original manuscript; and the table on which they were written is still carefully preserved by me it has a brass plate in the centre with this inscription placed there by my direction on his quitting England

The

Letter to the Addressers' possesses all Mr. Paine's usual strength of reasoning, and abounds also in the finest strokes of genuine satire, wit, and humour. About this time

a prosecution took place against the publishers of Rights of Man.'

How this was managed, and Mr. Paine's

opinion of it, will be best understood by the following letter never before published.

"To Sir Archibald Macdonald,

"Sir,

"Attorney General.

Though I have some reasons for believing that you were not the the original promoter or encourager of the prosecution commenced against the work entitled 'Rights of Man,' either as that prosecution is intended to effect the author, the publisher, or the public; yet as you appear the official person therein, I address this letter to you, not as Sir Archibald Macdonald, but as attorney general.

"You began by a prosecution against the publisher Jordan, and the reason assigned by Mr. Secretary Dundas, in the House of Commons in the debate on the proclamation, May 25, for taking that measure, was, he said, because Mr. Paine could not be found, or words to that effect. Mr. Paine, sir, so far from secreting himself, never went a step out of his way, nor in the least instance varied

1

The

from his usual conduct, to avoid any measure you might choose to adopt with respect to him. It is on the purity of his heart, and the universal utility of the principles and plans which his writings contain, that he rests the issue; and he will not dishonour it by any kind of subterfuge. apartments which he occupied at the time of writing the work last winter he has continued to occupy to the present hour, and the solicitors to the prosecution knew where to find him; of which there is a proof in their own office as far back as the 21st of May, and also in the office of my own attorney.

"But admitting, for the sake of the case, that the reason for proceeding against the publisher was, as Mr. Dundas stated, that Mr. Paine could not be found, that reason can now exist no longer.

"The instant that I was informed that an information was preparing to be filed against me as the author of I believe one of the most

useful and benevolent books ever offered to mankind, I directed my attorney to put in an appearance; and as I shall meet the prosecution fully and fairly and with a good and upright conscience, I have a right to expect that no act of littleness will be made use of on the part of the prosecution towards influencing the future issue with respect to the author. This expression may perhaps appear obscure to you, but I am in the possession of some matters which serve to shew that the action against the publisher is not intended to be a real action. If therefore any persons concerned on the prosecution have found their cause so weak as to make it appear convenient to them to enter into a negociation with the publisher, whether for the purpose of his submitting to a verdict, and to make use of the verdict so obtained as a circumstance, by way of precedent, on a future trial against myself; or for any other purpose not fully made known to me; if, I say, I have cause to suspect this to be the case I shall most certainly withdraw the defence I should otherwise have made or promoted on his (the publisher's) behalf, and leave the negociators to themselves, and

shall reserve the whole of the defence for the real trial.

"But, Sir, for the purpose of conducting this matter with at least that appearance of fairness and openness that shall justify itself before the public, whose cause it really is (for it is the right of public discussion and investigation that is questioned), I have to propose to you to cease the prosecution against the publisher; and as the reason or pretext can no longer exist for continuing it against him because Mr. Paine could not be found, that would direct the whole process against me, with whom the prosecuting party will not find it possible to enter into any private negociation.

you

"I will do the cause full justice, as well for the sake of the nation, as for my own reputation.

"Another reason for discontinuing the process against the publisher is, because it can amount to nothing. First, because a jury in London cannot decide upon the fact of pub