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literary birth. It was the American revolution "made me an author, and forced into action the "mind that had been dormant and had no wish "for public life, nor has it now." Mr. Paine made many efforts to cross the Atlantic, but they were ineffectual: some of these I state in his own words. "As soon as the American ambassador "had made a good standing with the French government, (for the conduct of his predecessor had made his reception as minister diffi"cult,) he wanted to send dispatches to his own

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government, by a person to whom he could also "confide a verbal communication, and he fixed "his choice upon me. He then applied to the "committee of public safety for a passport, but as I had been voted again into the convention "it was only the convention that could give. "the passport; and as an application to them for "that purpose would have made my going publicly known, I was obliged to sustain the disappointment, and the then ambassador "to lose the opportunity.

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"When that gentleman left France to return "to America, I was to have come with him: "it was fortunate I did not. The vessel he

"sailed in was visited by an English frigate "that searched every part of it, and down to "the hold, for Thomas Paine. I then went the same year to embark for Havre; but several "British frigates were cruizing in sight of the

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port, who knew I was there, and I had to

return again to Paris. Seeing myself thus cut "off from every opportunity of returning that "was in my power to command, I wrote to Mr. "Jefferson, requesting that if the fate of the "election should put him in the chair of the presidency, and he should have occasion to "send a frigate to France, he would give me

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an opportunity of returning by it, which he "did; but I declined coming by the Maryland, "the vessel that was offered me, and waited "for the frigate that was to bring the new

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minister, Mr. Chancellor Livington, to France; "but that frigate was ordered to the Mediter66 ranean; and as at that time the war was over, and the British cruizers called in, I "could come any way, I then agreed to come " with Commodore Barney in a vessel he had "engaged. It was again fortunate I did not, "for the vessel sunk at sea, and the people were 66 preserved in a boat."

"Had half the number of evils befallen me "that the number of dangers amount to through "which I have been preserved, there are those "who would ascribe it to the wrath of heaven; "why then do they not ascribe my preservation "to the protecting favour of heaven? Even in

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my worldly concerns I have been blessed. "The little property I left in America, and "which I cared nothing about, not even to "receive the rent of it, has been increasing in "the value of its capital more than eight hun"dred dollars every year for the fourteen years " and more that I have been absent from it. I

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am now in my circumstances independent, " and my economy makes me rich.

"As to my health it is perfectly good, and I "leave the world to judge of the stature of my "mind."

In July 1802, Mr. Jefferson, the then president of America, in a letter to Mr. Paine writes thus:

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"You express a wish in your letter to return to America by a national ship.

"Mr. Dawson, who brings over the treaty, " and who will present you this letter, is charged "with orders to the captain of the 'Maryland, "to receive and accommodate you back if you "can be ready to return at such a short warning. "You will in general find us returned to senti"ments worthy of former times: in these it "will be your glory to have steadily laboured, "and with as much effect as any man living. "That you may live long to continue your "useful labours, and reap the reward in the "thankfulness of nations, is my sincere prayer. Accept the assurance of my high esteem and "affectionate attachment.

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"THOMAS JEFFERSON."

"Washington, July 1802.”

By the Maryland, as Mr. Paine states, he did not go; and it was not till the 1st of September 1802, after spending some time with him at Havre de Grace, that I took leave of him on his departure for America, in a ship named the London Pacquet, just ten years after his leaving my house in London. This parting gave rise to the following extempore stanzas:

STANZAS,

WRITTEN ON THE BEACH AT HAVRE DE GRACE,

AND ADDRESSED TO THE

SEA.

"A generous friendship no cold medium knows." POPE.

Thus smooth be thy waves, and thus gentle the breeze,
As thou bearest my PAINE far away;

O! waft him to comfort and regions of ease,
Each blessing of friendship and freedom to seize,
And bright be his setting sun's ray.

May AMERICA hail her preserver and friend,

Whose COMMON SENSE' taught her aright,

How liberty thro her domains to extend,
The means to acquire each desirable end,
And fill'd her with reason and light.

One champion of all that is glorious and good
Will greet him sincerely I know;
No supporter of craft, of oppression, and blood,
The defender of liberty long he has stood;
Of tyranny only the foe.

Yes JEFFERSON! well in his principles school'd,
Will embrace him with gladness of heart;

His value he knows and is not to be fool'd,

Nor his wisdom and knowledge one moment o'er ruled, By falsehood, corruption, and art,

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