Images above and transcript below from the original letter at the Library of Congress

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London

Dec. 16 1788

Dear Sir

I write you by Mr. Quesney — I also wrote you a long letter of (I believe) 14 or 16 pages enclosing a Philadelphia News paper with the account of the Procession on the 4th of July. I requested Mr. Bartholemy to enclose it in his dispatches which he promised me to do — This is about ten weeks ago. I was then setting off to the Iron Works in Yorkshire to execute a small Bridge. The work goes on with great success and in appearance exceeds both the model and the drawing. I come from thence about a fortnight ago, but shall return again.

That the King is insane is now old news — He yet continues in the same state, and the Parliament are on the business of appointing a Regent. The Dukes of York and Gloucester have both made speeches in the house of Peers — an Embarrassing Question whether the Prince of Wales has a right in himself by succession during the incapacity of his father — or whether the right must derive thro’ Parliament, has been agitated in both Houses, and the speeches of York & Gloucester of avoiding the Question. This day (tuesday) is fixt for bringing the matter on in the house of Commons — A change of Ministry is expected and, I believe, determined on. The Duke of Portland and his friends will in all probability come in.

I shall be exceedingly glad to hear from you, and to know if you have received my letters, and also, when you intend setting off for America or whether you intend to visit England before you go. In case of a change of Ministry here there are certain matters I shall be glad to see you upon. Remember me to the Marquis de la Fayette and all my good french. We hear good tidings from France, and I sincerely wish them all well and happy.

Your affectionate friend and obedient Humble servant

THOMAS PAINE

Remember me to Mr. Short & Mr. Mazzei.

Please to direct to me at Mr Whitefall’s Merchant No. 13 Broad Street Buildings Royal Exchange London

Front page above. All 8 pages and transcript below of the original letter at the Library of Congress

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Sepr. 15th —

This letter was intended to go by the last dispatches of Mr. Bartholemey but was late — I have since seen a New-York paper of the 8th of August in which there is a circular letter from the Convention of New-York signed by the President (Governor Clinton) to the several Legislatures which states, that altho’ they had acceded to the federal Constitution, from principles of regard to the Union, it was, in the opinion of the majority of them, exceptionable in many points, and recommending that another Convention be hereafter assembled — agreeable to the precision made in the Bens Whetson, for the purpose of reforming altering &c — nothing particular, as to defect, is provided at in the Circular letter, the aspersions are general, and they disclaim all local Ideas.

A motion was made in Congress that the new Congress meet at Baltimore which was carried 7 States to 6 — the question was reconsidered the next day — and carried 7 to 6 for New York, in this State it stood when she Expel Yates.

It was said sometime ago in the English News papers, that five officers of the Swedish Army had withdrawn and refused to serve, because the King had undertaken an offensive War, without consulting and having the concurrence of the Senate, agreeable to an Article in this term of government; but a gentleman who is intimate of Baron Nolkins the Swedish Minister tells me that a third of the officers have made that objection, which has disabled the progress of the Swedish Army in Finland.

Whether I shall set off a Catenarian Arch or an Arch of a Circle I have not yet determined, but I mean to set off both and take my choice — There is one objection against a Catenarian Arch, which is that the Iron tubes being all cast in one form will not usually fit every part of it.

An Arch of a Circle may be sett off to any extent by calculating the Ordinates, at equal distances on the diameter. In this case, the Radius will always be the Hypotenuse. The portion of the diameter be the Base, and the Ordinate the perpendicular or the Ordinate may be found by Trigonometry in which the Base, Hypotenuse & right angle will be always given —

I think the Arch will appear rather handsome if the direction of the Blocks and Walls were always in the direction of the Radius as I first proposed but which I changed in the drawing and placed as perpendicular to the Cord instead of the Curve to remedy the inconvenience of the diverging of the Bolts as you mentioned —

In a very large Arch of 5 or 600 feet Cord, this diverging will be considerable about 3 or 4 tenths of an inch on every two feet — but this difficulty may be effectually remedied, and the direction of the radius preserved by making the Bar in line halves, with half a hole in each; they will then be put on sideways and may be united by clamps. This method will exceedingly facilitate the raising or pulling the Arch together, shorten the time of the Work on the River very considerably. I am not fond of hazarding opinions, neither is it proper or prudent to do it, but I think that after every thing is prepared, a Bridge over such a River as the Seine, might be put in three months time or less, as all the Arches would be began on at once, and the work would admit of as many hands being emplyed at the same time as you please.

