MS (DLC: PCC, Safe). Text in Charles Thomson’s hand, with autograph signatures. Endorsed by Thomson: “Engagement of the Members to Secresy.” There is also another similar endorsement in a presumably later hand. MS worn at edges and folds.

On 11 May 1775, the second day of the session, Congress had resolved “that the members consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honor to keep the proceedings secret, until the majority shall direct them to be made public” (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, D.C., 1904–37, 34 vols. description ends , ii, 22). The stringent terms of the new agreement of 9 Nov. suggest that there had been violations of the earlier one. See Burnett, Letters of Members, i, No. 363, note, with references there. The significance of the dates, some of which are in Thomson’s hand and some in the signers’, can be worked out only from a study of the MS (facsimile available in Force, Archives, 4th ser., iii, between col. 1916–17). Thus Hopkinson apparently inserted his name at the foot of a left-hand column on 28 June [1776] (date added by Thomson) ahead of the Delaware delegates in the following right-hand column, who had signed in Nov. 1775. Burnett discusses these points in his prefatory summaries of the delegates’ periods of service; it is his opinion that the last four signatures were all added on 5 June 1777.