Letter To Dr. Goldsmith

Honored Sir: 

Herewith I present you with the case of the officers of excise.  A compliment of this kind from an entire stranger may appear somewhat singular; but the following reasons and information will, I presume, sufficiently apologize.
 
I act, myself, in the humble station of an officer of excise, though somewhat differently circumstanced to what many of them are, and have been the principal promoter of a plan for applying to Parliament this session for an increase of salary.

A petition for this purpose has been translated through every part of the kingdom, and signed by all the officers therein.  A subscription of three shillings per officer is raised, amounting to upwards of £500, for supporting the expenses.  The excise officers in all cities and corporate towns, have obtained letters of recommendation from the electors to the members in their behalf, many or most of whom have promised their support.  The inclosed case we have presented to most of the members, and shall to all, before the petition appears in the House.   [begin page 209]
 
The memorial before you, met with so much approbation while in manuscript, that I was advised to print four thousand copies: three thousand of which were subscribed for the officers in general, and the remaining one thousand reserved for presents.  Since the delivering them I have received so many letters of thanks and approbation for the performance, that were I not rather singularly modest, I should insensibly become a little vain.  The literary fame of Dr. Goldsmith has induced me to present one to him, such as it is.  It is my first and only attempt, and even now I should not have undertaken it, had I not been particularly applied to by some of my superiors in office. 

I have some few questions to trouble Dr. Goldsmith with, and should esteem his company for an hour or two, to partake of a bottle of wine, or anything else, and apologize for this trouble, as a singular favor conferred on

His unknown Humble servant and admirer, 

Thomas Paine.
Excise Coffee House, 
Broad Street, December 21, 1772.

P .S. Shall take the liberty of waiting on you in a day or two.