Lot 237
Paine, Thomas (1737-1809) Radical American patriot and revolutionary propagandist; author of the pamphlet "Common Sense." Autograph Note Signed, 1 page, 4¾ x 7 in., n.p. (Paris), 4 Vendermaere (probably a misspelling of Vendémiaire, the first month of the French Revolutionary calendar, making the date Sept. 26), n.y. (c. 1787-89). To To Ira Allen (1751-1814), brother of Revolutionary War Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen: "Dear citizen--I called at the Caffe Boston today, where I dined, but you were not at home,--will you call on me tomorrow morining, at 12 O Clock. Thomas Paine." On the verso, Paine addressed the note to "L[e] General Allen / Americain." The Cafe Boston was a gathering-place for Americans in Paris. Very good; overall toning, some ink bleeding. Boldly penned and signed.
In 1787, Paine moved to Europe and fanned the flames of revolution in Britain (he was forced to leave Britain and declared an outlaw in 1792), and in France, where he became a citizen and member of the National Convention. Eventually he was imprisoned and would probably have become a victim of Madame Guillotine had it not been for the intercession of American minister James Monroe.
Ira Allen was a general in the Vermont militia and used that title while in Europe. He went to Paris from England in 1796 after the failure of his attempt to get England to finance a ship canal between the Richelieu and St. Lawrence Rivers, which would have allowed him to turn Burlington, Vermont, into a port that could trade directly with England. Since Ira owned some 200,000 acres in the Champlain Valley, accomplishing that goal would have made him rich beyond measure. When England turned him down, Ira tried to convince France to finance a revolution in British Canada, create an independent republic called United Columbia and build Ira's canal so Burlington could trade directly with France. Ira got the French money and guns, but the British captured his ship, Olive Branch, and hauled him back to England, where he spent a year in court trying to get his guns back; when the British courts said he'd have a chance if he had adequate documentation of having bought the guns from France, he went back to Paris and got thrown into prison by a revolutionary government that had changed members since he had been there the first time. Ira languished in two Paris jails for a year and didn't get back to
America until 1801, where he went bankrupt and spent his last 13 years in poverty and despair.
(Our thanks to J. Kevin Graffagnino, Director of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan for the information on Ira Allen.).
Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000.
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| Realized $12,925 |
