-Shearer, Lee Seymour, Dan Fitzmeier,Chris Lundberg, Brett Ommen, Randy Iden, Leslie Harris, Ebony Utley, LizBenacka, Karin Lehnardt, Cindy Koenig, Karen Kelly, Rita Lutz, Mary PatDoyle, Maggie Wildman, Pat Mann, Lesley Perry, James Ettema, Peter Miller,Henry Bienen, the Library Company of Philadelphia (especially Jim Green,Connie King, and Phil Lapsansky), the American Philosophical Society (espe-cially Roy Goodman and J.J. Ahern), the Clements Library at the University ofMichigan (especially Don Wilcox and Barbara DeWolfe), the University ofPennsylvania Archives (especially Director Mark F. Lloyd), the Northwestern University Library (especially Special Collections Librarian Scott Krafft, Spe-cial Collections Curator Russell Maylone, and Librarian Ronald Sims of theGalter Health Sciences Library), and the Fort Dearborn Chapter of theDaughters of the American Revolution. And, finally, I offer my deepest gratitude to my family: To my parents, Danny and Nell Ponder, and my parents-in-law, Robert and Adele Berry, for their boundless support, love, and understanding. To my children, Ava, Elise, Lincoln, and Whit, who have placed my work andresearch in perspective time and time again. They bring unspeakable joy totheir daddy’s heart. To my dearest Amy, who has endured much and has walked with me every stepof this long journey. I marvel at you, value you above all others, and love youwith my whole heart.

T

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Table of Contents A Chronology of Key Events xv

Abbreviations xxiii

Preface: From Reconciliation to Revolution xxv The Difference of One Year Aims of the Study Theoretical Influences and the Trajectory of Method The Difference of Six Months

Chapter One: Natural Republicanism

PART ONE: TAXATION AND PROTEST 2 Stamped Out

Distant Dissent

PART TWO: FROM LONDON TO LEXINGTON 5 Transatlantic Connection The Evolution of a Revolutionary

PART THREE: PAMPHLET CULTURE 8 The Distinctive Literature of the Revolution

The Distinctive Rhetoric of the Revolution

PART FOUR: THE PROBLEM WITH MONOREPUBLICANISM 13

Republicanism in 1776 The Least Worst Option Two Party System American Republicanisms

PART FIVE: THE LOCKEAN MOMENT 20

An Independent Whig An Appeal to Heaven The United States of Nature and War

PART SIX: UNTANGLING THE ROOTS OF RADICALISM 25 Radical Whigs Orthodox Radicalism

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Table of Contents viii

PART SEVEN: TOWARDS A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY 28 Natural Representation Revolution in Style

Chapter Two: Kindling Controversy

PART ONE: A CATALYTIC COMPOSITION 37

A Desperate Shortage Notes on the State of America Present Transactions

PART TWO: PAPER AND INK 44 To the Press

Media Res Publica Provincial Printing The Political Role of Print Culture

PART THREE: A PROMOTER OF PRINT 50 Robert Bell, Bookseller Manufacture of Opinion A Material Scarcity Liberty of the Press The Reading Publics

PART FOUR: THE PUBLISHING SCANDAL 60 The Price of Success Cause Célèbre Ink Wrestling A Matter of Shillings and Pence

PART FIVE: PROVEDORES 69 Sentimental Reason

Chapter Three: Reformation and Regicide

PART ONE: UNIVERSAL REFORMATION 79 Royal Culture

A Protestant Revolution Reason and Demystification

PART TWO: POPERY OF GOVERNMENT 85

Judging Monarchy The Pope of England

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE ix

PART THREE: PREACHING INDEPENDENCE 88

Scriptural Resemblance Colonial Unison Political Conversion

PART FOUR: HERETICAL QUAKERS 95

The “Epistle” and Religious Toryism

PART FIVE: THE PERSISTENT WILKES & UNANSWERED PRAYERS Junius, Wilkes, and Liberty 99

Wilkes Weary Political Supplications Petition and Proclamation

PART SIX: DETHRONING THE SOVEREIGN 109 Royal Character

The Speech of Separation Heredity and the Hessians Signing the Petition of Independence King of America Felling Monarchy

Chapter Four: Mechanics of a Revolution

PART ONE: NATURAL PHILOSOPHY 127

Rational Mechanics Useful Knowledge Transit of Venus and Scientific Culture

PART TWO: A SCIENTIFIC TREATISE 132

Paine’s First Audience The Franklin Factor Paine and Science Baconian Induction and Newtonian Mechanics

PART THREE: LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS 141

Secondary Education Popular Newtonianism in England Machinery, Causation, and Motion The Radical Implications of Popular Science

PART FOUR: EXPERIMENTAL PROSODY 156 Scientific Language

Rhetorical Poetry Solving for Time

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Table of Contents x

Chapter Five: Time and the Decision for Independence

PART ONE: THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF TIME 171

An American Newton A Rural Mechanic Causality and Temporality

PART TWO: CHRONOS 180 Clock Time and the Potts-Pryor Astronomical Clock

Dismantling and Reconstructing Time History and Expediency

PART THREE: KAIROS 187 Seasonal Time and Father Abraham’s Almanac

Open Season Popular History

PART FOUR: EPOS 197

Epic Time and the Norriton Observation of the Transit of Venus Lenses and Mirrors The Experience of Textual Time

PART FIVE: KRISIS 209

Crisis Time and the Rittenhouse Orrery Space and Time Machine Textual Orrery Declaring Crisis

PART SIX: THE TIME IS NOW 222 No Time Like the Present

Temporal Virtue

Chapter Six: Declaration of Independents

PART ONE: DODGING BULLETS 238

Divided by the Sword Massachusetts and Common Sense

PART TWO: COLONIAL READING 244 American Literacy A Community of Readers

PART THREE: MARKETPLACE OF DISCOURSE 251 Economies of Print Networked Printers Continental Congress: Gathering and Scattering

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xi

PART FOUR: FRONT LINES 264

A General’s Perspective Something Worth Fighting For The End of Britishness

Chapter Seven: Common Sense and Independence

PART ONE: TEXT AND MOVEMENT 281

Reception and Progress An Uncommon Sensation

PART TWO: NEW YORK OR VIRGINIA 286

New York and Common Sense Virginia and Common Sense New York and the Spirit of ’87 Virginia and Independence The Virginia Resolves and the Spirit of ’76 Richard Henry Lee and the Gauntlet of Independence

PART THREE: AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 304

From Text to Discourse Finally, a Pamphlet Challenge The Circulation of Colonial Newspapers Philadelphia Flashpoint Propaganda and Critique Echoes of Common Sense Realizing Independence

Chapter Eight: Transatlantic Resistance

PART ONE: LOYALIST WHIGS AND PATRIOTIC TORIES 326

The Gamble of Loyalism Maryland’s Resistance Redefining Whig and Tory A Rational Choice

PART TWO: BRITISH COMMON SENSE 339 A Useful Distraction

A Gross Misunderstanding Almon’s Hiatuses

PART THREE: FOG OF LOYALTY 356

Reconciliation or Independence The Other Franklin and an Unwelcome Innuendo

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Table of Contents xii

Chapter Nine: A Conflict of Interest

PART ONE: DIVIDED LOYALTIES 365

Irreconcilable Differences

PART TWO: SENTIMENTAL DEPENDENCE 367

Out of Edenton Henry Laurens and the Inner Conflict of Separation

PART THREE: MERCANTILE INTEREST 372

Interest and Disinterest Class Consciousness Loyal Merchants

PART FOUR: CONSTITUTIONAL OPPOSITION 379

An Excess of Moderation

PART FIVE: CONFLICTED CLERGY 385

Ministers of the Administration Textual Sabotage No Man Can Serve Two Masters

PART SIX: TREATING WITH BARBARIANS 393

Waiting for Commissioners, or: The Hessians are Coming

Chapter Ten: A War of Words

PART ONE: DUELLING PENS 401 A Defining Debate

A Man of Conflict

PART TWO: SPEAKING FOR MONTGOMERY 404 Remembering the General William Smith’s Oration Thomas Paine’s Dialogue

