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diff --git a/old/40208.txt b/old/40208.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cb42a5a..0000000 --- a/old/40208.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1440 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Life of Thomas Paine, by Richard Carlile - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Life of Thomas Paine - Written Purposely to Bind with his Writings - -Author: Richard Carlile - -Release Date: July 11, 2012 [EBook #40208] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE *** - - - - -Produced by David Widger - - - - - -LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE - -WRITTEN PURPOSELY TO BIND WITH HIS WRITINGS - -By Richard Carlile - -SECOND EDITION. - -1821. - -LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE - -The present Memoir is not written as a thing altogether necessary, -or what was much wanted, but because it is usual and fitting in all -collections of the writings of the same Author to accompany them with a -brief account of his life; so that the reader might at the same time be -furnished with a key to the Author's mind, principles, and works, as -the best general preface. On such an occasion it does not become the -Compiler to seek after the adulation of friends, or the slander of -enemies; it is equally unnecessary to please or perplex the reader with -either; for when an author has passed the bar of nature, it behoves us -not to listen to any tales about what he was, or what he did, but to -form our judgments of the utility or non-utility of his life, by the -writings he has left behind him. Our business is with the spirit or -immortal part of the man. If his writings be calculated to render -him immortal, we have nothing to do with the body that is earthly and -corruptible, and which passes away into the common mass of regenerating -matter. Whilst the man is living, we are justified in prying into his -actions to see whether his example corresponds with his precept, but -when dead, his writings must stand or fall by the test of reason and its -influence on public opinion. The excess of admiration and vituperation -has gone forth against the name and memory of the Author of "Rights of -Man," and "Age of Reason," but it shall be the endeavour of the -present Compiler to steer clear of both, and to draw from the reader -an acknowledgement that here the Life and Character of Paine is fairly -stated, and that here the enquirer after truth may find that which he -most desires--an unvarnished statement. - -Thomas Paine was born at Thetford, in the county of Norfolk, in England, -on the 29th of January, 1737. He received such education as the town -could afford him, until he was thirteen years of age, when his father, -who was a staymaker, took him upon the shop-board. Before his twentieth -year, he set out for London to work as a journeyman, and from London to -the coast of Kent. Here he became inflamed with the desire of a trip to -sea, and he accordingly served in two privateers, but was prevailed upon -by the affectionate remonstrances of his father, who had been bred a -Quaker, to relinquish the sea-faring life. He then set up as a master -stay maker at Sandwich, in the county of Kent, when he was about -twenty-three years of age. It appears that he had a thorough distaste -for this trade, and having married the daughter of an exciseman, he soon -began to turn his attention to that office. Having qualified himself he -soon got appointed, but from some unknown cause his commission scarcely -exceeded a year. He then filled the office of an usher at two different -schools in the suburbs of London, and by his assiduous application -to study, and by his regular attendance at certain astronomical and -mathematical lectures in London, he became a proficient in those -sciences, and from this moment his mind, which was correct and -sound, began to expand, and here that lustre began to sparkle, which -subsequently burst into a blaze, and gave light both to America and -Europe. - -He again obtained an appointment in the Excise, and was stationed at -Lewes, in Sussex, and in this town the first known production of his pen -was printed and published. He had displayed considerable ability in two -or three poetical compositions, and his fame beginning to spread in -this neighbourhood, he was selected by the whole body of excisemen to -draw up a case in support of a petition they were about to present to -Parliament for an increase of salary. This task he performed in a most -able and satisfactory manner, and although this incident drew forth his -first essay at prose composition, it would have done honour to the first -literary character in the country; and it did not fail to obtain for Mr. -Paine universal approbation. The "Case of the Officers of Excise" is so -temperately stated, the propriety of increasing their salaries, which -were then but small, urged with such powerful reasons and striking -convictions, that although we might abhor such an inquisitorial system -of excise as has long disgraced this country, we cannot fail to admire -the arguments and abilities of Mr. Paine, who was then an exciseman, in -an endeavour to increase their salaries. He was evidently the child of -nature from the beginning, and the success of his writings was mainly -attributable to his never losing sight of this infallible guide. In his -recommendation to Government to increase the salaries of excisemen, -he argues from natural feelings, and shews the absolute necessity of -placing a man beyond the reach of want, if honesty be expected in a -place of trust, and that the strongest inducement to honesty is to -raise the spirit of a man, by enabling and encouraging him to make a -respectable appearance. - -This "Case of the Officers of Excise" procured Mr. Paine an introduction -to Oliver Goldsmith, with whom he continued on terms of intimacy during -his stay in England. His English poetical productions consisted of "The -Death of Wolfe," a song; and the humourous narrative, about "The Three -Justices and Farmer Short's Dog." At least, these two pieces are all -that we now have in print. I have concisely stated Mr. Paine's advance -to manhood and fame considering the act but infantile in being elaborate -upon the infancy and youth of a public character who displays nothing -extraordinary until he reaches manhood. My object here is not to make a -volume, but to compress all that is desirable to be known of the Author, -in as small a compass as possible. Mr. Paine was twice married, but -obtained no children: his first wife he enjoyed but a short time, and -his second he never enjoyed at all, as they