The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 2. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and EnglandConway, Moncure Daniel
History
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 2. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
However, the time of intimidation did not come for two months after the
King's death, and Paine was busy with Condorcet on the task assigned
them, of preparing an Address to the People of England concerning the
war of their government against France. This work, if ever completed,
does not appear to have been published. It was entrusted (February 1st)
to Barrère, Paine, Condorcet, and M. Faber. As Frédéric Masson, the
learned librarian and historian of the Office of Foreign Affairs, has
found some trace of its being assigned to Paine and Condorcet, it may be
that further research will bring to light the Address. It could hardly
have been completed before the warfare broke out between the Mountain
and the Girondins, when anything emanating from Condorcet and Paine
would have been delayed, if not suppressed. There are one or two brief
essays in Condorcet's works--notably "The French Republic to Free
Men"--which suggest collaboration with Paine, and may be fragments of
their Address.*
* "uvres Complètes de Condorcet," Paris, 1804, t. xvi., p.
16: "La République Françoise aux homines libres." In 1794,
when Paine was in prison, a pamphlet was issued by the
revolutionary government, entitled: "An Answer to the
Declaration of the King of England, respecting his Motives
for Carrying on the Present War, and his Conduct towards
France." This anonymous pamphlet, which is in English,
replies to the royal proclamation of October 29th, and bears
evidence of being written while the English still occupied
Toulon or early in November, 1793. There are passages in it
that suggest the hand of Paine, along with others which he
could not have written. It is possible that some composition
of his, in pursuance of the task assigned him and Condorcet,
was utilized by the Committee of Public Safety in its answer
to George III.
At this time the long friendship between Paine and Condorcet, and
the Marchioness too, had become very intimate. The two men had acted
together on the King's trial at every step, and their speeches on
bringing Louis to trial suggest previous consultations between them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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