Images above from Library of Congress

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London Sepr. 28th 1790

Dear Sir

I enclose you a few observations on the establishment of a Mint – I have not seen your report on that subject and therefore cannot see how nearly our opinions run together, but as it is by thinking upon and talking subjects over that we approach towards truth there may probably be something in the enclosed that may be of use –

As the establishment of a Mint combines a portion of Politics with a knowledge of the Arts and a variety of other matters it is a subject I shall very much like to talk with you upon.

I intend at all events to be in America in the Spring and it will please me much to arrive before you have gone this the arrangement.

I am D. Sir with much esteem your ot. Hble servant,

THOMAS PAINE.

As I do not know by what means this will arrive, or when it will go – I put nothing in it but the subject I write upon –

From the original letter at the Library of Congress

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London June 28th 1790

Dear Sir

The talk and opinion of War is considerably renewed here since my last of last Frydays M. de la Lucerne’s dispatches – another Messenger arrived here from Madrid on fryday or Saturday last but as nothing transpires it may be concluded that he did not bring very welcome tidings. The English fleet, from every appearance, have received sailing orders and it is expected it will sail this day – Its utmost force is 22 Ships of the line – they still talk of the Dutch fleet of 12 Ships, but it does not positively appear that any have yet joined – no direct opinion is formed of the destination of the English fleet – it may probably only be a short Cruise by way of seasoning the Men as a great part a landsmen – It is said they have 12 Regiments on Board – but this I give as report.

My chief apprehension is that it is to looking for some detachment of the Spanish fleet for this is the English mode of carrying on Naval War, and the Policy by which they succeed and therefore ought to be the most principally guarded against – and where ever you go into Company especially where it may be of use I wish you would impress this strongly & be assured that if they can meet with an advantageous opportunity they will not stand upon ceremonies.

We have accounts here of a Naval action between the Russian and Swedish Fleets in the Baltic – such accounts have certainly arrived but not authoritatively – the probability however is strongly in favour of the report which is that the action commenced on the 2d Inst. and was renewed on the 4th at which time the Russian fleet was reinforced by the fleet from Revel, and that the Swedish Fleet was so disabled that few of them were expected to get back to Carlsecrone. The English Funds fell one per ct. upon this news yesterday.

General Washington has been very ill and Dr. Jones has been to attend him – later reports are that he is better –

I have seen Philadelphia Papers to the 18th of May – every thing going on well – exchange at Philadelphia 14 & 15 pr. Cent Sterling against London – In the United States Gazette, about the middle of May is a Bill said to be intended to be brought into Congress to prohibit all goods, wares, merchandise coming from Rhode Island by Land or by Water entering any part of the United States or any vessel putting into any Port except in distress –

Altho’ there are not yet more than 22 Ships of the line, more are put into Commission and getting ready for Sea – Admiral Barrington has the command at present, but Howe (alias Lord Howe) will probably have the command finally –

There are those here who are inclined to believe that the intended destination is the Baltic but I think the probabilities are against it – If the British Ministry intended the Baltic it was the worst of all policy to alarm by a haughty and threatening message the powers to the southward whose preparations in consequence of that would prevent her operation to the Northward – the only policy, if it can be so called, to account for this absurdity upon is to suppose that Mr. Pitt, elevating himself upon the humbling of France in 1787, imagined he might play the same game over again and go afterwards to the Baltic – He is in my opinion a wretched hand in the affairs of foreign Politics – his forte is that of a Party Man and his success even in this he owes more to the disgust the nation took at the Coalition than to any thing in himself.

Yours very affectionatly

THOMAS PAINE

From the original letter at the Library of Congress

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June 23th & 25 1790

Matters remain here as in my last with respect to Peace and War. The Press-Gangs are not so busy as they were but that perhaps is either owing to Policy, to allure the Seamen to appear more publicly, or on account of the elections for the new Parliament.