never cohabited, and before -Mr. Paine left England they separated by mutual consent, and by articles -of agreement. Mr. Paine often said, that he found sufficient cause for -this curious incident, but he never divulged the particulars to any -person, and, when pressed to the point, he would say that it was -nobody's business but his own. - -In the autumn of 1774, being then out of the Excise, he was introduced -to the celebrated Dr. Franklin, then on an embassy to England respecting -the dispute with the Colonies, and the Doctor was so much pleased with -Mr. Paine, that he pointed his attention to America as the best mart for -his talents and principles, and gave him letters of recommendation to -several friends. Mr. Paine took his voyage immediately, and reached -Philadelphia just before Christmas. In January he had become acquainted -with a Mr. Aitkin, a bookseller, who it appears started a magazine for -the purpose of availing himself of Mr. Paine's talents. It was called -the Pennsylvania Magazine, and, from our Author's abilities, soon -obtained a currency that exceeded any other work of the kind in America. -Many of Mr. Paine's productions in the papers and magazines of America -have never reached this country so as to be republished, but such as we -have are extremely beautiful, and compel us to admit, that his literary -productions are as admirable for style, as his political and theological -are for principle. - -From his connection with the leading characters at Philadelphia, Mr. -Paine immediately took a part in the politics of the Colonies, and being -a staunch friend to the general freedom and happiness of the human race, -he was the first to advise the Americans to assert their independence. -This he did in his famous pamphlet, intitled "Common Sense," which for -its consequences and rapid effect was the most important production that -ever issued from the press. This pamphlet appeared at the commencement -of the year 1776, and it electrified the minds of the oppressed -Americans. They had not ventured to harbour the idea of independence, -and they dreaded war so much as to be anxious for reconciliation with -Britain. One incident which gave a stimulus to the pamphlet "Common -Sense" was, that it happened to appear on the very day that the King of -England's speech reached the United States, in which the Americans were -denounced as rebels and traitors, and in which speech it was asserted to -be the right of the Legislature of England to bind the Colonies in all -cases whatsoever! Such menace and assertion as this could not fail to -kindle the ire of the Americans, and "Common Sense" came forward to -touch their feelings with the spirit of independence in the very nick of -time. - -On the 4th of July, in the same year, the independence of the United -States was declared, and Paine had then become so much an object of -esteem, that he joined the army, and was with it a considerable time. -He was the common favourite of all the officers, and every other -liberal-minded man, that advocated the independence of his country, and -preferred liberty to slavery. It does not appear that Paine held any -rank in the army, but merely assisted with his advice and presence as a -private individual. Whilst with the army, he began, in December of the -same year, to publish his papers intitled "The Crisis." These came out -as small pamphlets and appeared in the newspapers, they were written -occasionally, as circumstances required. The chief object of these seems -to have been to encourage the Americans, to stimulate them to exertion -in support and defence of their independence, and to rouse their spirits -after any little disaster or defeat. Those papers, which also bore the -signature of Common Sense, were continued every three or four months -until the struggle was over. - -In the year 1777, Mr. Paine was called away from the army by an -unexpected appointment to fill the office of Secretary to the Committee -for Foreign Affairs. In this office, as all foreign correspondence -passed through his hands, he obtained an insight into the mode of -transacting business in the different Courts of Europe, and imbibed much -important information. He did not continue in it above two years, and -the circumstance of his resignation seems to have been much to his -honour as an honest man. It was in consequence of some peculation -discovered to have been committed by one Silas Deane who had been -a commissioner from the United States to some part of Europe. The -discovery was made by Mr. Paine, and he immediately published it in the -papers, which gave offence to certain members of the Congress, and -in consequence of some threat of Silas Deane, the Congress shewed a -disposition to censure Mr. Paine without giving him a hearing, who -immediately protested against such a proceeding, and resigned his -situation. However, he carried no pique with him into his retirement, -but was as ardent as ever in the cause of independence and a total -separation from Britain. He published several plans for an equal system -of taxation to enable the Congress to recruit the finances and to -reinforce the army, and in the most clear and pointed manner, held out -to the inhabitants of the United States, the important advantages they -would gain by a cheerful contribution towards the exigencies of the -times, and at once to make themselves sufficiently formidable, not only -to cope with, but to defeat the enemy. He reasoned with them on the -impossibility of any army that Britain could send against them, being -sufficient to conquer the Continent of America. He again and again -explained to them that nothing but fortitude and exertion was necessary -on their part to annihilate in one campaign the forces of Britain, and -put a stop to the war. It is evident, and admitted on all sides, -that these writings of Mr. Paine became the main spring of action in -procuring independence to the United States. - -Notwithstanding the little disagreement he had with the Congress, it was -ready at the close of the war to acknowledge his services by a grant of -three thousand dollars, and he also obtained from the State of New York, -the confiscated estate of some slavish lory and royalist, situate at -New Rochelle. This estate contained three hundred acres of highly, -cultivated land, and a large and substantial stone built house. The -State of Pennsylvania, in which he first published "Common Sense" -and "The Crisis," presented him with L500 sterling; and the State -of Virginia had come to an agreement for a liberal grant, but in -consequence of Mr. Paine's interference and resistance to some claim of -territory made by that State, in his