1799 Archives https://thomaspaine.org/tag/1799/ Educating the world about the life, works, and legacy of Thomas Paine Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:19:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://thomaspaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/cropped-favicon-150x150.jpg 1799 Archives https://thomaspaine.org/tag/1799/ 32 32 Notes On Thomas Muir, 1765-1799   https://thomaspaine.org/thomas-paine-society-uk/notes-on-thomas-muir-1765-1799/ Sat, 02 Jan 1993 00:57:00 +0000 https://thomaspaine.org/?p=8570 Thomas Muir was one of the seven Scottish martyrs sentenced to Botany Bay in 1793 for sedition. The charges included circulating Rights of Man. He met Thomas Paine in Paris.

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Thomas Muir (1765-1799) with a large black patch over his right eye, engraved by François Bonneville – link

Thomas Muir was one of the seven Scottish martyrs sentenced to Botany Bay in 1793 for sedition. The charges included circulating Rights of Man. He met Thomas Paine in Paris and the seven martyrs are commemorated by an obelisk erected in 1851 at Nunhead cemetery,  Rye Hill Estate, London.  

After being arrested in January 1793 for his so-called seditious  activities; Muir was released on bail and then he went to France to warn  the French that the execution of the monarch would be counter  productive to the reform movement. He came back via Ireland and was  arrested again at Stranraer. Being a barrister he defended himself at his  trial.  

This intrepid character escaped captivity en route to Botany Bay in  the Friendly Isles and after many adventures, including being badly  wounded when the Spanish ship he was on was attacked by a British  warship, he got back to France, where he was feted on his arrival in Bordeaux and Paris. 

He eventually died at Chantilly, a suburb of Paris,  having succumbed to the wounds he had received coupled with the  effect of his other ordeals.  

The Thomas Paine Society hope to be associated with the friends of Nunhead Cemetery in commemorating the 200th anniversary of the  sentencing of the Scottish martyrs.  

A recent copy of a Norfolk paper reveals a fitting coincidence in that a Thomas Muir is now manager of the Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford,  which stands on the traditional site of Paine’s birthplace.

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]]> To General Brune November, 1799 https://thomaspaine.org/letters/to-general-brune-november-1799/ Fri, 01 Nov 1799 00:00:00 +0000 https://thomaspaine.org/1799/11/01/to-general-brune-november-1799/ 8 Brumaire, 8 year DIEPPE I congratulate you, my dear and brave general, on your happy and glorious success in Holland. It is a death blow to the coalition and to the politics of the English government. I see that general Knox is to remain a hostage till the articles are fulfilled on the part […]

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8 Brumaire, 8 year

DIEPPE

I congratulate you, my dear and brave general, on your happy and glorious success in Holland. It is a death blow to the coalition and to the politics of the English government. I see that general Knox is to remain a hostage till the articles are fulfilled on the part of the enemy. That government is not very faithful in fulfilling articles of capitulation. When the Duke of Cumberland (son of George 2d) commanded the army of observation in Hanover in the year 1757, he signed articles of capitulation (the convention of Closterseven) to the Duke of Richelieu which the English government refused to fulfill, and a similar case occurred in the American war when the English general Burgoyne signed articles of capitulation to the American general Gates at Saratoga. If the English government (after their army is relanded in England) can find any pretence to avoid fulfilling the articles they will do it. But whether they fulfill them or not, it is a glorious conquest. There is now no more new coalition to be raised. Every Nation in Europe (except Denmark) has entered in coalitions against republican France and France has defeated them all. When I look back to three or four months, and compare the glorious state of things now, with the wretched state of things then, I feel astonishment. The brave Dewinter I understand is with you, please to present to him my respects and my congratulations. I hope to see him again at the head of a Batavian Navy, and the days of Van Trumpt renewed.

England is certainly powerful at sea, but in the American war she was inferior to the combined fleets of France, Spain, and Holland, and will be so again. There will be no safety on the ocean till that tyrannical power be reduced, or a revolution affected in that country. In military tactics they have neither skill nor experience. There is not an English general that knows how to command more than ten thousand men. As I have always intended to write a history, in English, of the revolutions I have seen I shall with double pleasure record this glorious exploit in Holland, and that I may do it full justice, I will at some future day, when you have leisure, ask you for some particulars.

