"Contentment; or, if you please, Confession. _To Mrs. Barlow, on her pleasantly telling the author that, after writing against the superstition of the Scripture religion, he was setting up a religion capable of more bigotry and enthusiasm, and more dangerous to its votaries--that of making a religion of Love._ "O could we always live and love, And always be sincere, I would not wish for heaven above, My heaven would be here. "Though many countries I have seen, And more may chance to see, My Little Corner of the World Is half the world to me. "The other half, as you may guess, America contains; And thus, between them, I possess The whole world for my pains. "I'm then contented with my lot, I can no happier be; For neither world I 'm sure has got So rich a man as me. "Then send no fiery chariot down To take me off from hence, But leave me on my heavenly ground-- This prayer is _common sense_. "Let others choose another plan, I mean no fault to find; The true theology of man Is happiness of mind." Paine gained great favor with the French government and fame throughout Europe by his pamphlet, "The Decline and Fall of the English System of Finance," in which he predicted the suspension of the Bank of England, which followed the next year. He dated the pamphlet April 8th, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs is shown, in the Archives of that office, to have ordered, on April 27th, a thousand copies. It was translated in all the languages of Europe, and was a terrible retribution for the forged assignats whose distribution in France the English government had considered a fair mode of warfare. This translation "into all the languages of the continent" is mentioned by Ralph Broome, to whom the British government entrusted the task of answering the pamphlet.* As Broome's answer is dated June 4th, this circulation in six or seven weeks is remarkable, The proceeds were devoted by Paine to the relief of prisoners for debt in Newgate, London.** * "Observations on Mr. Paine's Pamphlet," etc. Broome escapes the charge of prejudice by speaking of "Mr. Paine, whose abilities I admire and deprecate in a breath." Paine's pamphlet was also replied to by George Chalmers ("Oldys") who had written the slanderous biography.