American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-11-04
enry Wilson, No. 400, Market Street.
Volume ~.
ANECDOTES OF MR.. LAURENs.

ANECDOTES OF MR.. LAURENS.
| OF all the worthless of the American Revolution
there was not who was more remarkable for his
peculiarilies than Mr.. LAuRENs. He was stern
Republican, man of the stricest probity, and who
would not turn to the right or the left to avoid res
possibility. few circumstances of HRS life
within the recollection oil the writer as communica
ted by contemporary, and, for considerable time
one OF his official family.
! Mr.. Laurens was, for some time, the President
of the Revolutionary Congress. 1t was his custom,
every day, and within the day, to perform all The
duties assigned him by the resolutions OF the body
over which he presided. Congress, at That time,
consisted Of bar one House, and the President was
the Executive officer Of the Government. So great
an economist was he OF time, that, counting the
hours he was employed during the sessions be WAS
engaged for sixteen hours every day in the transac-
ton of business. He wearied his clerks or secre-
taries and would employ none but those who were
willing to go through the same degree OF labor as
himself He never kept any copy OF bis correspon.
dence but the record of his ofice which is to be
seen at this time in the Department of State. His
practice commence writing, and, as he wrote,
he read off, by TWO three words at time, as he
proceeded, to his clerk, who copied into the book
which became the record, and which was hnisht d
as soon as Mr.. Laurens had completed his letter.
The original, in his own hand writing, was then
folded, sealed, and despatched to its destination.
NF. lLauTcHS tOob paTt against Oi'as t'cnHC5 VII
sdering him as dishonest man.. AT that periods
Deane had many friends in Congress who support
ed him, and Mr. Laurens became, In some measure
unpopular with that body. Not that his integrity
|or patriotism doubted but it was thought that
he was unduly prejudced against Deane. This in
duced him resign the place OF President; 20 which,
Mr.. Jay succeeded In the sequel, il appeared that
MIR. Laurens right as it regarded Deane, and
full Justice done TO his sagaciy and hrmness.
When Mr.. Laurens prisoner in the tower
Iof London, whittier he had been conveyed wbtD
taken on his passage TO Holland, he maintained his
dignity and asserted the cause of his country with
resolution. Indirect attempts were made to seduce
him, or shake his fidelity to America, but he man
fully resisted every approach to an overture oil the
kind. He had no secret friendships apart from the
friends of American rights. On one occasion he
had been invited TO supper 10 Londnn by an old
acquaintance, whore inclination to the British side
of the question he suspected and he refused to be
treated. 1t at public hotel, and he would pay
Tor himself, although informed that his bill was sell
tied
In earlier life, Mr.. Laurens had been concerned
in trade with partner. After long and close at
tention to the affairs Of the counting house, he was
deslrous OF making short excursion into the coup-
try, which he communicated to his partner, who
made some objection. Upon this Mr.. Laurens CAL
led the attention of his friend to The books, and de-
monstrated to him, that, for the preceding six
months, he had performed more work in the count
ing. house, before breakfast every morning, than his
partner had done in the Of the whole OF each
of the same days. This was conclusive argument,
and the objection was Withdrawn
Mr. Laurcns had always expressed a wish that's
after his death, his body, instead Of being buried,
should be burnt and left directions to that effect be-
fore he died, which were complied with. The TACT
is believed to be we'll authenticated. To those with
whom the matter is not Indifferent. it might seem
more acceptable method of dissolution, that the
corpse should be consumed by fire, than left to slow
decay or corruption, accessible to the cold and Shiny
worm of the earth.
This gentleman seems to have been among the
most sincere Of mankind. He was frank to an ex-
cess and valued truth and honesty as the FIRST of
virtues From first to last, his entire soul was with
his country. Wat journal.