Many had responded to Paine’s stirring words in The Crisis – “These are the times that try men’s souls” – and Jefferson continually lauded Paine as the author of Common Sense, published in 1776.įollowing the revolution, Paine moved back across the Atlantic and by 1791 was busy publishing a new, politically-charged pamphlet in London that upon reaching America would link the names of Jefferson and Paine. Jefferson’s feelings for Paine, who had migrated to America from England in 1774, stemmed from his pro-independence writings during the American Revolution. Bonneville provides insight into his feelings toward Paine: “hile he lived, I thought it a duty, as well as a test of my own political principles to support him against the persecutions of an unprincipled faction.” At age 70, he desired “tranquility” and did not want to risk arousing old political animosities. The answer was negative Jefferson requested that the letters not be published during his lifetime. She wished to publish the correspondence between Paine and Jefferson. The letter was from Margaret Brazier Bonneville, who had cared for the famous pamphleteer during his final illness and had been rewarded with his papers. Thomas Jefferson was settled into retirement in 1813 when he received a request related to his long association and friendship with the notorious Thomas Paine.
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