He has been called "one of the most extraordinary and contradictory characters in American History." The book reads like a script from a Hollywood action movie! A quite rare and important copy of the 1792 Memoirs of Charles Lee, Esq., authored by one of Americas Founding Fathers and Edited by none other than Thomas Paine himself. The first edition, published by T. Allen - Bookseller & Stationer at No. 12 Queen Street in New York. It also includes Lees' "Political and Military Essays," along with "Letters to and from many Distinguished Characters Both in Europe and America." Charles Lee, Esq. Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-Fourth Regiment; Colonel in the Portuguese Service; Major General and Aid De Camp to the King in Poland and second in command in the service of the United States of America during the revolution. First Edition (Howes L83 - Sabin 38903 - Evans 24456). Howes says the editor of this book was none other than Thomas Paine, working under the direction of author Edward Langworthy, (One of Americas Founding Fathers and a Delegate to the Continental Congress from Georgia). Condition: 12mo. 192pages - A very good copy in full calf leather with the original leather spine label. Scattered foxing and toning with some chipping to the outer edge of a few pages, and an inscription on the front blank preliminary page stating, "Joseph Brownells Book Bought in the Year 1806."