The Ministry have got rid of the old Parliament at a very convenient time, for the Government being now entirely executive it has the cover of five or six weeks Secrecy to carry on its Plans unquestioned – Nothing appears here to justify even an opinion of the destination of the fleet – It probably has none and is waiting Circumstances – The utmost Force now ready for Sea is 20 Ships of the Line – from appearances it is but ill provided with Seamen – for the press gangs have taken what ever they could pick up – and a very great Part are Country Landsmen who never saw the Sea – It is clear to me that the English ministry calculated on the inability and neutrality of France and not finding this likely to be the Case their plans, if they had any are deranged – They talk here of a Dutch fleet of 12 Sail of the line coming to join the Fleet at Spithead, but every thing is so over-done and over-said that nothing can be believed –

As the Treaty between France and Holland is still in Existence, notwithstanding the Treaty with England, and acknowledged so by the Dutch, who since the latter Treaty, have in their official communications with France addressed France as their ally – it would I should think be a good maneuver in France to demand of Holland the stipulated succors in case of a war as England has done. The Dutch from the Nature of its Trade want neutrality and of consequence they want a Pretence for it. – This would afford it, as in any case it would enable France to judge of the designs of Holland. From circumstances there appear cause to suspect a good deal of intrigue and management with respect to the Dutch Fleet. The House of Hope had loaned a Sum of Money to Russia, and to account for its being taken, is only to suppose that this was contrived between the loaners and the King of Sweden who should engage to repay it in case Russia did not. This contrivance would answer three purposes: first to disappoint Russia, secondly to assist Sweden, and thirdly to make the contrived capture a pretence for fitting out a fleet without attracting the Notice of France. The two first of these circumstance is generally credited here and I have added the last as a probable inference.

I began this letter yesterday, Thursday. Friday afternoon-Two of the Morning Papers of today says that the Dutch fleet is arrived at Spithead, another (the Herald) says it is sailed toward the Baltic and is not to act in conjunction with the British fleet. There is no country in the world that equals this for intentional Lying.

The press-gangs are at work again and the preparations for war are not slackened. The thing that will be the most likely to prevent a War will be a spirited interference on the part of France. She is now the umpire, but to act with effect she must be well prepared and resolute. Doing things by halves will answer no purpose but that of increasing her expences in the end.

In my former I mentioned the Channel, and every thing I hear and see convinces me that this is the only place to operate with effect. There is no instance I believe to be found in which the English fully risk an action at Sea but when they have the superiority of Ships. In every case of inferiority or equality they either avoid an action or fight shy. They make it a rule to wait the chances of the Seas and to attack only when they have a decided advantage. By the combined fleet acting in a body and not in detachments, these chances are prevented.

The Pigou in 23 days is arrived from Philadelphia in the Channel but I hear of no letters from her yet.

I have just seen a concise account of the deputation from the foreigners to the National Assembly of pulling down the odious figures at the Place de Victoire and the suppression or extinction of Nicknames (titles) – all those things are right – the latter is in my opinion raising Man to his proper rank for nick names serve to diminish him.

I have a very longing desire to see the 14th of July in Paris – if I should come for a short time can you contrive to give me House room.

yours very affectionately

From the original letter at the Library of Congress

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London June 22, 1790

Dear Sir

The paper No. 1 is the beginning of the letter which I mentioned in the few lines which I wrote you by Mr. Hushinson – I now send it because it contains some soft reproaches to the M. de la Fayette which I wish him to know of.

But the principal subject of that letter I have thrown into another form and it contained in the Paper No. 2 – my design in doing this is that it may be translated into French and published. It will make a little pamphlet such as they sell for three or four Sous in Paris – When it is published in French it may be published here as a translation – but you will see by the purport of it that it cannot come out here as an English production -but I wish you first to take it to the M. de la Fayette and closet yourself for half an hour with him and read and talk over the contents – and do not forget to tell him at the same time that I have appointed you my Minister Plenipo to reproach him for his inattention to me for the letters I have written to him, which were merely for his service and not for my own –

I know the character of this Country so well that nothing but carrying a high-hand can manage them – yet they are the greatest Cowards on Earth as all Bullies are; if you impress them rightly – Unaccustomed to wars at home or on their own Coast, they have no Idea of a War but at a distance, and that they are only to read the accounts of it in the news-paper – of this sort of war they make a mere Trade and ever will –

