being accepted by Bell, whose first edition appeared on January 8, 1776. The publication was anonymous and the authorship
at first attributed to Franklin, John Adams and others. The attribution to Franklin was mentioned in a letter written by Jefferson
on January 19, 1821, to Francis Eppes, who had requested Jefferson’s opinion on Bolingbroke and Paine: “
. . . no writer has exceeded Paine in ease and familiarity of style; in perspicuity of expression, happiness of elucidation,
and in simple and unassuming language. in this he may be compared with D
r. Franklin: and indeed his Common sense was, for awhile, believed to have been written by D
r. Franklin, and published under the borrowed name of Paine, who had come over with him from England . . .
”
[3112]
2. CANDIDUS.
Plain Truth; addressed to the inhabitants of America, containing, remarks on a late pamphlet, entitled Common Sense: wherein
are shewn, that the scheme of independence is ruinous, delusive, and impracticable: that were the author’s asseverations,
respecting the power of America, as real as nugatory; reconciliation on liberal principles with Great Britain, would be exalted
policy: and that circumstanced as we are, permanent liberty, and true happiness, can only be obtained, by honorable connections,
with that kingdom. Written by Candidus. The
second edition . . .
Philadelphia: printed, and sold, by
R. Bell,
mdcclxxvi
. [1776.]
8vo. 3 parts in 1, 72 leaves in fours; continuous signatures and pagination; preceding the title leaf is a leaf with
The Printer to the Public on the freedom of the Press and an announcement of the third edition of
Common Sense
; the text of
Plain Truth ends on page 74, sig. K
1 verso, and is followed by a publication by Rationalis, 14 leaves; on M
4 is the title with
Bell’s imprint for
Additions to Plain Truth . . . written by the author of Plain Truth. At the end is
Bell’s advertisement for the next following tract, dated April 10th,
1776.
Halkett and Laing IV, 356 (by Dr. William Smith of Philadelphia).
Sabin 10671 (probably by Galloway).
Evans 15089 (under Smith).
Hildeburn 3345 (under George Chalmers).
Jefferson was of the opinion that Alexander Hamilton was the author of this pamphlet, and on a copy of the first edition in
his collection (see no. 3120 below) he has written on the title-page:
by Alexander Hamilton.
Under date November 19, 1792, Jefferson wrote in the “
Anas”:
Beckley brings me the pamphlet written by Hamilton before the war in answer to Common Sense. it is entitled ‘Plain Truth.’
Melancton Smith sends it to Beckley & in his l
(
~
r)
e says it was not printed in N. York by Loudon because prevented by a Mob, and was printed in Philadã, and that he has these
facts from Loudon.
The first edition of this tract was published by Bell in Philadelphia earlier in the same year and has been ascribed to various
authors, including Hamilton, though, according to some of the authorities referred to above, not before 1792, and only by
his political enemies. For a discussion of the authorship see Hildeburn and Evans, and an article by Paul Leicester Ford entitled
“The Authorship of ‘Plain Truth’” in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. XII, page 421. Ford discusses
Jefferson’s statements above, and ascribes the pamphlet to William Smith of Philadelphia. Oliver Ellsworth, in his copy now
in the Library of Congress, has written on the title-page
By William Smith.
[3113]
3. [GREEN,
Jacob.]
Observations: on the Reconciliation of Great-Britain, and the Colonies; in which are exhibited, arguments for, and against,
that measure. By a friend of American Liberty . . .
Philadelphia: printed, by
Robert Bell,
mdcclxxvi
. [1776.]
