The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William CobbettConway, Moncure Daniel
Religion
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William Cobbett
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
"Please to present my Compts. and best wishes to the General. I have
wrote to the Marquis and put all my politics into his letter. A paper
with Rivington's account of the action is enclosed in the Marquis'
letter."'
* The original is in Mr. W. F. Haveraeyer's collection.
It will be seen by the following letter to Franklin's nephew that Paine
was now on good terms with the Congressmen who had opposed him in the
Deane matter. The letter (in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
is addressed to "Mr. Jonathan Williams, Merchant, Nantz," per "Brig
Betsey."
"Philadelphia, Nov. 26, 1781.--Dear Sir,--Since my arrival I have
received a letter from you dated Passy May 18, and directed to me
at Brest. I intended writing to you by Mr. Baseley who is consul at
L'Orient but neglected it till it was too late.--Mem: I desired Baseley
to mention to you that Mr. Butler of S: Carolina is surprised at Capt
Rob------n's drawing on him for money; this Mr. Butler mentioned to
me, and as a friend I communicate it to you.--I sent you Col. Laurens's
draft on Madam Babut (I think that is her name) at Nantz for 12 L. d'ors
for the expence of the Journey but have never learned if you received
it.
"Your former friend Silas Deane has run his last length. In france he
is reprobating America, and in America (by letters) he is reprobating
france, and advising her to abandon her alliance, relinquish her
independence, and once more become subject to Britain. A number of
letters, signed Silas Deane, have been published in the New York papers
to this effect: they are believed, by those who formerly were his
friends, to be genuine; Mr. Robt. Morris assured me that he had been
totally deceived in Deane, but that he now looked upon him to be a bad
man, and his reputation totally ruined. Gouverneur Morris hopped round
upon one leg, swore they had all been duped, himself among the rest,
complimented me on my quick sight,--and by Gods says he nothing carries
a man through the world like honesty:--and my old friend Duer 'Sometimes
a sloven and sometimes a Beau,' says, Deane is a damned artful rascal.
However Duer has fairly cleared himself. He received a letter from him
a considerable time before the appearance of these in the New York
papers--which was so contrary to what he expected to receive, and of
such a traitorous cast, that he communicated it to Mr. Luzerne the
Minister.
"Lord Cornwallis with 7247 officers and men are nAbbéd nicely in the
Cheasepeake, which I presume you have heard already, otherwise I should
send you the particulars. I think the enemy can hardly hold out another
campaign. General Greene has performed wonders to the southward, and our
affairs in all quarters have a good appearance. The french Ministry have
hit on the right scheme, that of bringing their force and ours to act in
conjunction against the enemy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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