I have not heard any thing of Mr. Littlepage since I left Paris — if you have, I shall be glad to know it — As he dined sometimes at Mr. Neckar’s, he undertook to describe the Bridge to him — Mr. Neckar very readily conceived it — if you have an opportunity of seeing Mr. Neckar, and see it convenient to renew the subject you might mention that I am going forward with an experiment Arch —

Mr. Le Couteulx desired me to examine the construction of the Albion Steam Mills erected by Bolton and Watts — I have not yet written to him because I had nothing to write about — I have talked with Mr. Rumsey who is here, upon this matter, and who appears to me to be master of that subject and who has procured a model of the Mill, which is worked originally from the Steam, but it will be necessary to know what proposals Mr. Le Coaleulx will make to any person who will undertake to construct his spare Steam Engines, of which he has one always in each Building, into a Mill, and conduct the operation — in this case Mr. Rumsey appears to me the very person Mr. Le Coaleulx wants — the enclosed letter to Mr. Le Coaleulx is on this subject.

There has been some proposals passed on each side between Dalton and Rumsey in which I thank the former has taken advantage of the unsuspicious openess of the latter.

I have again enquired about the map, and find it is engraving at the place you mentioned — It will be 8 feet by 6 and the price about 2 guineas, but they cannot tell me the time it will be finished — I informed you of the Air pumb in my letter to you by Mr. Quesney — When you see Mr. Le Roy please to present my compliments — I hope I shall now realize the opinion of the Academy on the Model — in which case I shall give the Academy the proper information —

We have no certain accounts here of the arrangement of the new Ministry — the papers mention Count St. Priest for foreign Affairs — when you see him please to present my Compliments.

The New York Packet is arrived this morning she sailed the eighth of Augt and brings nothing new — The majority on the Convention of N. York was but three —

The question for the meeting of Congress at Philadelphia was put and lost —

Please to present my compliment to M. and Madame de Corney.

First page shown above. All 11 pages and the original letter can be found at the Library of Congress

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London, Broad Street Building, No. 13,

Sep. 9th, 1788

Dear Sir

That I am a bad correspondent is so general a Complaint against me, that I must expect the same accusation from you — But hear me first. — When there is no matter to write upon a letter is not worth the trouble of receiving and reading, and while any thing, which is to be the subject of a letter, is in suspense, it is difficult to write and perhaps best to let it alone — “least said is soonest mended“, and nothing said requires no mending.

The Model has the good fortune of preserving in England the reputation which it received from the Academy of Sciences. It is a favourite hobby horse with all who have seen it; and every one who have talked with me on the subject advised me to endeavour to obtain a Patent, as it is only by that means that I can secure to myself the direction and management. — For this purpose I went, (in company with Mr. Whiteside) to the office which is an appendage to Lord Sydney’s — told them who I was, and made an affidavid that the construction was my own invention — This was the only step I took in the business. — Last Wednesday I received a patent for England, the next day a Patent for Scotland, and I am to have one for Ireland.

As I had already the opinion of the Scientific Judges both in France and England on the model; it was also necessary that I should have that of the practical Iron men who must finally be the executors of the work.

There are several capital Iron Works in this Country, the principal of which are those in Shropshire, Yorkshire, and Scotland. It was my intention to have communicated with Mr. Wilkinson — who is one of the proprietors of the Shropshire Iron Works and concerned in those in France — but his departure for Sweden before I had possession of the patents prevented me.

