was in progress
against Canada. In March, 1776, Boston was evacuated. On
June 28th a British attack on Sullivan's Island, off
Charleston, South Carolina, was repulsed by Moultrie. Before
the end of 1775 the Continental Congress had ordered the
building of several ships--the nucleus of the American
navy--and its sea-power was rapidly increased by privateers.
Meanwhile King George III and his minister, Lord North, had
continued their coercive policy and strengthened their war
measures.

Thomas Paine's _Common Sense_, published early in 1776, one
of the most effective popular appeals that ever "went to the
bosoms of a nation," completed the preparation of the public
mind for the great step about to be taken by the Congress.

Jefferson's account of the proceedings day by day, given in
his own _Memoirs_, is the best contemporary record of the
momentous deliberations and decision of this body, assembled
in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. A quarter of a century
before, upon the fillet of the "Liberty Bell," which hung in
the steeple of that Old State House, had been cast the words
of ancient Hebrew Scripture: "Proclaim liberty throughout
all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof."

Doyle's reflections, as representing an enlightened English
view of the Declaration and the great struggle which it
lifted to its climax, is placed as a suggestive commentary
after the uncolored narrative of the chief author of the
great instrument itself.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

In Congress, Friday, June 7, 1776, the delegates from Virginia moved, in
obedience to instructions from their constituents, that the Congress
should declare that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance
to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and
the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; that
measures should be immediately taken for procuring the assistance of
foreign powers, and a confederation be formed to bind the colonies more
closely together.

The House being obliged to attend at that time to some other business,
the proposition was referred to the next day, when the members were
ordered to attend punctually at ten o'clock.

Saturday, June 8th. They proceeded to take it into consideration, a