PART THREE: COMMISSIONERS AND COMMITTEES 410 Loyal Moderation Cassandra’s First and Cato’s Second The Constitutions of the People Cato versus Conventions and Common Sense Cassandra’s Final Parry and Thrust

PART FOUR: THE BATTLEGROUND OF PRINT 424

Cato on Alliances and Government The Forester Enters the Fray Identity, Causality, and Sentiment

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xiii

At the Point of the Pen Cato’s Grand Finale Post Mortem on the Election An Unfair Advantage The Object of Attack The Conclusion of Cato

Chapter 11: Bicameral Philadelphia

PART ONE: JOHN ADAMS’S TWO HOUSES 455

John Adams and Common Sense John Adams and Bicameralism

PART TWO: PHILADELPHIA’S TWO HOUSES 461

Pennsylvania State House and Government Coffee Houses in British Culture London Coffee House and Society Coffee House Argument

PART THREE: THE LOCUS OF SOVEREIGNTY 473

Society and Government The Upheaval of Political Authority The Causes and Necessity of Taking up Sovereignty The People of America

PART FOUR: RECONCILIATION’S LAST GASP 483

An Unpopular Assembly Electoral Compromise The First of May

PART FIVE: CIRCUMVENTING THE CONSTITUTION 490

The Difference of Two Weeks Protest and Remonstrance Evacuating Philadelphia

PART SIX: DESTRUCTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS 497 Declaration of Indecision The Philadelphia Committee of Independence Battalion Resolutions Provincial Conference of Committees A House Undivided

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Table of Contents xiv

Chapter Twelve: The American Mind

PART ONE: TEXTUALITY AND SOVEREIGNTY 516 A Journey from Philadelphia A Journey to Philadelphia

PART TWO: CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT THE HELM 520

A New Source of Authority Appealing to the Constitution Inching into Independence Instructing the Instructors Resolution and Preamble

PART THREE: THE DRAMA UNFOLDS 531 Casting the Die

The Bustle of June Drafting Original Equality The Vote for Independence The Vote for the Declaration Subscribing their Lives

PART FOUR: PUBLIC OPINION AND COMMON SENSE 542

About Face Problem Opinion Constitutional Criticism A Common Identity

Appendix 554

The Text of Common Sense

Bibliography 611

Index 650

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A Chronology of Key Events Relating to Common Sense and Independence

June 13, 1774

Parliament passes the Quebec Act

June 22, 1774

Quebec Act receives the assent of King George III

September 5, 1774

First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia

September 30, 1774

Benjamin Franklin writes two “letters of introduction” for Thomas Paine, an Englishman about to set sail for America

October 26, 1774

Continental Congress sends “Appeal to the Inhabitants of Quebec”

November 30, 1774

Thomas Paine arrives in Philadelphia from England aboard the London Packet

December 1, 1774

American Non-importation Agreement takes effect

February 7, 1775

Parliament declares the Colonies in a state of rebellion

April 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington and Concord (Massachusetts)

May 1, 1775

Quebec Act takes effect

May 10, 1775

Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia

May 29, 1775

News of Lexington and Concord reaches England

June 17, 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill outside of Boston

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Chronology xvi

July 6, 1775

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms published by the Continental Congress

July 8, 1775

“Olive Branch” Petition approved, published, and sent by the Continental Congress to King George III

August 23, 1775

King George III proclaims the American colonies to be in open rebellion

September 1, 1775

Richard Penn presents the “Olive Branch” Petition to the Earl of Dartmouth on behalf of the Continental Congress

September 10, 1775

American Non-exportation Agreement takes effect

September-December 1775

Paine composes Common Sense

October 18, 1775

British siege and burning of Falmouth in New England [now Portland, Maine]

October 26, 1775

King George III opens parliamentary session with a speech highly critical of the American “rebellion”

October 31, 1775

News reaches Philadelphia of George III’s proclamation of rebellion from August

November 7, 1775

Lord Dunmore, exiled governor of Virginia, issues proclamation freeing Virginia slaves who agree to fight the American rebels

November 9, 1775

George III’s August proclamation published in Philadelphia

November 9, 1775

Pennsylvania Assembly instructs its delegates in Continental Congress to reject all measures tending toward independence

December 6, 1775

Continental Congress publishes a reply to the king’s proclamation

December 22, 1775

Prohibitory Act, excluding all Americans from protection of the Crown and closing all American ports, passed in Parliament

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xvii

December 31, 1775

Continental Army fails to seize Quebec City and General Richard Montgomery is killed in battle

January 1, 1776

British siege and burning of Norfolk, Virginia

January 8, 1776

King’s speech opening Parliament arrives in Philadelphia via New York

January 9, 1776

Common Sense published by Robert Bell

January 9, 1776

King’s October 26 speech published in Philadelphia

January 17, 1776

News of General Montgomery’s death and defeat at Quebec reaches Philadelphia

January 27, 1776

Bell publishes a second edition of Common Sense

February 14, 1776

A new, expanded edition of Common Sense published in Philadelphia by William and Thomas Bradford

February 18, 1776

Continental Congress places an embargo on all exports to Britain and the British West Indies

February 19, 1776

William Smith, Provost of the College of Philadelphia, delivers an oration in memory of General Montgomery to Continental Congress

February 19, 1776

Paine leaves Philadelphia to visit New York

February 23, 1776

Gesunde Bernunft, the German edition of Common Sense, published in Philadelphia

February 27, 1776

Copies of the Prohibitory Act arrive in Philadelphia

February 27, 1776

Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge between loyalists and patriots in North Carolina

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Chronology xviii

March 1, 1776

Prohibitory Act takes effect

March 2, 1776

Committee of Secret Correspondence instructs Silas Deane to negotiate for French aid

March 4, 1776

William Smith’s Oration in Memory of General Montgomery published in Philadelphia by John Dunlap

March 9, 1776

First letter of “Cassandra” [James Cannon] appears in the Pennsylvania

Evening Post (continued in multiple papers through May 1, 1776)

March 11, 1776

Royal proclamation authorizing the seizure of American “prizes” published in Philadelphia

March 11, 1776

First of eight letters “To the People of Pennsylvania” by “Cato” [William Smith] appears in the Pennsylvania Packet (continued in multiple papers

through April 29, 1776)

March 13, 1776

Plain Truth by “Candidus” [James Chalmers] published in Philadelphia by Robert Bell

March 14, 1776

Continental Congress votes to disarm all loyalists

March 14, 1776

House of Lords debates and defeats a conciliatory motion introduced by the Duke of Grafton

March 17, 1776

British troops evacuate Boston

March 18, 1776

The Deceiver Unmasked by “A Loyal American” [Charles Inglis] published in New York by Samuel Loudon

March 19, 1776

New York Sons of Liberty destroy entire Loudon edition of The Deceiver Unmasked

March 22, 1776

The City of London submits a petition to the king supporting the Americans

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xix

March 26, 1776

South Carolina adopts a new constitution

April 1, 1776

First of four letters “To Cato” by “The Forester” [Thomas Paine] printed in the Pennsylvania Packet (continued in multiple papers through May 20, 1776)

April 6, 1776

Congress opens American ports to trade with all nations except Britain

April 8, 1776

Excerpts of Common Sense first reprinted in London newspapers

April 12, 1776

“Halifax Resolves” supporting independence passed by North Carolina Provincial Congress

April 22, 1776

Thoughts on Government [by John Adams] published in Philadelphia

May 1, 1776

Closely contested Philadelphia election carried by Moderate Party

May 8, 1776

Bell issues Second Edition of Plain Truth

May 10, 1776

Congress receives confirmation of intelligence that Hessian troops are coming to America

May 10, 1776

Congress passes a resolution instructing every colony to form new governments

May 15, 1776

Congress adds preamble to resolution of May 10

May 15, 1776

Virginia passes resolution calling on Congress to vote independence

May 15, 1776

Hessian troops embark for America

May 17, 1776

America observes Day of Fasting and Prayer

May 20, 1776

Philadelphia town meeting demands that the Pennsylvania Assembly cease functioning

