Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-33-02-0311

To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 6 October 1780

From Thomas Digges

ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania

London Octo 6. 1780 Fryday

Dear Sir

Mr Laurens has been so ill as to retard his journy up to London very much. He arrivd in rather better health on Thursday night, & was this day examind at Lord G Germaines office & committed to the Tower—2 The first night he was kept at the Messengers House in Scotland Yard, & taken from thence to Lord Go Gs office about noon. He was watchd & kept very close, so that no one of His frds. could even offer him any assistance. As those folks are ever in extreems, perhaps this regour will be soon removd, & Mr L allowd to speak to his friends. They boast much of discoverys made from His papers all as they say being taken; but I beleive my share of this. Not a word of any other news.

I am with great Esteem Sir Your obedt Ser

Wm. C. C

One report is that He is not to be sent to the Tower till tomorrow but, I have good reason to think He went this afternoon.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2After spending the night at Scotland Yard, Laurens was interviewed on Friday, Oct. 6, by Secretaries of State George Germain, Hillsborough, and Stormont and by others. He was then committed to the Tower of London on “suspicion of high treason”; he later said that during his confinement the people there (exclusive of the governor of the Tower) were “respectful and kindly attentive”: “A Narrative of the Capture of Henry Laurens, of his Confinement in the Tower of London, &c., 1780, 1781, 1782,” S.C. Hist. Soc. Coll. I (1857), 23–5.

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