pamphlet, intitled "Public Good," -he lost this grant by a majority of one vote. This pamphlet is worthy of -reading, but for this single circumstance, and nothing can more strongly -argue the genuine patriotism and real disinterestedness of the man, than -his opposing the claims of this State at a moment when it was about to -make him a more liberal grant than any other State had done. - -It was in the year 1779, that Mr. Paine resigned his office as Secretary -to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, and in the year 1781, he was, -in conjunction with a Colonel Laurens, dispatched to France to try to -obtain a loan from that government. They succeeded in their object, and -returned to America with two millions and a half of livres in silver, -and stores to the united value of sixteen millions of livres. This -circumstance gave such vigour to the cause of the Americans, that they -shortly afterwards brought the Marquis Cornwallis to a capitulation. -Six millions of livres were a present from France, and ten millions were -borrowed from Holland on the security of France. In this trip to France, -Mr. Paine not only accomplished the object of his embassy, but he also -made a full discovery of the traitorous conduct of Silas Deane, and, on -his return fully justified himself before his fellow citizens, in the -steps he had taken in that affair, whilst Deane was obliged to shelter -himself in England from the punishment due to his crimes. - -In a number of the Crisis, Mr. Paine says, it was the cause of -independence to the United States, that made him an author; by this -it has been argued, that he could not have written "The Case of the -Officers of Excise" before going to America, but this I consider to -be easy of explanation. As the latter pamphlet was published by the -subscriptions of the officers of excise, and as it was a mere statement -of their case, drawn up at their request and suggestion, Mr. Paine -might hardly consider himself, intitled to the name of author for such -a production which had but a momentary and partial object. He might have -considered himself as the mere amanueusis of the body of excisemen, and, -to have done nothing more than state their complaint and sentiments. -It does not appear that the pamphlet was printed for sale, or that the -writer ever had, or thought to have, any emolument from it. It must have -been in this light that Mr. Paine declined the character of an Author -on the account of that pamphlet, for no man need be ashamed to father -it either for principle or style. In the same manner might be considered -his song "On the Death of General Wolfe," his "Reflections on the Death -of Lord Clive," and several other essays and articles that appeared in -the Pennsylvania Magazine, and the different newspapers of America, all -of which had obtained celebrity as something superior to the general -rank of literature that had appeared in the Colonies, and yet even on -this ground he also relinquished the title of an author. To be sure, a -man who writes a letter to his relatives or friends is an author, but -Mr. Paine thought the word of more import, and did not call himself an -author until he saw the benefits he had conferred on his fellow-citizens -and mankind at large, by his well-timed "Common Sense" and "Crisis." - -During the struggle for independence, the Abbe Raynal, a French author, -had written and published what he called a History of the Revolution, -or Reflections on that History, in which he had made some erroneous -statements, probably guided by the errors, wilful or accidental, in -the European newspapers. Mr. Paine answered the Abbe in a letter, and -pointed out all his misstatements, with a hope of correcting the future -historian. This letter is remarkably well written, and abounds with -brilliant ideas and natural embellishments. Ovid's classical and highly -admired picture of Envy, can scarcely vie with the picture our Author -has drawn of Prejudice in this letter. It will be sure to arrest the -reader's attention, therefore I will not mar it by an extract. Mr. Paine -never deviated from the path of nature, and he was unquestionably as -bright an ornament as ever our Common Parent held up to mankind. He -studied Nature in preference to books, and thought and compared as well -as read. - -The hopes of the British Government having been baffled in the expected -reduction of the Colonies, and being compelled to acknowledge their -independence, Mr. Paine had now leisure to turn to his mechanical -and philosophical studies. He was admitted a member of the American -Philosophical Society, and appointed Master of Arts, by the University -of Philadelphia, and we find nothing from his pen in the shape of a -pamphlet until the year 1786, He then published his "Dissertations on -Governments, the Affairs of the Bank, and Paper Money." The object -of this pamphlet was to expose the injustice and ingratitude of the -Congress in withdrawing the charter of incorporation from the American -Bank, and to show, that it would rather injure than benefit the -community. The origin of this Bank having been solely for the carrying -on of the war with vigour, and to furnish the army with necessary -supplies, at a time when the want of food and clothing threatened a -mutiny, Mr. Paine condemned the attempt to suppress it as an act of -ingratitude. - -At a moment when the United States were overwhelmed with a general gloom -by repeated losses and disasters, and by want of vigour to oppose the -enemy, Mr. Paine proposed a voluntary contribution to recruit the army, -and sent his proposal, and five hundred dollars as a commencement, to -his friend Mr. M'Clenaghan. The proposal was instantly embraced, -and such was the spirit by which it was followed, that the Congress -established the leading subscribers into a Bank Company, and gave them -a charter. This incident might be said to have saved America for -that time, and as Mr. Paine has fairly shown that the Bank was highly -advantageous to the interest of the United States at the time of its -suppression, and that the act proceeded from party spleen, we cannot -fail to applaud the spirit of this pamphlet, although it was an attack -on the conduct of the Congress. It forms another proof that our Author -never suffered his duty and principle to be biassed by his interest. - -In the year 1787, Mr. Paine returned to Europe, and first proceeded to -Paris, where he obtained considerable applause for the construction of -a model of an iron bridge which he presented to the Academy of Sciences. -The iron bridge is now becoming general in almost all new erections, and -will doubtless, in a few years, supersede the more tedious