Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) to Samuel Johnston
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00892 Author/Creator: Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) Place Written: Charleston, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 August 1791 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 23 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Laurens, former Continental Congressman and diplomat, in retirement attempting to restore his properties ravaged by the Revolution. 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. Writes that most of his papers were destroyed by the British in 1780 during the Revolutionary War, so he is having difficulties settling accounts. "Most of my valuable papers were in 1780 carefully packed in 21 mahogony Boxes & sent for sefety to a Plantation 72 miles from the city . . . but the British troops penetrated & to my very great loss. . . destroyed the whole . . ." Indicates that he will contact a friend in London to try and get an account of the payments in question from Mr. Peter Elmsely. Attempts to recollect what transactions occurred. Mentions that it involved some misunderstanding between Great Britain and the Colonies.
Laurens was a member of the Continental Congress from South Carolina 1777-1780. Johnston served as a United States senator from North Carolina from 1789 to 1793.
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