When he had been confined a year, a demand was made upon him to pay ninety-seven pounds ten shillings, sterling, to two warders, for services in waiting on him. He returned the following answer: "I will not pay the warders whom I never employed, and whose attendance I shall be glad to dispense with." Three weeks after this, Mr. Laurens received permission from the secretaries of state to have the use of pen and ink for the purpose of drawing a bill of exchange, but they were removed immediately after its execution.

Toward the close of the year 1781, his sufferings, which had by that time become well known, excited the utmost sympathy for himself, but kindled the warmest indignation against the authors of his cruel confinement. Every attempt to draw concessions from this inflexible patriot having proved more than useless, his enlargement was resolved upon, but difficulties arose as to the mode of effecting it. Pursuing the same high-minded course which he had at first adopted, and influenced by the noblest feelings of the heart, he obstinately refused his consent to any act which might imply a confession that he was a British subject, for as such he had been committed on a charge of high treason. It was finally proposed to take bail for his appearance at the court of king's bench, and when the words of the recognizance, "our sovereign lord the king," were read to Mr. Laurens, he distinctly replied in open court, “not my sovereign!" With this declaration, he, with Messrs. Oswald and Anderson, as his securities, were bound for his appearance at the next court of king's bench for Easter term, and for not departing without leave of the court, upon which he was immediately discharged. When the time appointed for his trial approached, he was not only exonerated from obligation to attend, but solicited by Lord Shelbourne to depart for the continent to assist in a scheme for a pacification with America. The idea of being re

leased gratuitously by the British government, sensibly moved him, for he had invariably considered himself as a prisoner of war. Possessed of a lofty sense of personal independence, and unwilling to be brought under the slightest obligation, he thus expressed himself, "I durst not accept myself as a gift; and as Congress once offered General Burgoyne for me, I have no doubt of their being now willing to offer Earl Cornwallis for the same purpose.

Close confinement in the Tower for more than fourteen months had shattered his constitution, and he was ever afterward a stranger to good health. As soon as his discharge was promulgated, he received from Congress a commission, appointing him one of their ministers for negotiating a peace with Great Britain. Arrived at Paris, in conjunction with Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, he signed the preliminaries of peace on the 30th of November, 1782, by which the independence of the United States was unequivocally acknowledged. Soon after this, Mr. Laurens returned to Carolina. Entirely satisfied with the whole course of his conduct while abroad, it will readily be imagined that his countrymen refused him no distinctions within their power to bestow; but every solicitation to suffer himself to be elected Governor, member of Congress, or of the Legislature of the State, he positively withstood. When the project of a general convention for revising the federal bond of union was under consideration, he was chosen, without his knowledge, one of its members, but he refused to serve. Retired from the world and its concerns, he found delight in agricultural experiments, in advancing the welfare of his children and dependents, and in attentions to the interest of his friends and fellowcitizens.

He expired on the 8th of December, 1792, in the sixtyninth year of his age. His will concluded with this singular request, which was strictly complied with:-“I sol

emnly enjoin it upon my son as an indispensable duty, that as soon as he conveniently can after my decease, he cause my body to be wrapped in twelve yards of tow-cloth, and burnt until it be entirely consumed; and then collecting my bones, deposit them wherever he may see proper."

Mr. Laurens had four children, two sons and two daughters. One of them married the late celebrated Dr. Ramsay; the other, Mr. Charles Pinckney. One of the sons, Colonel John Laurens, died early in life; the other, Mr. Henry Laurens, resided for many years in Charleston, South Carolina.

WILLIAM PARSONS.

THE good merchant is scrupulously just and upright in all his transactions. Integrity, good faith, exactness in fulfilling his engagements, are prominent and distinctive features in his character. He is a high-minded and honorable man; he would feel a stain upon his good name like a wound, and regards with utter abhorrence every thing that wears the appearance of meanness or duplicity. Knowing that credit is the soul of business, he is anxious to sustain the integrity of the mercantile character. Accordingly, his word is as good as his bond. He stands to his bargain, and is faithful to his contract. He is like the good man described by the psalmist,

"Who to his plighted vows and trust

Hath ever firmly stood;

And though he promise to his loss,

He makes his promise good."

He would rather at any time relinquish something of his lawful rights, than engage in an irritating dispute. He would rather be the object than the agent in a dishonorable or fraudulent transaction. When one told old Bishop Latimer that the cutler had cozened him in making him pay two pence for a knife not worth a penny, "No," said Latihe cozened not me, but his own conscience." The good merchant is not in haste to be rich, observing that they who are so, are apt to "fall into temptation and a snare," and often make shipwreck of their honor and virtue. He pursues commerce as his chosen calling, his regular employment. He expects to continue in it long, perhaps all his days, and is therefore content to make small

mer,