We thank Paul Myles for the transcript of this important letter, now in the British Library (BL ADD 58968 F 67 Account of Dover to Calais by J. Mason), from the government agent J. Mason, to J.B. Surges. an under secretary for foreign affairs, which demolishes the constantly repeated mantra of Paine having fled the country to escape arrest. It is clear from what Mason writes that Paine had agreed to travel to France following the arrival of an official representative from the municipality of Calais, the people of which had elected him to represent them in the French National Assembly, sent to invite and accompany him there. The text remains as written.
– R.W. Morrell
To James Bland Burges Esq
etc. etc. etc.
Whitehall
to Dover by favor of the captain of the Kings Packet the Courier Sept 15th London
I take the liberty of informing you that in the packet which brought me from Dover here, this morning, came Mr Thos Paine, the Great Patriot accompanied by a Mr Audibert , a [ municipal officer] of this place, who, by the accounts before I left Paris was sent to London to fetch him, a Mr Frost an Attorney, of Electioneering memory if I am mistaken not, accompanied them, and is going to Paris with them- They arrived at Dover at halt past ten, this morning, and, as Mr Audibert said were followed from London by a P. Chaise all the way, when they got to the inn the officers of the customs came and insisted on searching them, which, after some objections on their part, was submitted to, as force was threatened in case of refusal, the officers said they on information etc, which Mr Audibert wanted them to produce, but they did not, they were kept an hour and 5 minutes in the room, with the door locked a great part of the time,
Mr Frost (I heard him) said he wanted to go to the recugury (toilet) and they refused to let him go. They examined their papers very strictly and opened some of their letters, the most suspected no doubt and took the directions of the others, when asked what money they had, Mr P. told that in the Packet, he had about 25 guineas. I believe they made him count them. I think, but not so positive as to this, Mr A. said he tore a letter that their curiosity might not be satisfied in reading it notwithstanding it was of no consequence, according to his account. Mr Audibert complains violently of the ill treatment they received, and being kept in prison for an hour and 5, after his being so serviceable to members of English at Calais etc.etc.etc.
Threatens he will publish it in all the English papers, if they will not put it in, he says he will have bills posted up at his expense in London to publish it to the nation. This group of 3 set off tomorrow I believe, for Paris, therefore the National Assembly will be informed of it in the course of a few days. This company sir, went on board the packet immediately on being liberated, the packet was followed ’till out of the pier, which might be a quarter of an hour, by numbers of people, to stare at Tom Paine, as they called him, he was hissed a great deal, and a many ridiculous speeches made relative to his trade, / he has been a stay maker at Dover / the crowd increased very much, the wind being stuck the Packet was obliged to be towed out, I believe had we remained much longer, they would have pelted him with stones from the beach.
Personally Sir, he is a very mean looking man, it is in my opinion a disgrace to them, rather than a merit that a better representative can not be found at home without having recourse to a foreigner, like him. He is the picture of a journeyman Taylor who has been drunk and playing at nine pins for the 3 first days of the week, and is returning to his work on Thursday. We arrived at Calais and as soon as he was known to be on the shore the people flocked to see him, and it was talked of saluting him with the guard as he passed the Place d’ Armes, it rained hard as I left him.
He has had an interview this evening with Lord Landerdale, who I believe was desirous of seeing him and has been also at the assembly of the [ In e o buis ] here, which I believe is held three times a week, Mr Paine made a very short speech there I in English / en quatre mots / saying that he was proud of the honour the citizens of the Pas du Calais, had done him in electing him etc. That he had ever been a friend to the rights of man. and hoped that he should continue to be so nearly these words.
The captain of the Packet told me it was an order from the Treasury to examine them- I perhaps need not inform you of that Sir. I saw this morning at Dover a man of the name of Clark, from the upper office, who was just arrived from London, who with one of this place, Dover, possibly came about this business. I hope Sir, this might come safe to your hand, the Captain Jo. Oyton of the courier packet who sails tomorrow has promised to put it in the post at Dover, I leave it in the care of the Landlord here, for this purpose.
Upwards of 200 Frenchmen arrived yesterday at Dover from Dieppe etc. this morning about 60 sailed in a boat for Ostend, the Town is full of them.
I have the honour to be, with the utmost respect
Sir
your most obedient and most humble servant
J. Mason
Calais
11 o’ clock, Friday Morning Sept. 14th 1792
J B Burges Esq.
London
(BL ADD 58968 F. 67 Account of Dover to Calais by J. Mason)
(The London Mission of Thomas Pinckney, 1792-1798 Author(s): Samuel Flagg Bemis Source: The American Historical Review, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Jan., 1923), pp. 228- 247)