and expensive -method of building bridges with stone. How few are those who walk across -the bridge of Vauxhall and call to mind that Thomas Paine was the first -to suggest and recommend the use of the iron bridge: he says, that he -borrowed the idea of this kind of bridge from seeing a certain species -of spider spin its web*! In the mechanical arts Mr. Paine took great -delight, and made considerable progress. In this, as in his political -and theological pursuits, to ameliorate the condition, and to add to the -comforts, of his fellow men, was his first object and final aim. - - * The famous iron bridge of one arch at Sunderland was the - first result of this discovery, although another gentleman - claimed the invention and took credit for it with impunity, - in consequence of the general prejudice against the name and - writings of Mr. Paine. It is a sufficient attestation of - this fact, to say, that the Sunderland bridge was cast at - the foundery of Mr. Walker, at Rotheram, in 'Yorkshire, - where Mr. Paine had made his first experiment on an - extensive scale. - -From Paris Mr. Paine returned to England after an absence of thirteen -years, in which time he had lost his father, and found his mother in -distress. He hastened to Thetford to relieve her, and settled a small -weekly sum upon her to make her comfortable. He spent a few weeks in -his native town, and wrote the pamphlet, intitled "Prospects on the -Rubicon," &c. at this time, which appears to have been done as much for -amusement and pastime as any thing else, as it has no peculiar object, -like most of his other writings, and the want of that object is visible -throughout the work. It is more of a general subject than Paine was in -the habit of indulging in, and its publication in England produced -but little attraction. France, at this moment, had scarcely begun to -indicate her determination to reform her government. - -England was engaged in the affairs of the Stadt-holder of Holland; and -there seemed a confusion among the principal governments of Europe, but -no disposition for war. - -Mr. Paine having become intimate with Mr. Walker, a large iron-founder -of Rotheram, in Yorkshire, retired thither for the purpose of trying the -experiment of his bridge. The particulars of this experiment, with an -explanation of its success, the reader will find fully developed in his -letter to Sir George Staunton. This letter was sent to the Society of -Arts in the Adelphi, and was about to be printed in their transactions, -but the appearance of the First Part of "Rights of Man," put a stop to -its publication in that shape, and afforded us a lesson that bigotry and -prejudice form a woeful bar to science and improvement. For the -expence of this bridge Mr. Paine had drawn considerable sums from a -Mr. Whiteside, an American merchant, on the security of his American -property, but this Mr. Whiteside becoming a bankrupt, Mr. Paine was -suddenly arrested by his assignees, but soon liberated by two other -American merchants becoming his bail, until he could make arrangements -for the necessary remittances from America. - -During the American war, Mr. Paine had felt a strong; desire to come -privately into England, and publish a pamphlet on the real state of the -war, and display to the people of England the atrocities of that cause -they were so blinded to support. He had an impression that this -step would have more effect to stop the bloody career of the English -Government, than all he could write in America, and transmit to the -English newspapers. It was with difficulty that his friends got him to -abandon this idea, and after he had succeeded in obtaining the loan from -the French Government, he proposed to Colonel Laurens to return alone, -and let him go to England for this purpose. The Colonel, however, -positively refused to return without him, and in this purpose he was -overcome by the force of friendship. Still the same idea lingered in his -bosom after the Americans had won their independence. Mr. Paine loved -his country and countrymen, and was anxious to assist them in reforming -their Government. The attack which Mr. Burke made upon the French -Revolution soon gave him an opportunity of doing this, and the -production of "Rights of Man" will ever rank Mr. Paine among the first -and best of writers on political economy. - -The friend and companion of Washington and Franklin could not fail to -obtain an introduction to the leading political characters in England, -such as Burke, Horne Tooke, and the most celebrated persons of that -day. Burke had been the opponent of the English Government during the -American war, and was admired as the advocate of constitutional freedom. -Pitt, the most insidious and most destructive man that ever swayed the -affairs of England, saw the necessity of tampering with Burke, and -found him venal. It was agreed between them that Burke should receive -a pension in a fictitious name, but outwardly continue his former -character, the better to learn the dispositions of the leaders in the -opposition, as to the principles they might imbibe from the American -revolution, and the approaching revolution in France. This was the -master-piece of Pitt's policy, he bought up all the talent that was -opposed to his measures, but instead of requiring a direct support, he -made such persons continue as spies on their former associates, and thus -was not only informed of all that was passing, but, by his agents, was -enabled to stifle every measure that was calculated to affect him, by -interposing the advice of his bribed opponents and pseudo-patriots. - -It was thus Mr. Paine was drawn into the company of Burke, and even a -correspondence with him on the affairs of France; and it was not until -Pitt saw the necessity of availing himself of the avowed apostacy of -Burke, and of getting him to make a violent attack upon the French -revolution, that Mr. Paine discovered his mistake in the man. - -It is beyond question that Burke's attack on the French Revolution had -a most powerful effect in this country, and kindled a hatred without -shewing a cause for it, but still, as honest principle will always -outlive treachery, it drew forth from Mr. Paine his "Rights of Man" -which will stand as a lesson to all people in all future generations -whose government might require reformation. Vice can triumph but for a -moment, whilst the triumph of virtue is perpetual. - -The laws of England have been a great bar to the propagation of sound -principles and useful lessons on Government, for whatever might have -been the disposition and abilities of authors, they have been compelled -to limit that disposition and those