If the present dispute is in negociation or is to be negociated it will be of use to impress them with what France & Spain can do for the Ministry here have committed themselves so fully that unless more reasons can be shewn than what the Ministry will like to give out themselves, they will be surely afraid to close the business, and on the other hand if they intend a war the contents of the enclosed will operate to detain their fleets at home, for such will be the fears and clamours of the John Bulls that the Coast must be guarded at the risk of all other enterprises – and whether their views are to the Baltic, the West Indies or else where the same event will follow, that is, the fleet must keep at home – If France could now have the combined fleets in the Channel and Paul Jones in the North Sea frightened the Bulls last war, she would know at once how to manage this perverse Country —

As the Bulls never talk but of one thing at a time, the whole talk now is Electionering – when that is over – they will talk again about Peace & War. I believe the utmost force that this Country could now put to Sea is not 20 Ships of the line, and which has no Land Troops on Board worth mentioning – she cannot man her fleet but under a great length of time – because the greatest part of her seamen are abroad. Therefore France and Spain gain nothing by delay –

Last Sunday Evening I was at the Marquis de la Lucerne’s and I shall dine there on Thursday next. M. le Portier, who is a great Revolutionist and who lived in M. Noailles family when ambassador here and is a great Champion for the Marquis de la Fayette, is uneasy for consequences on the 14 of July – He hears all that passes among the Duke of Luxemburgh who, he says, is an outrageous Aristocrat and the rest of that Tribe – The Duke’s Sons had gone to Falmouth to take the Packet for Lisbon but were recalled and returned to London – He tells me they are all set off again, he knows not where, and he is afraid they have mischief in their hearts –

If on consultation it should be concluded to translate and publish the enclosed I must desire you to send me some of the publications and also the original which I shall publish here as a translation for I have no time to make a copy, it being now near five o’clock and it goes off at Six – but you must put these under Cover to me and send in M. Lucerne’s dispatches. The Porter will take care that they come safe to me –

The American Papers mention that the Exports of Flour, Grain, Rice, Corn last year was 15 Millions of Dollars — The clearances from Philadelphia last year was 1258 Tail, it never amounted to 800 before the revolution. This is great encouragement to promote the principle of Revolution.

Tho. Paine

From the original letter at the Library of Congress

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London June 4th 1790

Dear Sir

This is the third letter I have written you and I begin it before I know what the News of the day is – You will hear something about the return of the English Messenger but you are to understand this is not the Messenger who was sent on the 6th of May with the peremptory demand – his name is Basilico – This is Flint who was sent off some days previous to B_ with dispatches overland to Gibralter – Flint I believe passed through Madrid on his return while B_ was there but nothing transpires from anything which Flint has brought – The Stocks rose upon the return of F_ and a report was immediately circulated that Spain had signed an unconditional Submission – They fell again (one 7s. 6d.) yesterday – The total inability of France to take any Part is yet in everybody’s mouth, but I believe some of them begin to fear or think otherwise.

The Statement delivered in by M. Necker has given me infinite pleasure – I never had any doubt upon the final Success of the French finances – National Wealth may be created by opinion as in England – But in France where there are mines of real resources, time and good management cannot fail to bring them forth –

The preparations for war here goes on – It signifies not doing things by halves – therefore till France and Spain exert themselves fully England will ever be an insolent neighbor – bullying first one, and then the other – yet were a combined fleet now to come up the Channel, this City (London) would be in the most perfect consternation, for they have lived so long without being molested at home that they are become Bullies abroad and Cowards at home. –

Doctor Franklin has finished his Career – he died the saturday before the 27th of April. Congress goes into Mourning a Month on the Occasion – old Mr. Vaughn who writes the letter from Philadelphia says that his funeral procession was attended by the greatest Concourse of people he ever saw except the Coronation at London – not only the Streets, Windows, and Roofs but the Tops of the Chimneys were covered with people.

Mr. Casertir shewed me a letter from Boyd & Carr house, Paris, which says that the Prussian Treasury is a sec (dry) – the letter is from Furguson.

I imagine that the King of Prussia has collected an Army too unwieldy for his resources.

Adieu. Let me hear from you some how or other – If you do not chuse to write by M. de la Lucerne’s dispatches, write to me under Cover to Mr. Parker No. 18 Leicester Square.

yours truly

There is much talk that the fleet preparing here about 12 or 14 Sail of the Line will go into the Baltic