1770 Henry Laurens SIGNED Letter on Business, Charleston SC Continental Congress

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1770 Henry Laurens SIGNED Letter on Business, Charleston SC Continental Congress:
$4200.00

HENRY LAURENS

Autograph Letter Signed to Peter Baynton, Charleston, South Carolina, 5 September 1770. 2-1/2 pages, 7-1/2\" x 9-1/4, plus integral address leaf.

A leading South Carolina planter and merchant, Henry Laurens, would later become a key supporter of the Revolutionary movement in the South. He would serve as President of the Continental Congress in 1777-1778, be held as a prisoner of war by the British from 1780-1782, and become one of the American signers of the preliminary treaty of peace with England in 1782.

Laurens writes here to a member of the important Philadelphia trading company, Baynton, Wharton & Morgan, and he sends an interesting mix of personal and business news. Laurens\' wife of twenty years, Eleanor, had died in May 1770. The Mr. Hughes discussed here is John Hughes, who was the Collector of Customs in Charleston and was associated with Baynton, Wharton & Morgan.

A rare early pre-war letter from Henry Laurens.

Charles Town, So. Carolina, 5 September 1770

Dear Sir:

Mr. Hughes by whom this is intended, brought me your favorof the 29th June at a time when my spirits were much deprived undera load of affliction which is visibly overwhelmed upon the death of my wife,this melancholy event which seemed to comprehend all Evils, together with thesole charge of five children sought such an alliteration in my affairsparticularly those of a domestic nature that I have been incapable of paying thatrespect & attention to the Collector which I should otherwise have done andwhich I hope to have the pleasure of doing when the near ____ to Carolina. I have had very little of Mr. Hughes company,yet form the little I have seen, and the such I have learnt from my friends intown, entertain the most favorable opinion of him as a Man & as an Officer.I must make not the least doubt of hisbeing very happy among us at the same time perceived my self that he will be sowise as to give satisfaction to the Higher Powers. Who _____ I should presume to impart anyblame to him it would be for rather an ____ of indulgence shows a kinddisposition and a good heart, but there are around him, some bad Envious heartswith wishful eyes & flattering tongues, tell him this for, as you are hisintimate friend, to avoid every act of obliging the Merchants or any Merchantinsofar as may put him in the power of some mean fellow to misrepresent him asa case of Guardian of the Acts of Trade, Take to which the Ministry are at thistime particularly at _______

I sincerely participate that satisfaction which allyour every benevolent mind must feelfrom the foreseeable change in your commercial affairs which you attendto. I wish advice and accounts maybrighten upon you every day until you service the whole of your supposedlots. From the ____ of a letter which Ireceived from Mr. Morgan I conclude that he is now abroad & expect thepleasure of seeing him in Charles Town in his return from ______. Therefore, I do not write to him by thisopportunity, but I shall be always glad of opportunity to send you both my bestservices _____, in acknowledgement of many civilities received from your dearFather when I was a young man and a stranger in Pennsylvania as well as for thehonour which I derived from your acquaintance & correspondence.

I _______ with great regard Sir, Your Most Obdt. Servt.,Henry Laurens.

“Peter Baynton, Esquire” Is written in a different handto the left of Laurens’ signature.

Mr. Elias Ball, the Son of one of my late wife’s Brothers,who is an honest Wealthy Country Gentleman goes in this _____ to Philadelphia –he is a plain sober good young man your countenance to him when he happens tomeet you will be obliging to me.

The Collector will call you from _____ the voyage what sortof a lad he is – he looks big and rough for 20, that he is only in his 18thYear yet which is no small disadvantage to him.