Thomas Paine Partial Autograph Letter. One page, 7.25" 2.5" (sight), no place; no date. Addressed to a Mr. [William] Duane regarding New York Harbor defense. It reads in full: "As the Aurora is become a center of information to the Union I send you some observations on a motion of Mr. Mumford for fortifying New York; and as the writer of this respects the character of Mr. Mumford, that gentleman will find nothing to be displeased with personally in these observations." Unsigned. Matted and framed with two prints to an overall size of 16.75" x 9.5". Not examined outside of the frame. William Duane (1760-1835) was an American journalist and editor of the Philadelphia Aurora, an anti-federalist newspaper which was active from 1794 to 1824. Duane was so outspoken against the Federalist party that he was once pulled from his office and beaten in the street by an unruly mob. He was arrested twice under the Alien and Sedition Acts. However Thomas Jefferson, who credited the Aurora and Duane with his presidential win, had Duane acquitted of the charges. Condition: Rubbed and lightly toned. Moderately toned along edges. Dampstain to matting at bottom margin. Frame is scratched and chipped in places. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved