subsisted between us and the allegiance to the British crown,
people or parliament of Great and that all political
Britain; and finally we do connexion between them and the
assert and declare these colonies state of Great Britain is, and
to be free and independent ought to be, totally dissolved_;
states_, and that as free and and that as free and independent
independent states, they have states they have full
full power to levy war, power to levy war, conclude
conclude peace, contract alliances, peace, contract alliances,
establish commerce, and to do establish commerce, and to do
all other acts and things all other acts and things
which independent states may which independent states may
of right do. of right do.

And for the support of this And for the support of this
declaration, we mutually declaration, _with a firm
pledge to each other our lives, reliance on the protection of
our fortunes, and our sacred divine providence_, we mutually
honour. pledge to each other our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred
honour.

The words expunged from the original draft are distinguished by
italics, as are the words that were introduced by congress.

* * * * *

NOTE--No. VII. _See Page 229._

"My reasons for this measure," said the Commander-in-chief in his