Square.  In his little room in this house, on a very small writing desk, which is still in existence, Jefferson drafted the title deed of our liberties.  He wrote without reference of any kind, merely placing upon paper the succession of thoughts which had been paramount in his mind for years.  In the original document, as submitted by Jefferson, there appeared a stern condemnation of the “piratical warfare against human nature itself,” as slavery was described.  This was stricken out by Congress, and finally the document, as amended, was adopted by the vote of twelve colonies, New York declining to vote.

We give an illustration of the Interior of Independence Hall.  Here it was that the Declaration was signed.  According to some authorities the signing did not take place on July 4th, while according to others it did.  Some records seem to show that fifty-four of the fifty-six names were attached to the parchment on August 2d.  Jefferson frequently stated that the signing of the Declaration was hastened by a very trivial circumstance.  Near the Hall there was a large stable, where flies abounded.  All the delegates wore silk stockings, and were thus in a condition to be easily annoyed by flies.  The heat was intolerable, and a tremendous invasion by the little pests, who were not retarded by fly screens or mosquito bars, drove the legislators almost frantic, and caused them to append their signatures to the document with almost indecent haste.

However this may be, the Declaration was finally signed, and Liberty Bell proclaimed the fact to all within hearing.  John Hancock, we are told, referred to his almost schoolboy signature with a smile, saying that John Bull could read his name without spectacles.  Franklin is said to have remarked that they must all hang together, or else most assuredly they would all hang separately—­a play upon words showing that the patriot’s sense of humor was too admirably developed to be dimmed even by an event of this magnitude.

There were rejoicings on every hand that the great act had been accomplished.  A very pleasing story tells of how an aged bell-ringer waited breathlessly to announce to waking thousands the vote of Congress.  This story has since been denied, and it seems evident that the vote was not announced until the following day, when circulars were issued to the people.  On July 6th, the Declaration was printed in a Philadelphia newspaper, and on the 8th, John Nixon read the Declaration in the yard of Independence Hall.  On the same day, the Royal Arms over the door of the Supreme Court Room were torn down, and the trophies thus secured burned.

The first 4th of July celebration of which we have any record, took place two years after the signing.  General Howe had left the city shortly before, and every one was feeling bright and happy.  In the diary of one of the old patriots who took part in this unique celebration, appears the following quaint, and even picturesque, description of the events of the day: