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I published the second part of the Rights of Man' in London in February 1792, and I continued in London till I was elected a member of the French convention, in September of that year; and went from London to Paris to take my seat in the convention, which was to meet the 20th of that month: I arrived at Paris on the 19th.

After the convention met Miranda came to Paris, and was appointed general of the French army, under General Dumourier; but as the affairs of that army went wrong in the beginning of the year 1792, Miranda was suspected, and was brought under arrest to Paris to take his trial.

He summoned me to appear to his character, and also a Mr. Thomas Christie, connected with the house of Turnbull and Forbes.

I gave my testimony as I believed, which was, that his leading object was, and had been, the emancipation of his country, Mexico, from the bondage of Spain; for I did not at that time know of his engagements with Pitt. Mr. Christie's evidence went to shew that Miranda did not come to France as a necessitous adventurer; that he came from public spirited motives, and that he had a large sum of money in the hands of Turnbull and Forbes. The house of Turnbull and Forbes was then in a contract to supply Paris with flour. Miranda was acquitted.

A few days after his acquittal he came to see me, and

a few days afterwards I returned the visit. He seemed desirous of satisfying me that he was independent, and that he had money in the hands of Turnbull and Forbes. He did not tell me of his affair with old Catharine of Russia, nor did I tell him that I knew of it.

But he entered into conversation with respect to Nootka Sound, and put into my hands several letters of Mr. Pitt's to him on that subject; amongst which was one that I believe he gave me by mistake, for when I had opened it and was beginning to read it, he put forth his hand and said, 'O that is not the letter I intended;' but as the letter was short I soon got through it, and then returned it to him without making any remarks upon it.

The dispute with Spain about Nootka Sound was then compromised; and Pitt compromised with Miranda for his services by giving him twelve hundred pounds sterling, for this was the contents of the letter.

Now if it be true that Miranda brought with him a credit upon certain persons in New York for sixty thousand pounds sterling, it is not difficult to suppose from what quarter the credit came; for the opening of any proposals between Pitt and Miranda was already made by the affair of Nootka Sound.

Miranda was in Paris when Mr. Monroe arrived there as minister; and as Miranda wanted to get acquainted with him, I cautioned Mr. Monroe against him, and told

R

him of the affair of Nootka Sound, and the twelve hun

dred pounds.

You are at liberty to make what use you please of this letter, and with my name to it.

THOMAS PAINE.

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS,

&c.

Note. Mr. Carlile has just published a little pamphlet of Mr. Paine's poetry, the whole of which, with a few others added in this collection, have been in my possession many years. I have omitted one very witty piece that Mr. Carlile has printed, 'A Commentary on the Eastern Wise Men,' it ranging not with my plan; also the 'British Constitution,' not knowing it to be Mr. Paine's.

Hail

SONG.

Tune.-Rule Britannia.

great REPUBLIC of the world,

Which rear'd, which rear'd, her empire in the west, Where fam'd COLUMBUS', COLUMBUS' flag unfurl'd, Gave tortured EUROPE Scenes of rest;

Be thou for ever, for ever, great and free,

The land of Love, and LIBERTY!

Beneath thy spreading, mantling vine,

Beside, beside each flowery grove, and spring, And where thy lofty, thy lofty mountains shine, May all thy sons, and fair ones sing,

Be thou for ever, for ever, great and free,
The land of LOVE, and LIBERTY!

From thee, may hellish DISCORD prowl,
With all, with all her dark, and hateful train ;
And whilst thy mighty, thy mighty waters roll,
May heaven descended CONCORD reign.

Be thou for ever, for ever, great and free,
The land of LoVE, and LIBERTY!

Where'er the ATLANTIC surges lave,

Or sea, or sea, the human eye delights, There may thy starry, thy starry standard wave, The CONSTELLATION OF THY RIGHTS!

Be thou for ever, for ever, great and free,
The land of LoVE, and LIBERTY!

May ages as they rise proclaim,

The glories, the glories of thy natal day;
And states from thy, from thy exalted name,
Learn how to rule, and to obey.

Be thou for ever, for ever great and free,
The land of LoVE, and LIBERTY!

Let Laureats make their BIRTH-DAYS known,

Or how, or how, war's thunderbolts are hurl'd;
Tis ours the charter, the charter, ours alone,
To sing the BIRTH-DAY of a world!

Be thou for ever, for ever, great and free,
The land of LOVE and LIBERTY!

THE BOSTON PATRIOTIC SONG.

Tune.-Anacreon in Heaven.

Ye Sons of COLUMBIA who bravely have fought,

For those rights which unstain'd from your sires have

descended,

May you long taste the blessings your valour has bought, And your sons reap the soil which their fathers defended; Mid the reign of mild peace,

May your nation increase,

With the glory of ROME, and the wisdom of GREECE.

CHORUS..

And ne'er may the sons of COLUMBIA be slaves,
While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves.

In a clime whose rich vales feed the marts of the world,
Whose shores are unshaken by Europe's commotion;
The trident of commerce should never be hurl'd,

To increase the legitimate power of the ocean;
But should pirates invade,
Though in thunder array'd,

Let your cannon declare the free charter of trade.

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