The Iron Works in Yorkshire belonging to the Walkers near to Sheffield are the most eminent in England in point of establishment and property — the proprietors are reputed to be worth two hundred thousand pounds and consequently capable of giving energy to any great undertaking. A friend of theirs who had seen the model wrote to them on the Subject, and two of them came to London last Fryday to see it and talk with me on the business.

Their opinion is very decided that it can be executed either in Wrought or Cast Iron and I am to go down to their works next week to erect an experiment Arch. This is the point I am now got to, and until now I had nothing to inform you of. — If I succeed in erecting the Arch all reasoning and opinion will be at an end, and as this will soon be known, I shall not return to France till that time, and until then I wish every thing to remain, respecting my Bridge over the Seine, in the State I left matters in when I came from France. With respect to the Patents in England it is my intention to dispose of them as soon as I have established the certainty of the Construction.

Besides the ill success of Blackfriars Bridge, two Bridges built successively on the same spot, the last by Mr. Smeaton, at Hexham, over the Tyne in Northumberland have fallen down occasioned by quicksands under the bed of the river. — If therefore Arches can be extended in the proportion the model promises, the Construction in certain situations, without regard to cheapness or dearness, will be valuable in all Countries.

I enclose you a Philadelphia Paper 10 of July having the account of the Procession of the 5th of that month. An Arrival from Philadelphia which left it the 26th July brings nothing new — The Convention of New York was still sitting, but we have accounts, tho’ I know not how they came, that the Convention of N. York acceded on the 29th of July. — (I since hear that this account is brought by the Columbine in 29 days from N. York, arrived at Falmouth, with wheat to Lisbon. —

As to English news or Politics, here is little more than what the Public papers contain. — The assembling the States General, and the reappointment of Mr. Neckar, made considerable impression here. They overawe a great deal of the English habitual rashness and check that triumph of presumption which they indulged themselves in with respect to what they called the deranged and almost ruinous condition of the finances of France. They acknowledge unreservedly that the natural resources of france are greater than those of England, but they plume themselves on the superiority of the means necessary to bring national resources forth. But the two circumstances above mentioned serve very well to lower this exaltation.

Some time ago I spent a week at Mr. Burkes and the Duke of Portland’s in Buckinghamshire — you will recollect that the Duke was the Minister during the time of the Coalition — he is now in the opposition, and I find the opposition as much warped in some respects as to Continental Politics as the Ministry.

What the extent of the Treaty with Russia is, Mr. B — says that he and all the opposition are totally unacquainted with, and they speak of it not as a very wise measure, but rather tending to involve England in unnecessary continental disputes. The preference of the opposition is to a connection with Prussia if it could have been obtained.

Sir George Staunton tells me that the interference with respect to Holland last year met with considerable opposition from part of the Cabinet — Mr. Pitt was against it at first, but it was a favourite measure with the King, and that the opposition at that Crisis contrived to have it known to him that they were disposed to support his measures. This together with the notification of the 16th of Sept. gave Mr. Pitt cause and pretence for changing his ground. —

The Marquis of Lansdown is unconnected either with the Ministry or the opposition. His politics is distinct from both. His plan is a sort of Armed neutrality which has many advocates. In Conversation with me he reprobated the Conduct of the Ministry towards France last year as operating to “cut the throat of confidence” (this was his expression) between France and England at a time when there was a fair opportunity of improving it.

The Enmity of this Country against Russia is as bitter as it ever was against America and is carried to every Pitch of abuse and vulgarity. What I hear in Conversations exceeds what may be seen in the news-papers. They are sour and mortified at every success she acquires and voraciously believe and rejoice in the most improbable accounts and rumours to the contrary. You may mention this to Mr. Simelin on any terms you please for you cannot exceed the fact.

