Not all the men who rendered the greatest services to independence were in Congress in July 1776; not all who voted for the Declaration ever signed it; not all who signed it were members when it was adopted. The greater part of the signatures were certainly attached on the 2nd of August; but at least six were attached later. With one exception--that of Thomas McKean, present on the 4th of July but not on the 2nd of August, and permitted to sign in 1781--all were added before printed copies with names attached were first authorized by Congress for public circulation in January 1777. See H. Friedenwald, _The Declaration of Independence, An Interpretation and an Analysis_ (New York, 1904); J. H. Hazleton, _The Declaration of Independence: its History_ (New York, 1906); M. Chamberlain, _John Adams ... with other Essays and Addresses_ (Boston, 1898), containing, "The Authentication of the Declaration of Independence" (same in Massachusetts Historical Society, _Proceedings_, Nov. 1884); M. C. Tyler, _Literary History of the American Revolution_, vol. i. (New York, 1897), or same material in _North American Review_, vol. 163, 1896, p. 1; W. F. Dana in _Harvard Law Review_, vol. 13, 1900, p. 319; G. E. Ellis in J. Winsor, _Narrative and Critical History of America_, vol. vi. (Boston, 1888); R. Frothingham, _Rise of the Republic_, ch. ii. (Boston, 1872). There are various collected editions of biographies of the signers; probably the best are John Sanderson's _Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence_ (7 vols., Philadelphia, 1823-1827), and William Brotherhead's _Book of the Signers_ (Philadelphia, 1860, new ed., 1875). The Declaration itself is available in the _Revised Statutes_ of the United States (1878), and many other places. A facsimile of the original parchment in uninjured condition is inserted in P. Force's _American Archives_, 5th series, vol. i. at p. 1595 (Washington, 1848). The reader will find it interesting to compare a study of the French Declaration: G. Jellinek, _The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens_ (New York, 1901; German edition, Leipzig, 1895; French translation preferable because of preface of Professor Larnande). (F. S. P.) FOOTNOTES: [1] "Independence Day" is a holiday in all the states and territories of the United States. [2] As read before the army meanwhile, it was headed "In Congress, July 4, 1776. A Declaration by the representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled." [3] _Two Treatises of Government_, No. ii. § 54, as to age, abilities, virtue, &c.