[Footnote 140: Or rather of the preamble, which was adopted on that day,
as an amendment to the resolution passed on the 10th. On the 6th, Mr.
Adams had offered, in committee of the whole, a resolve that the
colonies should form governments independent of the crown. The shape in
which this proposition was adopted on the 10th was a recommendation to
the respective assemblies and conventions of the united colonies, where
no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs had been yet
established, to adopt such government as might in their opinion best
conduce to the safety and happiness of their constituents in particular,
and America in general. This resolution was passed on the 10th of May,
accompanied by another appointing Mr. Adams, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. R. H.
Lee a committee to prepare a preamble. This committee accordingly
reported the draught of a preamble, which was agreed to on the 15th, the
date named in this letter.]