Particulars relative to the Arrival and Treatment at the Admiralty of Mr Henry Laurens, late President of the American Congress.Octr. 4th. 1780
Notwithstanding advice was received at the Admiralty Thursday morning, of Mr Laurens being so bad at Newton Abbot, in Devonshire, that he could not undergo the fatigue of travelling without very much endangering his life, and begging an indulgence of remaining two or three days at that place, which was immediately granted; Mr Laurens, in a few hours after the express was sent to the Admiralty of his indisposition, found himself so much recovered as to procced on his journey, under the guard of Mr Norris, Lieutenant of the Vestal, and arrived at the Admiralty at five o’clock in the evening.
Notice of his arrival being immediately sent to Lord Sandwich and Mr Stephens, Mr Laurens was ordered into the audience-room in the Admiralty, and not having dined, an elegant dinner was ordered for him from the Salopian Coffee-house; but neither Lord Sandwich nor Mr Stephens thought it consistent with propriety to be introduced to him without a previous consultation of the Cabinet.
Advice of Mr Laurens’s arrival was sent to the American Secretary, Lord George Germaine, who immediately sent his Secretary Mr Knox, to wait on Mr Laurens, who was introduced to him, and they had some private conversation together. Afterwards Justice Addington and two King’s messengers were with Mr Laurens for some time; and he remained in the audience room till after he had supped. He was then placed under the care of a messenger of the Admiralty, who lives in Scotland Yard, and conveyed to his house, where he remained that night under the guard of a serjeant, six soldiers, and a messenger, who were constantly with him. Mr Laurens has a black servant with him, who, however, is not allowed to attend his master, but remains in the same house.
