The Mysterious Cipher re: July 4, 1776

In 1801, at the beginning of Thomas Jefferson’s first term as President of the United States, his friend Robert Patterson sent a letter to Jefferson which contained what Patterson concluded was a perfect cipher. Both Patterson and Jefferson interested in codes and ciphers and frequently shared information and codes.

The difference with this cipher is that Jefferson was never able to “crack the code.” The letter remained in Jefferson’s papers for two hundred years until Dr. Lawren Smithline, a cryptology expert, unlocked the secret in 2007.

You can read all about it in the Wall Street Journal.

The unencrypted message reads:

"In Congress, July Fourth, one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, A declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. When in the course of human events..."

You will recognize those last seven words as the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. You may not recognize the final paragraph of the Declaration, or the names of all the signers, but I thought since "When in the course of human events..." is so familiar, you might also want to read the paragraph that begins "We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America . . ." and to remind yourself of the brave men who put their lives and fortunes on the line when they signed it.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
— John Hancock

New Hampshire:Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania:Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

So when you pop the top of that beer bottle while you are waiting for the barbecue to heat up, you might want to hoist a glass and toast these men in thanksgiving. and after the burgers and corn on the cob be sure to enjoy the fireworks.

Happy Fourth of July. God Bless America.

Terrie