from Hudson's River to the Delaware. At this period our author stood undismayed, amid a flying congress, and the general terror of the land. The Americans, he loudly asserted, were in possession of resources sufficient to authorize hope, and he laboured to inspire others with the same sentiments, which animated himself.

To effect this, on the 19th of December he published The Crisis,' wherein with a masterly hand he stated every reason for hope, and examined all the motives for apprehension.

This work he continued at various intervals, till the revolution was completely established: the last number appeared on the 19th of April, 1783, the same day a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed.

In 1777, congress unanimously and unknown to Mr. Paine, appointed him secretary in the foreign department; and from this time a close friendship continued between him and Dr. Franklin.

From his office went all letters that were officially written by congress: and the corre

spondence of congress rested afterwards in his hands.

This appointment gave Mr. Paine an opportunity of seeing into foreign courts, and their manner of doing business and conducting themselves. In this office which obliged him to reside with congress wherever it fled, or however it was situated, Mr. Paine deserved the highest praise for the clearness, firmness, and magnanimity of his conduct. His uprightness and entire fitness for this office did not however prevent intrigue and interestedness, or defeat cabal; for a difference being fomented between congress and him, respecting one of their commissioners then in Europe, (Mr. Silas Deane) he resigned his secretaryship on the 8th of January, 1779, and declined, at the same time, the pecuniary offers made him by the ministers of France and Spain, M. Gerrard and Don Juan Mirralles.

This resignation of, or dismissal from his situation as secretary for foreign affairs, has been so variously mentioned and argued upon,

that the reader is referred to the tedious de tail of it in the journals of the day, if he has patience to wade thro so much American temporary, and party political gossip. Mr. Paine's own account in his letter to congress shortly is, "I prevented Deane's fraudulent "demand being paid, and so far the country "is obliged to me, but I became the victim "of my integrity."

The party junto against him say he was guilty of a violation of his official duty, &c.

And here I shall leave it, as the bickerings of parties in America, in the year 1779, cannot be worth an European's attention; and as to the Americans themselves they have various means by their legislatural records, registers of the day, and pamphlets, then and since, to go into the subject if they think it of importance enough.

About this time Mr. Paine had the degree of master of arts conferred on him by the university of Philadelphia; and in 1780, was chosen a member of the American Phi

losophical Society, when it was revived by the legislature of the province of Pennsylvania.

In February 1781 Colonel Laurens, amidst the financial distress of America, was sent on a mission to France in order to obtain a loan, and Mr. Paine, at the solicitation of the colonel, accompanied him.

Mr. Paine, in his letter to congress, intimates that this mission originated with himself, and takes upon himself the credit of it.

They arrived in France the following month, obtained a loan of ten millions of livres, and a present of six millions, and landed in America the succeeding August with two millions and a half in silver. His value, his firmness, his independence, as a political character were now universally acknowledged; his great talents, and the high purposes to which he devoted them, made him generally sought after and looked up to; and General Washington was foremost to express the great sense he had of the excellence of his character, and the importance of his services; and would himself have pro

posed to congress a great remuneration of them, had not Mr. Paine positively objected to it, as a bad precedent, and an improper mode.

In August 1782, he published his spirited letter to the Abbé Raynal; of this letter a very sensible writer observes, "that it dis

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plays an accuracy of judgment and strength "of penetration that would do honour to the "most enlightened philosopher. It exhibits

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proofs of knowledge so comprehensive, and "discrimination so acute, as must in the opinion of the best judges place the author "in the highest ranks of literature."

We shall here make a few extracts from this work, which will fully refute the malignant insinuations of his enemies, who represent him as totally destitute of the benefits resulting from a liberal education. The impartial reader need only attend to the ensuing extracts, which will abundantly convince him of the futility of such assertions, and prove our author's judgment as a critic, and his acquaintance with polite learning.