There are those who amuse themselves here in the hopes of managing Spain. The notification which the Marquis del Campo made last year to the British Cabinet is, perhaps, the only secret kept in this Country. Mr. B — tells me that the opposition knows nothing of it.

They all very freely admit that if the Combined fleets had had thirty or forty thousand land forces when they came up the channel last War, there was nothing in England to oppose their landing, and that such a measure would have been fatal to their resources, by, at least a temporary destruction of national credit. — This is the point on which this Country is most impressionable. Wars, carried on at a distance, they care but little about, and seem always disposed to enter into them — It is bringing the matter home to them that makes them fear and feel, for their weakest part is at home. This I take to be the reason of the attention they are paying to Spain, for while France and Spain make a Common Cause and start together, they may easily overawe this Country.

I intended sending this letter by Mr. Parker, but he goes by way of Holland and as I do not chuse to send it by the English Post. I shall desire Mr. Bartholemy to forward it to you.

Remember me with much Affection to the Marquis de la Fayette. This letter will serve for two letters — whether I am in London or the Country any letter to me at Mr. Whiteside’s, Merchant, No. 13 Broad Street Buildings, will come safe — My compliments to Mr. Short.

I am Dear Sir with great Esteem of your obliged Friend & obt. Hble servant

THOMAS PAINE

The images above and transcript below are from the original letter at the Library of Congress.

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Dear Sir

I enclose you a Problem not about Bridges but Trees, and to explain my meaning I begin with a fountain. The Idea seems far-fetched, but fountains and Trees are in my walk to Challiot —

Suppose Fig. 1 is a fountain — It is evident

1st That no more water can pass thro the branching Tubes, than pass through the trunk

2d That admitting all the water to pass with equal freedom, the sum of the squares of the diameters of the two first branches must be equal to the square of the diameter of the Trunk, also the sum of the squares of the four Branches, must be equal to the two, and the sum of the squares of the 8 Branches must be equal to the four, and therefore the 8, 4, 2, and the Trunk being reciprocally equal the solid content of the whole will be equal to the cylinder Fig 2. of the same diameter of the trunk and height of the fountain.

Carry the Idea of a fountain to a Tree growing;

— Consider the sap ascending in Capillary tubes like the water in the fountain, and no more sap will pass through the Branches than pass through the Trunk.

2dly Consider the branches as so many divisions and sub-divisions of the Trunk as they are in the fountain, and that their contents are to be found by some rule, with the difference only of a Pynmidien figure instead of Cylindrical one.

Therefore to find the quantity of Timber (or rather loads) in the Tree, figure 3d. draw a Pyramid equal to the height of the Tree as Fig. 4th, taking for the inclination of the Pyramid, the diameter at the Bottom, and at any discretionary height above it which in this is as 3 & 2 —

As sensible men should never guess, and as it is impossible to judge without some point to begin at. This appears to me to be that point, and by which a person may ascertain near enough the quantity of Timber and loads of wood in any quantity of Land — and he may distinguish them into Timber, wood and faggots.

Yours, etc.

T P

A.D. 1788. No. 1667.

CONSTRUCTING ARCHES, VAULTED ROOFS, AND CEILINGS

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS PAINE, send greeting.

WHEREAS, His Most Excellent Majesty King George III, by his letters patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the twenty-sixth day of August, in the twenty-eighth year of his reign, did give unto me, the said Thomas Paine, his special license that I, the said Thomas Paine, during the term of fourteen years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my invention of “A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING ARCHES, VAULTED ROOFS, AND CEILINGS, EITHER IN IRON OR WOOD, ON PRINCIPLES N E W AND DIFFERENT TO ANYTHING HITHERTO PRACTISED, BY MEANS OF WHICH CONSTRUCTION, ARCHES, VAULTED ROOFS, AND CEILINGS MAY BE ERECTED TO THE EXTENT OF SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BEYOND WHAT CAN BE PERFORMED IN THE PRESENT PRACTISE OF ARCHITECTURE; “in which said letters patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Thomas Paine, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be enrolled in His Majesty’s High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and immediately after the date of the said recited letters patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.