abilities to the disposition and -abilities of the publisher. Thus it has been difficult for a bold and -honest man to find a bold and honest publisher; even in the present day -it continues to be the same, and the only effectual way of going to work -is, for every author to turn printer and publisher as well. Without this -measure every good work has to be mangled according to the humour of -the publisher employed. It was thus Mr. Paine found great difficulty in -procuring a publisher even for his First Part of "Rights of Man." It was -thus the great and good Major Cartwright found it necessary during -the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus to take a shop and sell his own -pamphlets. I do not mean to say that there is a fault in publishers, the -fault lays elsewhere, for it is well known that as soon as a man finds -himself within the walls of a gaol for any patriotic act, those outside -trouble themselves but little about him. It is the want of a due -encouragement which the nation should bestow on all useful and -persecuted publishers. I may be told that this last observation has a -selfish appearance, but let the general statement be first contradicted, -then I will plead guilty to selfish views. - -Mr. Paine would not allow any man to make any the least alteration or -even correction in his writings. He carried this disposition so far as -to refuse a friend to correct an avowed grammatical error. He would say -that he only wished to be known as what he really was, without being -decked with the plumes of another. I admire and follow this part of -his principles, as well as most of his others, and I hold the act to -be furtive and criminal, where one man prunes, mangles, and alters the -writings of another. It is a vicious forgery, and merits punishment. If -a man durst not publish the whole of the writings of another, he had far -better leave them altogether, until another more bold and honest -shall be found to undertake the task. Every curtailment must tend to -misrepresent; and whatever may be the motive, the act is dishonest. - -Mr. Paine had been particularly intimate with Burke, and I have seen -an original letter of Burke to a friend, wherein he expressed the -high gratification and pleasure he felt at having dined at the Duke of -Portland's with Thomas Paine the great political writer of the United -States, and the author of "Common Sense." Whether the English ministers -had formed any idea or desire to corrupt Paine by inviting him to -their tables, it is difficult to say, but not improbable; one thing is -certain, that, if ever they had formed the wish, they were foiled in -their design, for the price of L1000, which Chapman, the printer of the -Second Part of "Rights of Man," offered Mr. Paine for his copyright, is -a proof that he was incorruptible on this score. Mr. Paine was evidently -much pleased with his intimacy with Burke, for it appears he took -considerable pains to furnish him with all the correspondence possible -on the affairs of France, little thinking that he was cherishing a -viper, and a man that would hand those documents over to the minister; -but such was the case, until Mr. Burke was compelled to display his -apostacy in the House of Commons, and to bid his former associates -beware of him. - -Mr. Paine promised the friends of the French Revolution, that he would -answer Burke's pamphlet, as soon as he saw it; and it would be difficult -to say, whether Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution," or -Paine's "Rights of Man," had the more extensive circulation. One thing -we know, Burke's book is buried with him, whilst "Rights of Man," stitl -blazes and obtains an extensive circulation yearly, since it has been -republished. Its principles will be co-existent with the human race, and -the more they are known the more will they be admired. Nature assisted -by Reason form their base: the only stable foundation on which the -welfare of mankind can be erected. I have circulated near 5000 copies -since November, 1817. - -The publication of "Rights of Man," formed as great an era in the -politics of England, as "Common Sense" had done in America: the -difference is only this, the latter had an opportunity of being acted -upon instantly, whilst the former has had to encounter corruption and -persecution; but that it will finally form the base of the English -Government, I have neither fear or doubt. Its principles are so -self-evident, that they flash conviction on the most unwilling mind that -gives the work a calm perusal. The First Part of "Rights of Man" passed -unnoticed, as to prosecution, neither did Burke venture a reply. The -proper principles of Government, where the welfare of the community -is the object of that Government, as the case should always be, are so -correctly and forcibly laid down in "Rights of Man," that the book -will stand, as long as the English language is spoken, as a monument of -political wisdom and integrity. - -It should be observed, that Mr. Paine never sought profit from his -writings, and when he found that "Rights of Man" had obtained a peculiar -attraction he gave up the copyright to whomsoever would print it, -although he had had so high a price offered for it. He would always -say that they were works of principle, written solely to ameliorate the -condition of mankind, and as soon as published they were common property -to any one that thought proper to circulate them. - -I do not concur in the propriety of Mr. Paine's conduct on this -occasion, because, as he was the Author, he might as well have put the -Author's profit into his pocket, as to let the bookseller pocket the -profit of both. His pamphlets were never sold the cheaper for his -neglecting to take his profit as an Author; but, it is now evident that -Mr. Paine, by neglecting that affluence which he might have honestly and -honourably possessed, deprived himself in the last dozen years of -his life of the power of doing much good. It is not to be denied that -property is the stamina of action and influence, and is looked up to -by the mass of mankind in preference to principle in poverty. But there -comes another danger and objection, that is, that the holders of much -property are but seldom found to trouble themselves about principle. -Their principle seldom goes a step beyond profession. But where -principle and property unite, the individual becomes a host. - -The First Part of "Rights of Man," has not that methodical arrangement -which is to be found in the Second Part, but an apology arises for it, -Mr. Paine had to tread the "wilderness of rhapsodies," that Burke -had prepared for him. The part is, however, interspersed with