American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-01-13
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
MONDAY, Janua,y5.
IN SENATE.

Lieut.. Watson of the Navy, stating that tbrv ,,'
aged and infrm, and, from misioriunes, have bo,s
reduced to poverty; that their late deceased SAN
was the only prop Of their declining years, and nan
Of his pay their only support; by his death, ,b,v
are reduced to want; that they now throw Them
selves upon the humanity of that country, in Wins.
service their son died, and pray TO be provided (o,
in the same manner that other persons have been
whose sons have died in The naval service. Ref,
red to the Committee on Pensions.
The amendment made in the other House. To N.
bill to retiere certain persons from prison, VA,
agreed TO.
The bill reported by the Committee on ForeiOD
Relations for the relief OF Francis Henderson. 4,
was taken up in committee Of the whole. 1hisGI
A provides for the payment, ito Francis Henderson
jr the grandson of the late Lieut. Col John Lou,'
ems, of South Carolina, the sum of 25 500 dollars
in full for all claims Of the legal Representative Of
Colonel Laurens against the United States" W.
cannot give better view Of this subject, than con-
tanned in the following report OF the COMMITTEE On
Foreign Relations:
Il "Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, the ancesl,,
whose services, civil and military, occupy brill.
ant page in the history of the Revolution, enter,d
the army ofthe United States, as aid 10 the Com.
mander in Chief, in August, 1777. In this silua.
ton, he displayed ZEAL courage, and devotedness
not surpassed by any of his compatrots. He con-.
cilaed the esteem of his commander, and Of his
brother soldiers and, for his distinguished services
frequently received the thanks of Congress IN
1880, he had acquired so much Of the Confidence
his country, as TO induce Congress, unanimousy,O
lappoint him special Minister to France, on most
important service. Such was his success in hi,
mission, as again TO call forth the public thanks Of
that body. He returned TO this country in Sepem
oer '6l--and al his special request, Congress per-
mtted him to join the army, then conducting the
siege OF Yorktown, in Virginia, where fresh laure
awaited him. He finally fell, on the 27lh August
81 IN the lap oil honor, fighting the battles olhi
country. His death was a national misfortune. He
leit an orphan daughter TO the gratitude and to III,
protection OF his country Observation-Disclosures even
to carelessness was distinguished trait among biz
other qualities. Hence, for his long and in ponsh
services, and the expenses attending the same, be
seems neither to have kept an account, nor TO have
received any advances except small sum. to which,
hereafter, more particular reference will be made
he father dead-his only child an infant and an
orPhan-and the grandfather. Henry Laurens
captivity in England-there was no one TO asset
her claims.
Eventually, the grandfather returned from En-.
rope, and, IN 84 as the guardian OF the child, pre-.
scented her case to Congress- who came 10 the lol.
lowing resolution:
heSotred, That in settling the accounts Of Ii.
late Lieut.. COL John Laurens. as special Minister
to the Cour: of Versailles, he be allowed the same
pay that was given at this period to the Ministers
Pienipotentiary of the United States at Foreign
Courts, from the time OF his appointment 10 that
embassy, until his return and that the balance re-
naming due for his services as Minister, be padlO
his representatives.
4 MS resolution was not acted upon till go. The
accounts OF the father Col Laurens, in both CHARGE
lers' as Colonel anda Minister, were settled. But
y IS objected by his legal representative, the pc.
i'ioher, who intermarried with Frances Eleanor
Laurens, the only child OF Colonel John Laurens)
aho, IN the opinion Of the committee, iustly-that
J." VIC se'uemeht, no allowance was made for the
1APepses Oh COL Laurens while on his foreign mis-
''op al that time, no advances being made
'ur 'oreign ministers as an outfit il was the usage
d the government TO pay their ex penses and more
especially, too, as Congress had expressly directed
NAT, IN the adjustment oil the account, his compen.
'aoh should be the same as that of other m,nsters
NO account having been kept by Colonel Iaurens
u MS expenses, the Committee have of course, no
Gaia oy which to ascertain the amount; in
"e Nosehce oil which, they have been compelled 10
e'or' 10 DINER circumstances, for The purpose Of
IRVING al any satisfactory result. These are, 1sb
nat It is in proof Colonel Laureps paid his own
expenses, as well as those of his suite. 2dy, He
ook ups at Nantes, the credit of his father, IOOO
lerhng' equal to S4,444 a.. sdly. He received
rom Dr. Franklin, the then resident minister in
rance S2'l7l AZ and, 4,hly. on his return to the
'hnea States, he received, at Boston, where he
'ndeo' $3.50 from the Superintendent of Finance
H enable hih to join the army before York Town.
'nginla. The committee, therefore, have as.
lmed these sums, as furnishing the probable
nouo' OF MS expenses in which they have the
lore readily aequesced, it was about equal tothe
I'M IN proportion to the time, allowed Silas Deane,
contemporary minister at that court, ior his ex'
he claim for Slol 85, results from the improp-
application OF the scale of depreciation to the item
lauocs' IN the military account OF Colonel I.aur
% "ho' unconnected with any state regiment,