Thomas Paine (1737-1809) autograph letter signed to Colonel John Fellows (1735 – 1808)

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) autograph letter signed ("Thomas Paine") to Colonel John Fellows (1735 – 1808) regarding matters of his publications in America and France and an indictment of George Washington's ability to govern, 3 pages (21cm x 16.5cm folded, not trimmed), noted to head of initial page 'From the late COl, Fellows, original letter of Thomas Paine, verso final page 'Thos. Paine Jane 1797', accompanied by a 19th century handwritten cover stating 'original letter of Thomas Paine, formerly in the possession of Mr James Watson. Queens Head Passage, &. given by him to Mr Joseph Cowen.

Transcript

[To Colonel John Fellows] Paris, Jan.ry 20, 1797

Sir,

Your friend Mr. Caritat being on the point of his departure for America, I make it the opportunity of writing to you. I received two letters from you with some pamphlets a considerable time past, in which you inform me of your entering a copyright of the first part of the Age of Reason: when I return to America we will settle for that matter.

As Dr. Franklin has been my intimate friend for thirty years past you will naturally see the reason of my continuing the connection with his grandson. I printed here (Paris) about fifteen thousand of the second part of the Age of Reason, which I sent to Mr. F[ranklin] Bache. I gave him notice of it in September 1795 and the copy-right by my own direction was entered by him. The books did not arrive till April following, but he had advertised it long before.

I sent to him in August last a manuscript letter of about 70 pages, from me to Mr. Washington to be printed in a pamphlet. Mr. Barnes of Philadelphia carried the letter from me over to London to be forwarded to America. It went by the ship Hope, Cap [tain] Harley, who since his return from America told me that he put it into the post office at New York for Bache. I have yet no certain account of its publication. I mention this that the letter may be enquired after, in case it has not been published or has not arrived to Mr. Bache. Barnes wrote to me, from London 29 August informing me that he was offered three hundred pounds sterling for the manuscript. The offer was refused because it was my intention it should not appear till it appeared in America, as that, and not England was the place for its operation.

You ask me by your letter to Mr. Caritat for a list of my several works, in order to publish a collection of them. This is an undertaking I have always reserved for myself. It not only belongs to me of right, but nobody but myself can do it; and as every author is accountable (at least in reputation) for his works, he only is the person to do it. If he neglects it in his life-time the case is altered. It is my intention to return to America in the course of the present year. I shall then [do] it by subscription, with historical notes. As this work will employ many persons in different parts of the Union, I will confer with you upon the subject, and such part of it as will suit you to undertake, will be at your choice. I have sustained so much loss, by disinterestedness and inattention to money matters, and by accidents, that I am obliged to look closer to my affairs than I have done. The printer (an Englishman) whom I employed here to print the second part of the Age of Reason made a manuscript copy of the work while he was printing it, which he sent to London and sold. It was by this means that an edition of it came out in London.

We are waiting here for news from America of the state of the federal elections. You will have heard long before this reaches you that the French government has refused to receive Mr. Pinckney as minister. While Mr. Monroe was minister he had the opportunity of softening matters with this government, for he was in good credit with them though they were in high indignation at the infidelity of the Washington Administration. It is time that Mr. Washington retire, for he has played off so much prudent hypocrisy between France and England that neither government believes anything he says.

Your friend, etc.,

Thomas Paine

Mr James Watson, Queen's Head Passage [East London] given by him to Mr Joseph Cowen (1829 – 1900, English radical Liberal politician and journalist) and thence by descent

John Fellows (1735 – 1808) was a Brigadier-General in the Massachusetts Militia who participated in several major battles during the American Revolutionary War.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) English-born American Founding Father, French Revolutionary, inventor, political philosopher, and statesman. It has been postulated that Paine was one of the persons involved in early drafting of the American Declaration of Independence. Paine's 1776 pamphlet 'Common Sense', contributed to the popularisation of the republican idea and arguments against monarchy. In it, he 'denounced the decaying despotisms of Europe and pilloried hereditary monarchy as an absurdity. At a time when many still hoped for reconciliation with Britain, Common Sense demonstrated to many the inevitability of separation'

Paine was an enthusiastic supporter of the French Revolution and was granted honorary French citizenship alongside prominent contemporaries such as Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and others, eventually taking part in drafting the French constitution. At the time of writing the current letter Paine lived in Paris with Nicholas Bonneville and his wife, Marguerite Brazier.

Paine had been arrested in France for opposing the execution of the King, his English citizenship and political associations with the Girondins, Whilst many supported his release, including the American ambassador, President Washington, a friend since the Revolutionary War, did nothing during Paine's imprisonment in France, Paine believed Washington had betrayed him and conspired with Robespierre.

Paine penned a stinging letter to Washington, describing him as an 'incompetent commander' and a vain and ungrateful person. Paine's letter to Washington was published in 1796 and he did not return to the United States of America until 1802, returning to the United States only at President Jefferson's invitation.

Paine's personal finances were always a disaster: upon returning to America in 1802 he was almost immediately arrested on a charge of ‘indebtedness'. His assertions on publication rights in America and England in the letter seems to stress the importance of this personal income.