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Chronology xx

May 27, 1776

“Virginia Resolves” and “Halifax Resolves” lain before Continental Congress

May 28, 1776

Long extracts of Common Sense printed in John Almon’s Evening Post (continued in multiple London newspapers through June 13, 1776)

May 29, 1776

The True Interest of America Impartially Stated by “An American” [Charles Inglis] (edited reprint of The Deceiver Unmasked) published in Philadelphia

June 5, 1776

Reply of George III to a “Humble Address and Petition” of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of London (dated March 22,

1776) published in Philadelphia

June 5, 1776

Pennsylvania Assembly appoints committee to draw up new instructions concerning independence

June 7, 1776

Richard Henry Lee introduces a resolution on independence to the Continental Congress

June 8, 1776

Pennsylvania Assembly submits new instructions to delegates removing prior restriction but not providing positive instruction

June 11, 1776

Continental Congress appoints a draft committee to compose a declaration of independence

June 12, 1776

Continental Congress appoints a confederation committee and a treaty committee and adjourns until July 1

June 12, 1776

Virginia adopts a “Declaration of Rights” drafted by George Mason

June 14, 1776

Pennsylvania Assembly adjourns after a three week session

June 14, 1776

Connecticut Assembly approves positive instructions for its delegates

June 15, 1776

New Hampshire Assembly urges a vote for independence

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE xxi

June 19, 1776

Pennsylvania Provincial Conference begins

June 22, 1776

New Jersey Provincial Congress authorizes its delegates to vote for independence

June 24, 1776

Pennsylvania Provincial Conference submits new instructions for delegates in Continental Congress

June 25, 1776

Pennsylvania Provincial Conference ends

July 1, 1776

Continental Congress reconvenes and hears new instructions for Maryland delegates

July 1-4, 1776

Continental Congress debates the Jefferson’s draft of a declaration of independence

July 4, 1776

Continental Congress “unanimously” approves declaration

July 7, 1776

Silas Deane arrives in Paris to negotiate with France

July 8, 1776

Declaration of Independence published and read publicly in Philadelphia

July 9, 1776

New York Assembly approves of independence

July-September 1776

Declaration of Independence published and proclaimed in other states

July 12, 1776

Continental Congress opens debate on draft of articles of confederation and perpetual union

July 15, 1776

Pennsylvania’s Constitutional Convention convenes

August 2, 1776

Congressional delegates begin signing the Declaration of Independence

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Abbreviations Used in Notes and Bibliography

NYG The New York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury NYJ The New-York Journal; or, The General Advertiser PEP The Pennsylvania Evening Post PM The Pennsylvania Magazine; or, American Monthly Museum PG The Pennsylvania Gazette PJ The Pennsylvania Journal; and the Weekly Advertiser PL The Pennsylvania Ledger; or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylva-

nia, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser

DPP Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet, or, The General Advertiser PS Henrich Miller’s Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote CW The Complete Writings of Thomas Paine, 2 vols. (Philip S.

Foner, ed.) CS Common Sense AC American Crisis RM Rights of Man AR Age of Reason AA Abigail Adams AL Arthur Lee BF Benjamin Franklin BR Benjamin Rush CCC Charles Carroll of Carrollton (son, Maryland delegate to Con-

tinental Congress) CCA Charles Carroll of Annapolis (father) DR David Rittenhouse GM George Mason GW George Washington HL Henry Laurens JA John Adams KGIII King George III LN Lord North NG Nathanael Greene RHL Richard Henry Lee RS Richard Smith TJ Thomas Jefferson TP Thomas Paine SA Samuel Adams

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Abbreviations xxiv

WL William Lee WS William Smith AAS American Antiquarian Society BL British Library APS American Philosophical Society HL Houghton Library, Harvard University HSP Historical Society of Pennsylvania LCP Library Company of Philadelphia MHS Massachusetts Historical Society NL Newberry Library NUL Northwestern University Library NYHS New York Historical Society UPA University of Pennsylvania Archives LDC Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789 (Paul H. Smith,

1976-2000) JCC(A) Journals of the Continental Congress (Robert Aitken, 1777) JCC(F) Journals of the Continental Congress (Worthington Chauncey

Ford, 1906)