such -delightful ornaments, and such immutable principles, that the path does -not become tedious. Perhaps no other volume whatever has so well defined -the causes of the French Revolution, and the advantages that would have -arisen from it had France been free from the corrupting influence of -foreign powers. But I must recollect that my business here is to -sketch the Life of Mr. Paine, I wish to avoid any thing in the shape of -quotation from his writings, as I am of opinion, that the reader will -glean their beauties from the proper source with more satisfaction; and -no Life of Paine that can be compiled will ever express half so much -of the man, as his own writings, as a whole, speak for themselves, and -almost seem to say "_the hand that made us is divine_." - -After some difficulty a publisher was found for "Rights of Man" in Mr. -Jordan, late of 166, Fleet Street The First Part appeared on the 13th -of March, 1791, and the Second Part on the 16th of February in the -following year. The Government was paralyzed at the rapid sale of the -First Part, and the appearance of the Second. The attempt to purchase -having failed, the agents of the Government next set to work to ridicule -it, and to call it a contemptible work. Whig and Tory members in both -Houses of Parliament affected to sneer at it, and to laud our glorious -constitution as a something impregnable to the assaults of such a book. -However, Whig and Tory members had just began to be known, and their -affected contempt of "Rights of Man," served but as advertisements, and -greatly accelerated its sale. In the month of May, 1792, the King issued -his proclamation, and the King's Devil his ex officio information, on -the very same day, against "Rights of Man." This in some measure impeded -its sale, or occasioned it to be sold in a private manner; through which -means it is impossible to give effectual circulation to any publication. -One part of the community is afraid to sell and another afraid to -purchase under such conditions. It is not too much to say, that if -"Rights of Man" had obtained two or three years free circulation in -England and Scotland, it would have produced a similar effect to -what "Common Sense" did in the United States of America. The French -Revolution had set the people of England and Scotland to think, and -"Rights of Man" was just the book to furnish materials for thinking. -About this time he also wrote his "Letter to the Addressers," and -several letters to the Chairmen of different County Meetings, at which -those addresses were voted. - -Mr. Paine had resolved to defend the publication of "Rights of Man" in -person, but in the month of September, a deputation from the inhabitants -of Calais waited upon him to say, that they had elected him their -deputy to the National Convention of France. This was an affair of more -importance than supporting "Rights of Man," before a political judge and -a packed jury, and, accordingly, Mr. Paine set off for France with the -deputation, but not without being exposed to much insult at Dover; -where the Government spies had apprised the Custom House Officers of -his arrival, and some of those spies were present to overhaul all his -papers. - -It was said, that Mr. Paine had scarcely embarked twenty minutes before -a warrant came to Dover, from the Home Department to arrest him. Be -this as it may, Mr. Paine had more important scenes allotted to him. On -reaching the opposite Shore the name of Paine was no sooner announced -than the beach was crowded;-all the soldiers on duty Were drawn up; the -officer of the guard embraced him on landing, and presented him with -the national cockade, which a handsome young woman, who was standing -by, begged the honour of fixing in his hat, and returned it to him, -expressing a hope that he would continue his exertions in the behalf of -Liberty, France, and the Rights of Man. A salute was then fired from -the battery; to announce the arrival of their new representative. This -ceremony being over, he walked to Deisseiu's, in the Rue de l'Egalite -(formerly Rue de Roi), the men, women, and children crowding around him, -and calling out "Vive Thomas Paine!" He was then conducted to the Town -Hall, and there presented to the Municipality, who with the greatest -affection embraced their representative. The Mayor addressed him in -a short speech, which was interpreted to him by his friend and -conductor, M. Audibert, to which Mr. Paine laying his hand on his heart, -replied, that his life should be devoted to their service. - -At the inn, he was waited upon by the different persons in authority, -and by the President of the Constitutional Society, who desired he would -attend their meeting of that night: he cheerfully complied with the -request, and the whole town would have been there, had there been room: -the hall of the '_Minimes_' was so crowded that it was with the greatest -difficulty they made way for Mr. Paine to the side of the President. -Over the chair he sat in, was placed the bust of Mirabeau, and the -colours of France, England, and America united. A speaker acquainted him -from the tribune with his election, amidst the plaudits of the people. -For some minutes after this ceremony, nothing was heard but "Vive la -Nation! Vive Thomas Paine" in voices male and Female. - -On the following day, an extra meeting was appointed to be held in the -church in honour of their new Deputy to the Convention, the _Minimes_ -being found quite suffocating from the vast concourse of people which -had assembled on the previous occasion. A play was performed at the -theatre on the evening after his arrival, and a box was specifically -reserved "for the author of 'Rights of Man,' the object of the English -Proclamation." - -Mr. Paine was likewise elected as deputy for Abbeville, Beauvais, and -Versailles, as well as for the department of Calais, but the latter -having been the first in their choice, he preferred being their -representative. - -On reaching Paris, Mr. Paine addressed a letter to the English Attorney -General, apprizing him of the circumstances of his departure from -England, and hinting to him, that any further prosecution of "Rights of -Man," would form a proof that the Author was not altogether the -object, but the book, and the people of England who should approve its -sentiments. A hint was also thrown out that the events of France ought -to form a lesson to the English Government, on its attempt to arrest the -progress of correct principles and wholesome truths. This letter was in -some measure due to the Attorney General, as Mr. Paine had written to -him in England on the commencement of the prosecution assuring him, that -he should defend the work in person. Notwithstanding the departure -of Mr. Paine, as a member of the French National Convention, the -information against "Rights of Man" was laid before a jury, on the 2d -of December in the same year, and the Government, and its agents, were -obliged to content themselves with outlawing Mr. Paine, and punishing -him, in effigy, throughout the country! Many a faggot have I gathered in -my youth to burn old Tom Paine! In the West of England, his name became -quite a substitute for that of Guy Faux. Prejudice, so aptly termed by -Mr. Paine, the spider of the mind, was never before carried to such a -height against any other individual; and what will future ages think -of the corrupt influence of the English Government at the close of the -eighteenth century, when it could excite the rancour of a majority of -the nation against such a man as Thomas Paine! - -We now find Mr. Paine engaged in new and still more important scenes. -His first effort as a member of the National Convention, was to lay the -basis of a self-renovating constitution, and to repair the defects of -that which had been previously adopted: but a circumstance very soon -occurred, which baffled all his good intentions, and brought him to -a narrow escape from the guillotine. It was his humane and strenuous -opposition to the putting Louis the XVIth to death. The famous or -infamous manifesto issued by the Duke of Brunswick, in July 1792, had -roused such a. spirit of hatred towards the Royal Family of France, and -all other Royal Families, that nothing short of their utter destruction -could appease the majority of the French nation. Mr. Paine willingly -voted for the trial of Louis as a necessary exposure of Court intrigue -and corruption; but when he found a disposition to destroy him at once, -in preference to banishment, he exposed the safety of his own person -in his endeavour to save the life of Louis. Mr. Paine was perfectly -a humane man, he deprecated the punishment of death on any occasion -whatever. His object was to destroy the monarchy, but not the man who -had filled the office of monarch. - -The following anecdote is another unparalleled instance of humanity, and -the moral precept of returning good for evil. Mr. Paine happened to be -dining one day with about twenty friends at a Coffee House in the Palais -Egalite, now the Palais Royal, when unfortunately for the harmony of the -company, a Captain in the English service contrived to introduce himself -as one of the party. The military gentleman was a strenuous supporter of -what is called in England, the constitution in church and state, and a -decided enemy of the French Revolution. After the cloth was drawn, the -conversation chiefly turned on the state of affairs in England, and the -means which had been adopted by the government to check the increase of -political knowledge. Mr. Paine delivered his opinions very freely, and -much to the satisfaction of every one present, with the exception of -Captain Grimstone, who returned his arguments by calling him a traitor -to his country, with a variety of terms equally opprobrious. Mr. Paine -treated his abuse with much good humour, which rendered the Captain so -furious, that he walked up to the part of the room where Mr. Paine was -sitting, and struck him a violent blow, which nearly knocked him off his -seat. The cowardice of this behaviour from a stout young man towards a -person of Mr. Paine's age (he being then upwards of sixty) is not the -least disgraceful part of the transaction. There was, however, no time -for reflections of this sort; an alarm was instantly given, that -the Captain had struck a Citizen Deputy of the Convention, which was -considered an insult to the nation at large; the offender was hurried -into custody, and it was with the greatest difficulty that Mr. Paine -prevented him from being executed on the spot. - -It ought to be observed, that an act of the Convention had awarded the -punishment of death to any one who should be convicted of striking a -deputy; Mr. Paine was therefore placed in a very unpleasant situation. -He immediately applied to Barrere, at that time president of the -Committee of Public Safety, for a passport for his imprudent adversary, -who after much hesitation complied with his request. It likewise -occasioned Mr. Paine considerable personal inconvenience to procure his -liberation; but even this was not sufficient; the Captain was without -friends, and pennyless, and Mr. Paine generously supplied him with money -to defray his travelling expences. - -Louis fell under the guillotine, and Mr. Paine's deprecation of that act -brought down upon him the hatred of the whole Robespierrean party. The -reign of terror now commenced in France; every public man who breathed -a sigh for Louis was denounced a traitor to the nation, and as such was -put to death. Every man who complained of the despotism and violence of -the party in power, was hurried to a prison, or before the Revolutionary -Tribunal and to immediate execution. Mr. Paine, although a Member of the -Convention, was first excluded on the ground of being a foreigner, and -then thrown into prison because he had been born in England! His place -of confinement was the Luxembourg; the time, about eleven months, -during which he was seized with a most violent fever, that rendered -him insensible to all that was passing, and to which circumstance he -attributes his escape from the guillotine. - -About this period Mr. Paine wrote his first and second part of Age of -Reason. The first part was written before he went to the Luxembourg, as -in his passage thither he deposited the manuscript with Joel Barlow. -The second part he wrote during his confinement, and at a moment when -he could not calculate on the preservation of his life for twenty-four -hours: a circumstance which forms the best proof of his sincerity, -and his conviction of the fallacy and imposture of all established -religions: Throughout this work he has also trod the path of nature, -and has laid down some of the best arguments to shew the existence of an -Omnipotent Being, that ever were penned. Those who are in the habit -of running down every thing that does not tally with their antiquated -opinions, or the prejudices in which they have been educated, have -decried Mr. Paine as an Atheist! Of all the men who ever wrote, Mr. -Paine was the most remote from Atheism, and has advanced stronger -arguments against the belief of no God, than any who have gone before -him, or have lived since. If there be any chance of the failure of -Mr. Paine's theological writings as a standard work, it will be on the -ground of their being more