Page:Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania - Dickinson - 1768.djvu/79

 Mr Laurens is seemingly about 50 years of age, of a swarthy, but keen, intelligent, yet rather a melancholy countenance, has his own hair, and is rather below the middle size.

The outline of the Hon. Mr Laurens’s examination before the Secretaries of State, has transpired; of which the following are said to be the particulars: Previous to Mr Laurens’s appearance before the Secretaries und Justice Addington, it was settled in the interior Cabinet what questions were to be put to him, and they were committed to writing. Mr Laurens was asked, if he acknowledged himself a subject of the British Crown? To which he answered in the negative.—He was then asked, in what capacity he considered himself, and to what kingdom he was subject! He replied, he considered himself an American Plenipotentiary; that he was subject to no King whatever; and owned no other superior than the United States of America, collectively Represented by Congress. Being interrogated if ever he thought himself a subject of the British empire? He replied in the affirmative; but that as it was the undoubted privilege of every society of men, that were under the dominion of any one, or more, whatever, when they found themselves aggrieved, and had no prospects of redress, to withdraw their allegiance; and either to throw themselves under the protection of another, or establish a government among themselves on the basis of a more generous nature, that of public and general liberty, which might check the tyranny of the few, for the security of the whole body. He was asked, where his pretended embassy was set? He answered, he was no pretended Ambassador, but a legal one, and his credentials were properly authenticated for an European Court.

Several more questions were asked relative to the seized papers, the state of America, &c., to all which he replied in the most wary, but determined manner.

When he was told that he was to be committed to the Tower, he told them it was violating the law of nations to detain an Ambassador; and that he hoped every Court in Europe would shew their detestation of such conduct.

Mr Laurens asked if he were to consider himself as a captive Ambassador; or, as they termed him, a rebellious subject of Great Britain? To neither of which questions it was thought proper to answer.

These are said to be the queries put to Mr Laurens.