(_Ballots are gathered by the tellers who report the result to the president of the Congress._) Gentlemen of the Continental Congress:--By your ballots you have selected the following persons as the committee of five to draft the Declaration as already ordered--Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York. Gentlemen, what is your further pleasure? SAMUEL ADAMS. Mr. President:--I move that the Congress do now take a recess until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock to give the committee just appointed time in which to prepare the Declaration ordered. JOSEPH HEWES. Mr. President:--I second the motion which Mr. Adams has offered. JOHN HANCOCK. Gentlemen of the Congress:--It has been moved and seconded that this Congress take a recess until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock in order to give the committee just appointed time in which to prepare a proper Declaration. You have heard the motion, are there any remarks? (_Calls for question._) As many as favor the motion make it known by saying "aye" (_ayes respond_); contrary, "no" (_noes respond_). The ayes seem to have it, the ayes have it, and this Congress will take a recess until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. CURTAIN ACT II. SCENE I.--_Meeting of the Committee of Five. Livingston absent._ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Gentlemen of the Committee, I move that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams be appointed as a sub-committee of this Committee of Five to draft the Declaration ordered by the Continental Congress. ROGER SHERMAN. I second the motion. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Gentlemen, you have heard the motion. As many as favor the same make it known by saying "aye." (_Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams are silent while Mr. Sherman and Mr. Franklin vote aye._) The ayes seem to have it, the ayes have it, and Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams are elected. JOHN ADAMS. Gentlemen, it seems to me you have taken snap judgment on Mr. Jefferson and myself. THOMAS JEFFERSON. Yes, gentlemen, you have. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The committee has so ordered and as Congress itself gave Mr. Jefferson the highest number of votes and Mr. Adams the next highest number in the selection of this committee, I am sure that Congress will be highly pleased at our having selected you for this great work. We also feel that we should congratulate ourselves upon the choice we have made. JOHN ADAMS. Thank you, gentlemen, for the compliment. THOMAS JEFFERSON. I join Mr. Adams in thanking you, gentlemen, for the confidence you have in us. ROGER SHERMAN. Gentlemen of the committee, I move that we take a recess until to-night so as to give the sub-committee time to prepare the Declaration. MR. ADAMS. I second the motion. MR. FRANKLIN. As many as favor the motion make it known by saying "aye" (_ayes respond_). The ayes seem to have it, the ayes have it, and the committee will take a recess until eight o'clock to-night.