Posted by Barb Jacobson on April 22, 19103 at 07:13:08:

In Reply to: THOMAS PAINE posted by Ryan Cost on October 23, 19100 at 22:05:19:

: Greetings,
: I am a 16-yr old AP History student in Cinicinnati OH
: I am wondering about Paine's involvement with the French as it relates to his run-in's with George Washington. He was apparently unhappy about Washington's anti-French policies especially with the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793.
: If you have any extra information on Paine's writings which put Washington down, it will be greatly appreciated.

: Thank you very much
: Ryan

Dear Ryan,

This is probably too late for your research, but just to say that more than any policy dispute, Paine felt very much betrayed by Washington for not working harder to get him out of prison during the Terror. A note was found soon after Robespierre fell, from Gouveneur Morris, US ambador to France at the time, to the effect that the US government wouldn't be too upset if Paine stayed in prison for good. This was again not so much about his politics as for his publishing 'Age of Reason' - which was NOT anti-god, but was radically anti-bible, and lost him his high reputation in the US.

G. Morris's attitude to Paine is most fully explored in David Freeman Hawke's 'Paine' biography.

Hope this is of some use.
B. Jacobson

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