Jefferson's Draft - - Edits by Franklin and Adams

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams made numerous edits to Jefferson’s draft. (Once it was submitted to all the delegates, more changes were made.) The Library of Congress, at its online Jefferson Exhibition, notes the following about the document's changes:

Thomas Jefferson sent copies of the Declaration of Independence to a few close friends, such as Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), indicating the changes that had been made by Congress.

Lee, replied: 'I wish sincerely, as well for the honor of Congress, as for that of the States, that the Manuscript had not been mangled as it is. It is wonderful, and passing pitiful, that the rage of change should be so unhappily applied. However the Thing is in its nature so good, that no Cookery can spoil the Dish for the palates of Freemen.'"