15 December 1777

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Written by Laurens as President of Continental Congress to Brigadier General Whipple. Whipple was a Declaration of Independence signer. Says Congress is undertaking a full inquiry into the American defeat at Rhode Island under Major General Joseph Spencer. Says that Congress has appointed five commissioners, and that Whipple has been selected as one because of his "continued Zeal in the public service." For more information says to look at the enclosed certified copy of the Act of Congress from 12 December 1777 (the act is not included here). Written from York, Pennsylvania while the British…

GLC03187

6 April 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written as President of Congress. Transmits information about John Swanwick, an employee of Morris, concerning Swanswick's possible treasonous correspondence in Philadelphia. Instructs Morris to confidentially inquire into the matter.

GLC03907

18 November 1775

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Assessment of value of the Prosper, a British ship]

Laurens, Roger Smith, and Edward Blake obey orders of the South Carolina Provincial Congress in assessing the value the Prosper, which had been seized for service by the colonies. The men state that the ship is worth 2,000 pounds and recommend that government pay the sum and procure a ship register from Captain Smith, former commander of the Prosper.

GLC03942

5 November 1777

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written by Laurens as president of the Continental Congress; signed once and initialed twice by Laurens. Retained copy encloses extracts of Congress and a postscript reporting the passing of those resolutions. The extracts concern recovery and protection of the Hudson (North) River. Draft of letter to Richard Caswell on verso regarding the appropriation of funds for a memorial for Brigadier General Nash, who died at Germantown.

GLC04803

11 May 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Written by Laurens as President of the Continental Congress to Rodney as President of Delaware. Says he sent a packet on 9 May 1778 by General William Smallwood. Says it contains 20 copies of an address by Congress on the regulation of armed vessels. Hopes Rodney will distribute them as he sees fit.

GLC04804.01

16 October 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution denying the flag of truce to British Peace Commissioners]

Denies the use of flags of truce to "nefarious" British peace commissioners who abused the privilege to disseminate "under the sanction of a Flag certain seditious Papers under the name and title of Manifestoes...with a view to stir up dissentious animosities and Rebellions among the goode Popele of these States."

GLC04805

26 November 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Letter signed

Title: to William Alexander

Laurens, a Continental Congressman, informs General Alexander, Earl of Stirling, of a "packet" from Admiral Gambier (possibly James Gambier). States that the packet pertains to "Lieut. Hale & others who were Shipwrecked in a Vessel on the Jersey Shore said to have carried a flag in order to dispense Manifestos." Relates that though Gambier does not think the persons involved in the shipwreck should be detained, Congress has "a twofold reason for differing with him- These people have not only called, but, in every Instance where it might de done as they thought with impunity, treated us…

GLC06194

circa November 1, 1777- December 9, 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Document signed

Title: Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessesl and cargoes.

Broadside with printed date of 3 April 1776. Signed by Laurens as President of Congress (indicating that signature and printed date do not coincide). Contains eleven articles created by Congress authorizing private American ships to capture British vessels. Instructs American captains to bring captured goods, ships, and persons to court in the colonies following capture. Forbids torture of captured persons, demanding civilized conduct. Requires captains to transmit a written account of capture to Congress. Demands that one third, "at the least, of your whole Company shall be Land-Men…

GLC00038.02

October 13, 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Letter signed

Title: to Caesar Rodney

Also signed by Rodney. A cover letter for an act submitted the day before to Congress by Laurens "for encouraging true religion and good morals and for the suppression of such entertainments and diversions as have a contrary tendency." Addressed to Rodney as President of Delaware, an office he held from 1778 until 1782. Rodney notes that the bill was "laid before the Assembly at their sessions in Oct. 1778." Signed as President of Congress.

GLC00384

June 20, 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Barton

Henry Laurens writes as President of Continental Congress to Colonel Barton. He asks him about his wound and his general health. Encloses gazettes (not included). Mentions that the British have abandoned Philadelphia but that 3000 of their troops have gone down the river or camped near Haddonfield and Cooper's Ferry. Notes vertically in a post script on the left side of the page that General Benedict Arnold has been appointed to command in the city of Philadelphia by General George Washington.

GLC00302

24 November 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Alexander

Laurens, as president of congress, writes to the Earl of Stirling about the distribution of "the Treaties of Amity & Commerce & of Alliance" with France and trade relations with the United Provinces. He also bemoans the loss of virtue and unity which America had in 1775, decrying avarice and profiteering.

GLC02532

February 14, 1780

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Ellery

Written by Laurens, previously President of the Continental Congress. Laurens left his Congressional seat in November 1779 and returned home before departing from Philadelphia for the Netherlands to negotiate a loan in August 1780 (he was captured by the British on that journey). The letter is to Ellery, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman from Rhode Island. References Ellery's letter from December 24, 1779. Expresses fears on the British approach to Charlestown (after 1783, Charleston). General Sir Henry Clinton's expeditionary force had landed in South…

GLC00110

August 4, 1791

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Johnston

Letter written by Laurens, former Continental Congressman and diplomat, in retirement attempting to restore his properties ravaged by the Revolution. He replies to Johnston, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina, about a request for papers. States that he asked a friend to search through the remains of his papers from the Revolutionary War to find what Johnston requested. The papers in question concerned a letter of administration of Johnston, the King's Warrant, and payment transactions with Peter Elmsely. He writes that most of his papers were destroyed by the British in 1780 during the…

GLC00892

17 November 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Manuscript letter

Title: to Silas Talbot

Knox's retained copy of a letter from Laurens, President of Congress. Laurens congratulates Talbot and his men for taking the schooner Pigot, and on behalf of Congress grants Talbot a commission as lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Copy is in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.00737

1783/07/17

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Letter signed

Title: to Robert R. Livingston re: receiving a request from Doctor Benjamin Franklin

Asks him to come to Paris to help finalize Treaty of Paris. (Mat burn at edges; possibly bleached.)

GLC07357

1778/05/09

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation.

This document is a proclamation ordering American ships to act according to an honest code and not take up piratical acts while in American waters. It is a printed broadside approved by Henry Laurens and Charles Thomson as President and Secretary respectively.

GLC04804.02

1778/05/09

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Broadside

Title: An Address of the Congress to the Inhabitants of North America

An important statement of the Continental Congress (subscribed by Laurens, as President of Congress), concerning the origins of the Revolutionary War, the cruelty of the British, certainty of Independence, call to Arms, the resources of America; eventually "the full tide of wealth will flow in upon your shores." Printed at Boston by Powars & Willis.

GLC06779