The Hartford republican., 1916-04-07

on account of the United States.
A packet belonging to Congress
was in Philadelphia, the Mercury"
and in the general impatience for
speedy relief Mr.. Laurens hurriedly |
embarked upon her, with the expec-
tations of being attended on his voy-
age by a sloop-of-war as far, at least,
as the banks of Newfoundland.
Mr.. Lawrens was old at the time,
fifty-six years of age. When the
Mercury" was we'll underway, and
without the expected escort, on the
morning of September 8, the British
man-of-war, the Vestal," was seen
bearing down upon the lone vessel,
aud before noon the Mercury" was
fired upon and forced to surrender.
When Laurens found that escape
was impossible, he hastily burned or
threw overheard all his most valua-
BILE documents. One of these pack
ages the British sailors fshed out of
the water, and unfortunately 1t con-
tanned copy of the original paper
that had been drafted by vanberkel,
the Dutch Minister, and William
Lee, of Virginia, setting out the pos
sible form for a treaty between the
Dutch provinces and the United
States. when the independence of the
latter should be established. The
finding of this paper was subsequent
ly made the basis by Great Britain
for a declaration of war against the
Dutch.
Laurens was taken to England
in charge of Captain Keffel. When
they arrived in London, he was con-
veyed to the Admiralty Office and
from there was sent under strong
guard to Scotland Yard, and was.
placed in a small chamber. The fol-
lowing day he was examined before
Lord Hillsborough and other nota-
bles. Lord Stormont conducted the
examination, which was very brief,
and then told Mr.. Laurens that he
was to be conducted to the Tower Of
London on suspicion of high trea-
son."
Mr.. Laurens was confined in the
most conspicuous part Of the Tower
and the keeper was directed that he
should not allow the prisoner to hold
conversation with any one, and that
he should not be allowed to write or
receive any letters.
One of the curious features in con-
nection with his Imprisonment in the
Tower was that Mr.. Laurens was
compelled to pay rent for his two lit
tie rooms, and find his own food,
fuel, bedding 'and candles. When
the situation became clear to his per-
ceptions, he said to his jailer: when
ever caught bird in America l
found a cage and victuals for him."
Friends tried their utmost to OBJ
tain the release of Mr.. Laurens, and
upon the occasion he was told that
IL he would write two or three lines
to the minister's" and barely say he
was sorry for what is past, a pardon
; would be granted" But the re-
sponse from the prisoner. was quick
and decisive in the negative.
A full year rolled around and still
Mr.. Laurens occupied the little rooms
in the Tower. On the eighth of Oc-
tober a message was brought to him
that provoked his hearty laughter
: The Governor sent a man to collect
the amount due to two wardens for
one years attendance upon the pris'
oner. Mr.. Laurens replied that II
their Lordships would permit him tC
draw his money when due, ne would
continue to pay his own expenses
but he would not pay the wardens
whom he had never employed an6
whose services he would be glad tC
dispense with.
Finally the news came to Lon
: don of the surrender of Lord Corn
wallis. Mr.. Laurens soon became
: aware of the anxiety of the Ministr,
: to get rid of him, but the dilemma
) was in the difference of opinion a!
to the method. Edmund Burke us
: ed all his influence to abate the Sc
! verify of treatment and secure th'
: release of Mr.. Laurens. Then new
3 flashed across the Atlantic that thu
3 son of Laurens was the custodian o
CORVALLIS in America, and that hi
e treatment of the humiliated noble
t man was exactly the reverse of wha
a his father had experienced in th'
. Tower.
From that hour seventies wer'
n transformed into civilities. and Il
: the last day of December, 1871, Lau
rens was taken from the Tower AM
: was henceforward free. Instead o
n being brought to trial, the Duke o
s Richmond sent for him and discuss
e ed divers plans for coming to righ
vi A..