Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-12
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERIcAS HISTORY
A SOUTH CARoLINIAN IN THE LON
DON TOWER.


 In the summer of that dark and me- norabie year for America, 17sO. when the patriots were groping about in an uncertain way as to the future of cur country, Henry Laurens, Of South Car olina, ex-president of tho Continental Congress. was commissioned / hat body to proceed to Holland and cldeavor to borrow money there, or anywhere in Flu rope, on account of the United States.
 packet belonging to congress was in Philadelphia, the Mercury, and in the general impatience for speedy relief Mir! Laurens hurriedly embarked upon her. with the expectations of being attended on his voyage by a slooD-of-war as far, at feast, as the banks of Newfoundland. MT. Laurens was, at the time 65. years of age. When the Mercury was well un- derway, and without the expected escort, on the morning of September ,, the Brit 1 ish man-of-war, the Vestal, was seen bearing down upon the lone vessel, and before noon the Mercury was fired upon and forced to surrender. ! When Laurens found that escape was ! impossible, he hastily burned or thrcw overheard all his most valuable docu- ments. One of the packages the Brit ish sailors fshed out of the water. and unfortunately it contained copy of the l original paper that had been drafted by Vanberkel, the Dutch minister, and VII liam 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 subsequently, made the basis ! by Great Britain for declaration of war
 against the Dutch.
 Laurens was taken to England ir
 charge of Capt Keffel When they ar
 rived in London he was conveyed to tn, admiralty office and from there was sen , under a strong guard to Scotland Yard and was placed in small chamber. Th' ] following day he was examined befor } Lord Hillsborough and other .notables , Lord Stormont conducted the examna tion, which was very brief, and then toll MT. Laurens that he was to be conductei to the Tower of London on suspicion o [ high treason"
 5 Mir. Laurens was confined in the mos , conspicuous part of the Tower and tn 3 keeper was directed that he should no e allow the prisoner to hold conversation l with any one, and that he should not b r allowed to write or receive any iletters. 8 One of the curious features in cornec f tion with his imprisonment in the Towe | was that Mir. Laurens was compelled 1 t pay rent for his two little rooms. and fin 8 his owh food, fuel, bedding and candles j. When the situation became clear to hi l. perceptions, he said to lis jailor: 'rT1her p ever I caught a bird in America I fouI Q a cage and victuals for him" b Friends tried their utmost to obtai the release of Mir. Laurens. and upon on l. occasion he was told that if he woul s 'write two or three lines' to the mini, d ters," and barely say he was sorry fC e what is past, a pardon would be grain ;- ed" But the response from the prisol n CT was quick and decisive in the neS. B. tive.
 r. full year rolled around and still Vi l. Laurens occupied the little rooms in q
 Tower. On the Sth of October 9 messai g. was brought to him that provoked Il T hearty laughter. The governor sent i'd man to collect the amount due to ty D. wardens for one years attendance up st the prisoner. Mir. Laurens replied that K their lordships would permit him to dra ld his money when due. he would coniin H. to pay his own expenses. but he wou
 not pay the wardcns, whom he had nev re employed ard whose services he would Id glad to dispense with.
 n, Finally the news came 10 London ch the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. ey Laurens soon became aware of the anx
 ty of the ministry to get rid of him, |
 the dilemma wag in the difference
 
 opinion as to the method. Edmu i Burke used all his influence to abate
 severity Of treatment and secure the 1 In lease of MT. Laureus. Then news flash o- across the Atlantic that the son of La IT, rens was the custcdian of Cornwal!is ed America. and that his treatment of { se humiliated nobleman was exactly the en verse of what his father had experienc a in the Tower.
 nd From that hour seventies were trar re. formed into civilities, and on the last l Al of December, 17s1, Lsurens was tak Le- from the Tower and was henceforwa he free. Instead of being brought to tr' .se the Duke of Richmond sent for him q to- discussed divers plans for coming to he right understanding with the Uni
 States. .b- When the tiding of Mir. Laurens' en. lease reached America. congress at ol fin placed him on the peace commission, 3 ire he was with his\colleagues in Paris VI ,ss the preliminary treaty was concluded ost CMonday-The United States Mall
 vice.)
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