Now KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Thomas Paine, do hereby declare that my said invention of A Method of Constructing of Arches, Vaulted Roofs, and Ceilings, either in Iron or Wood, on Principles New and Different to anything hitherto practised by means of which Construction, Arches, Vaulted Roofs, and Ceilings may be Erected to the Extent of several Hundred Feet beyond what can be performed in the present practise of Architecture, is described in manner following (that is to say) :-

The idea and construction of this arch is taken from the figure of a spider’s circular web, of which it resembles a section, and from a conviction that when nature empowered this insect to make a web she also instructed her in the strongest mechanical method of constructing it.

Another idea, taken from nature in the construction of this arch, is that of increasing the strength of matter by dividing and combining it, and thereby causing it to act over a larger space than it would occupy in a solid state, as is seen in the quills of birds, bones of animals, reeds, canes, etc. The curved bars of the arch are composed of pieces of any length joined together to the whole extent of the arch, and take curvature by bending.

Those curves, to any number, height or thickness, as the extent of the arch may require, are raised concentrically one above another, and separated, when the extent of the arch requires it, by the interposition of blocks, tubes, or pins, and the whole bolted close and fast together (the direction of the radius is the best) through the whole thickness of the arch, the bolts being made fast by a head pin or screw at each end of them. This connection forms one arched rib, and the number of ribs to be used is in proportion to the breadth and extent of the arch, and those separate ribs are also combined and braced together by bars passing across all the ribs, and made fast thereto above and below, and as often and wherever the arch, from its extent, depth, and breadth, requires. When this arch is to be applied to the purpose of a bridge, which requires more arches than one, they are to be connected in the following manner (this is to say):

Wood piles are to be driven into the earth; over each of those piles are to be let fall a hollow iron or metal case, with a broad foot let into a bed; the interspace between the case and the wood pile to be filled up with a cement and pinned together. The whole number of those pillars are to be braced together, and formed into a platform for receiving and connecting the arches. The inter spaces of those pillars may be filled with plates of iron or lattice work so as to resemble a pier, or left open – so as to resemble a colonnade of any of the orders of architecture.

Among the advantages of this construction is that of rendering the construction of bridges into a portable manufacture, as the bars and parts of which it is composed need not be longer or larger than is convenient to be stowed in a vessel, boat, or wagon, and that with as much compactness as iron or timber is transported to or from Great Britain; and a bridge of any extent upon this construction may be manufactured in Great Britain and sent to any part of the world to be erected. For the purpose of preserving the iron from rust it is to be varnished over with a coat of melted glass. It ought to be observed that extreme simplicity, though striking to the view, is difficult to be conceived from description, although such description exactly accords, upon inspection, with the thing described.

A practicable method of constructing arches to several hundred feet span, with a small elevation, is the desideratum of bridge architecture, and it is the principle and practicability of constructing and connecting such arches so as totally to remove or effectually lessen the danger and inconvenience of obstructing the channel of rivers, together with that of adding a new and important manufacture to the iron works of the nation, capable of transportation and exportation, that is herein described. When this arch is to be applied to the purpose of a roof and ceiling cords may be added to the arch to supply the want of butments, which are to be braced to or connected with the arch by perpendiculars.

In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Paine, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.

THOMAS (L.S.) PAINE.

Sealed and delivered, being first duly stamped, in the presence of PETER WHITESIDE.

that on the twenty-fifth day of September, in AND BE IT REMEMBERED, the twenty-eighth year of the reign of His Majesty, King George, III, the said Thomas Paine came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the instrument aforesaid,, and all and everything therein contained and specified, in form above written. And also the instrument aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the several statutes made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen, William and Mary of England, and so forth, and in the seventeenth and twenty-third years of the reign of His Majesty King George III.

Enrolled the said twenty-fifth day of September, in the year last above written.