As the Batavians will now have to raise a new Navy, and can not confide in the officers that surrendered the fleet to the enemy, they will, of consequence, have a new corps of officers to raise. I have a friend, an American, who has been bred up to sea from his infancy, and is very desirous of serving under Admiral Dewinter. He is in the prime of life, brave, and a complete seaman. He has purchased national property in France, sufficient to live upon at land, but his element is the sea. He is an intimate acquaintance of General Olivier who is returned to Paris from Italy in good health, but with the loss of a leg.

I am much concerned at the fate of an old friend of mine, Napper Tandy, delivered to the English by the Senate of Hamburg, at the instigation of Paul. Should any circumstances put it in your power to befriend him I confide in your patriotism to do it.

I have been passing some time at this place at the house of a friend who lives here. I shall stay here two or three months. It was my intention to have come to Holland if the war had continued. Nothing would have given me more pleasure than to have seen the John Bulls (les Jean Taureaux) defeated. However I live in hopes of seeing a descent upon England. If you find a moment to spare it will give me great pleasure to receive a line from you. Direct to me at Bonneville’s N. 4 Rue Theatre Frangais, Paris who will forward it to me. Sincerely wishing you a continuance of your health happiness and success, I remain your affectionate friend,

THOMAS PAINE

PAINE WRITINGS LEGEND

Major Works Major Works
American Revolution American Revolution
American Politics & Government American Politics & Government
Essays Essays
English Affairs English Affairs
French Revolution French Revolution
Other Other
Poetry Poetry
Religion Religion
Letters Letters
recently Discovered Recently Discovered
Works Removed Works Removed

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The post The Will of Thomas Paine appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

]]> Star in the East https://thomaspaine.org/essays/poetry/star-in-the-east/ Tue, 01 Jan 1799 00:00:00 +0000 https://thomaspaine.org/1799/01/01/star-in-the-east/ COMMENTARY ON THE EASTERN WISE-MEN TRAVELLING TO BETHLEHEM GUIDED BY A STAR, TO SEE THE LITTLE JESUS IN A MANGER Mat. Chap. 2. THREE pedlars Trav’ling to a fair, To see the fun & what was there, and sell their merchandise They stopt upon the road to chat. Refresh and ask of this or that […]

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]]> COMMENTARY ON THE EASTERN WISE-MEN TRAVELLING TO BETHLEHEM

GUIDED BY A STAR, TO SEE THE LITTLE JESUS IN A MANGER

Mat. Chap. 2.

THREE pedlars Trav’ling to a fair,

To see the fun & what was there,

and sell their merchandise

They stopt upon the road to chat.

Refresh and ask of this or that

That they might be more wise

And pray, the landlord said to them

Where go ye sirs?, To Bethlehem,

the Citizens replied.

Ye are merchants sirs to them said he,

We are replied the pedlars three:

and Eastern men beside

And pray what have ye in your sacks,

If worth the while I will go snacks:

To them Quoth Major Domo.

We’ve buttons, buckles, spectacles

and every thing a merchant sells

replied the travelling trio.

These things are very well said he,

For beaux, and those who cannot see,

much further than their knuckles,

But Bethlehem fairs’ for boys & girls,

who never think of spectacles

and cannot buy your buckles

I have a pack of Toys quoth he

a Travelling merchant left with me

who could not pay his score.

And you shall have them on condition

You sell them at a cheap commission

and make the money sure.

There’s one of us will stay in pawn

until the other two return

If you suspect our faith as they.

The Landlord tho’t this was a plan,

o leave upon his hands the man,

and therefore he said nay.

They truck’d however for the pack

which one of them took on his back,

and off the merchants travell’d

and here the tale, the apostles told,

of wise men and, their gifts of gold,,

will fully be unravell’d

The star in the East, that shin’d so bright,

as might be seen both day and night,

if you will credit them;

It was no other than a sign,

To a public House, where pedlars dine;

In East street Bethlehem.

The wise men were those pedlars three,

as you, and all the world may see,

By reading to the end:

For commentators have mistook,

In paraphrasing of a Book,

They did not understand.

Our Travellers coming to the House,

Scarce fit to entertain a mouse:

Inquired to have a room.

