Hello. You have not informed which essay this question refers to, which makes it impossible for it to be answered. However, I will try to help you in the best possible way.
The person or group of people to whom Paine is addressing the essay should be quoted in the essay either implicitly or explicitly. You will be able to understand this by reading the essay and paying attention to the subject you are talking about, in case he has not determined which audience the essay wants to reach. If he is making a direct criticism of the government, it means that Paine is addressing the essay to members of the government, if he is advising the American population about something, it means that he is addressing the essay to the American population.
The success of Paine's writing with the public was a result of his ability to write for all classes. That's because Paine used very direct and simple writing, saying that anyone who read his texts could understand exactly what he was talking about, regardless of the person's level of education. Paine did not use elitist words, but he wrote very simply and clearly. He did this because he wanted his texts to reach as many people as possible.