Details
LAURENS, HENRY, President of the Continental Congress. Autograph letter signed ("Henry Laurens President of Congress") AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, to "President" [Thomas] Wharton of Pennsylvania, York Town, 28 April 1778. 1 page, folio, 315 x 200mm. (12 1/4 x 8 in.).
[With:] Autograph free frank ("On public service Henry Laurens") addressed in Laurens' large, elegant hand on integral cover sheet to "His Excellency Thomas Wharton Esquire President of Pennsylvania at Lancaster," recipient's docket.
A very attractive letter with free frank of the eminent South Carolina patriot who succeeded John Hancock as President of Congress, forwarding official enactments of Congress: "The 24th Inst[ant] -- I had the honour of conveying a packet to Your Excellency containing two Acts of Congress, 1 of the 22nd & 1 of the 24th Inst. to which I beg leave to refer. Within the present Cover I transmit an Act of the 23rd [not present] for granting pardons & Recommending to the several States to enact Laws or issue Proclamations adapted to the good purposes which Congress have in view..." Henry Laurens (1724-1792) represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress and was elected President in 1777, but resigned in 1778 and sailed for Holland. Captured by the British at sea, he spent some 15 months as a prisoner before being exchanged for Lord Cornwallis. After his release he went to France to aid in the negotiations for the peace treaty which conceded American independence in 1783.
[With:] Autograph free frank ("On public service Henry Laurens") addressed in Laurens' large, elegant hand on integral cover sheet to "His Excellency Thomas Wharton Esquire President of Pennsylvania at Lancaster," recipient's docket.
A very attractive letter with free frank of the eminent South Carolina patriot who succeeded John Hancock as President of Congress, forwarding official enactments of Congress: "The 24th Inst[ant] -- I had the honour of conveying a packet to Your Excellency containing two Acts of Congress, 1 of the 22nd & 1 of the 24th Inst. to which I beg leave to refer. Within the present Cover I transmit an Act of the 23rd [not present] for granting pardons & Recommending to the several States to enact Laws or issue Proclamations adapted to the good purposes which Congress have in view..." Henry Laurens (1724-1792) represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress and was elected President in 1777, but resigned in 1778 and sailed for Holland. Captured by the British at sea, he spent some 15 months as a prisoner before being exchanged for Lord Cornwallis. After his release he went to France to aid in the negotiations for the peace treaty which conceded American independence in 1783.