The Landlord said he was not able

to give them any but the stable,

As many folks were come.

And pray who have you there said they,

and how much money must we pay,

for we have none to spare:

why theres one Joseph and a wench

who are to go before the bench,

about a love affair.

Somehow or other in a manger

a child exposed to every danger

was found as it was sleeping:

The girl she swears, that she’s a maid,

so swears the man, and I’m afraid:

on me will fall the keeping.

Now if you’l set yourselves about

To find this knotty story out

I’ll pay whate’er it may be.

So in the travelling pedlars went,

To pay their birthday compliment,

and talk about the Baby.

They first unpack’d their pack of Toys,

some for show and some for noise,

But mostly for the latter.

One gave a rattle, one a whistle,

and one a Trumpet made of gristle,

To Introduce the matter.

One squeak’d away, the other blew,

The third play’d on the rattle too,

To keep the bautling easy.

And thus the story comes to us,

of which the people make such a fuss,

about the Eastern Magi.

COMMENTARY ON THE EASTERN WISE-MEN TRAVELLING TO BETHLEHEM

GUIDED BY A STAR, TO SEE THE LITTLE JESUS IN A MANGER

Mat. Chap. 2.

THREE pedlars Trav’ling to a fair,

To see the fun & what was there,

and sell their merchandise

They stopt upon the road to chat.

Refresh and ask of this or that

That they might be more wise

And pray, the landlord said to them

Where go ye sirs?, To Bethlehem,

the Citizens replied.

Ye are merchants sirs to them said he,

We are replied the pedlars three:

and Eastern men beside

And pray what have ye in your sacks,

If worth the while I will go snacks:

To them Quoth Major Domo.

We’ve buttons, buckles, spectacles

and every thing a merchant sells

replied the travelling trio.

These things are very well said he,

For beaux, and those who cannot see,

much further than their knuckles,

But Bethlehem fairs’ for boys & girls,

who never think of spectacles

and cannot buy your buckles

I have a pack of Toys quoth he

a Travelling merchant left with me

who could not pay his score.

And you shall have them on condition

You sell them at a cheap commission

and make the money sure.

There’s one of us will stay in pawn

until the other two return

If you suspect our faith as they.

The Landlord tho’t this was a plan,

o leave upon his hands the man,

and therefore he said nay.

They truck’d however for the pack

which one of them took on his back,

and off the merchants travell’d

and here the tale, the apostles told,

of wise men and, their gifts of gold,,

will fully be unravell’d

The star in the East, that shin’d so bright,

as might be seen both day and night,

if you will credit them;

It was no other than a sign,

To a public House, where pedlars dine;

In East street Bethlehem.

The wise men were those pedlars three,

as you, and all the world may see,

By reading to the end:

For commentators have mistook,

In paraphrasing of a Book,

They did not understand.

Our Travellers coming to the House,

Scarce fit to entertain a mouse:

Inquired to have a room.

The Landlord said he was not able

to give them any but the stable,

As many folks were come.

And pray who have you there said they,

and how much money must we pay,

for we have none to spare:

why theres one Joseph and a wench

who are to go before the bench,

about a love affair.

Somehow or other in a manger

a child exposed to every danger

was found as it was sleeping:

The girl she swears, that she’s a maid,

so swears the man, and I’m afraid:

on me will fall the keeping.

Now if you’l set yourselves about

To find this knotty story out

I’ll pay whate’er it may be.

So in the travelling pedlars went,

To pay their birthday compliment,

and talk about the Baby.

They first unpack’d their pack of Toys,

some for show and some for noise,

But mostly for the latter.

One gave a rattle, one a whistle,

and one a Trumpet made of gristle,

To Introduce the matter.

One squeak’d away, the other blew,

The third play’d on the rattle too,

To keep the bautling easy.

And thus the story comes to us,

of which the people make such a fuss,

PAINE WRITINGS LEGEND

Major Works Major Works
American Revolution American Revolution
American Politics & Government American Politics & Government
Essays Essays
English Affairs English Affairs
French Revolution French Revolution
Other Other
Poetry Poetry
Religion Religion
Letters Letters
recently Discovered Recently Discovered
Works Removed Works Removed

1772

1775

1776

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