No. 4 Rue du theatre francais, 24 Germinal 6 year

CITIZEN PRESIDENT:

In a letter to the Director Revelliere le Peaux a few days past, I mentioned that I had reasons for believing that the orders of the Directory were made a trade of. I am now assured of the fact. The Citizen Connolly born in Ireland, but who has lived more than 32 years in America, and served as Captain and Major in the American Revolution, is one of the persons from whom money has been extorted. He went from Paris to Havre, on his commercial affairs, was put in arrestation, taken to prison, and liberated for 4800 livres (200 louis d’ors). They asked 15, or 16,000 livres. The duty I owe to justice and to friendship makes it incumbent on me to state this case to the Directory. Connolly lives at the Coffee Boston Rue Vivienne, and I am told that the Secretary of the Judge du Paix is now in Paris. I do not send the written account which Connelly has given to me, because the Directory can order that his deposition be taken.

Salut et respect

THOMAS PAINE.

PARIS,

CITIZENS REPRESENTATIVES :

Though it is not convenient to me, in the present situation of my affairs, to subscribe to the loan toward the descent upon England, my economy permits me to make a small patriotic donation. I send a hundred livres, and with it all the wishes of my heart for the success of the descent, and a voluntary offer of any service I can render to promote it.

There will be no lasting peace for France, nor for the world, until the tyranny and corruption of the English government be abolished, and England, like Italy, become a sister Republic. As to those men, whether in England, Scotland, or Ireland, who, like Robespierre in France, are covered with crimes, they, like him, have no other resource than committing more. But the mass of the people are the friends of liberty: tyranny and taxation oppress them, but they deserve to be free.

Accept, Citizens Representatives, the congratulations of an old colleague in the dangers we have passed and on the happy prospect before us.

Salut et Respect.

THOMAS PAINE.