superstitious than otherwise. However, their -beauties, I doubt not, will at all times be a sufficient apology for a -few trifling defects. Mr. Paine has been taxed with inconsistency in his -theological opinions, because in his "Common Sense," and other political -writings, he has had recourse to Bible phrases and arguments to -illustrate some of his positions. But this can be no proof of hypocrisy, -because his "Common Sense" and his other political writings were -intended as a vehicle for political principles only, and they were -addressed to the most superstitious people in the world. If Mr. Paine -had published any of his Deistical opinions in "Common Sense" or "The -Crisis," he would have defeated the very purpose for which he wrote. -The Bible is a most convenient book to afford precedents; and any man -might support any opinion or any assertion by quotations from it, Mr. -Paine tells us in his first Crisis that he has no superstition about -him, which was a pretty broad hint of what his opinions on that score -were at that time, but it would have been the height of madness to -have urged any religious dissension among the inhabitants of the United -States during their hostile struggle for independence. Such is not a -time to think about making converts to religious opinions. Mr. Paine -has certainly made use of the common hack term, "Christian this" and -"Christian that," in many parts of his political writings; but let it be -recollected to whom he addressed himself, and the object he had in view, -before a charge of' inconsistency be made. He first published his Age -of Reason in France, where all compulsive systems of religion had -been abolished, and here, certainly, he cannot be charged with being -a disturber of religious opinions, because his work was translated and -re-printed in the English language. He could have no objection to see -it published in England, but it was by no means his own act, and he has -expressly stated that he wrote it for the French nation and the United -States. But truth will not be confined to a nation, nor to a continent, -and there can never be an inconsistency proceeding from wrong to right, -although there must naturally be a change. - -After the fall of Robespierre and his faction, and the arrival of Mr. -Monroe, a new minister from America, Mr. Paine was liberated from his -most painful imprisonment, and again solicited to take his seat in the -Convention, which he accordingly did. Again his utmost efforts were used -to establish a constitution on correct principles and universal -liberty, united with security both for person and property. He wrote his -"Dissertation on First Principles of Government," and presented it to the -Convention, accompanied with a speech, pointing out the defects of the -then existing constitution. - -Intrigue is the natural characteristic of Frenchmen, and they never -appeared to relish any thing in the shape of purity or simplicity of -principle. Their intrigue being always attended with an impetuosity, has -been aptly compared by Voltaire to the joint qualities of the monkey and -the tiger. Of all countries on the face of the earth, perhaps France was -the least qualified to receive a pure Republican Government. The French -nation had been so long dazzled with the false splendours of its grand -monarch, that a Court seemed the only atmosphere in which the real -character of Frenchmen could display itself. At least, the Court had -assimilated the character of the whole nation to itself. The French -Revolution was altogether financial, and not the effect of good -triumphing over bad principles. At various periods the people assumed -various attitudes, but they were by no means prepared for a Republican -form of Government. Political information had made no progress among the -mass of the people, as is the case in Britain at this moment. There were -but few Frenchmen amongst the literate part of the community who had any -notion of a representative system of Government. The United States -had scarcely presented any thing like correct representation, and -the boasted constitution of England is altogether a mockery of -representation. The people of England have no more direct influence over -the Legislature than the horses or asses of England. Mr. Paine saw this, -both in France and England, and, at the same time, saw the necessity -of inculcating correct notions of Government through all classes of the -community. He struggled in vain during his own lifetime, but the seed of -his principles has taken root, and is now beginning to shoot forth. - -France, by a series of successful battles with the monarchs of Europe, -began to assume a military character-the very soul of Frenchmen, but the -bane of Republicanism. Hence arose a Buonaparte, and hence the fall of -France, and the restoration of the hated Bourbons. - -After Buonaparte had usurped the sovereign power, and every thing in the -shape of a representative system of government had subsided, Mr. Paine -led quite a retired life, saw but little company, and for many years -brooded over the misfortunes of France, and the advantages it had thrown -away, by anticipating its present disgrace. He saw plainly that all the -benefits which the Revolution ought to have preserved, would be foiled -by the military ambition of Buonaparte. He would not allow the epithet -Republic to be applied to it, without condemning such an association -of ideas, and insisted upon it, that the United States of America was -alone, of all the governments on the face of the earth, entitled to that -honourable appellation. - -In this retirement Mr. Paine wrote two small pamphlets of considerable -interest: the one was his "Agrarian Justice opposed to Agrarian Law and -Agrarian Monopoly;" the other was his "Decline and Fall of the English -system of Finance," the first was a plan for creating a fund in all -societies to give a certain sum of money to all young people about to -enter into life, and live by their own industry, and to make a provision -for all old persons, or such as were past labour, so that their old -age might be spent serenely and comfortably. The idea was evidently the -offspring of humanity and benevolence: of its practicability I cannot -speak; here, as nothing but experience could prove it. His "Decline and -Fall of the English System of Finance," is of more immediate importance, -as no one of his pamphlets has displayed the acuteness, the foresight, -and the ability of Mr. Paine, as a political economist, more than this. -We can now speak most feelingly on this subject as this is the moment at -which all his financial and funding system predictions are about to be -fulfilled. Talk of Jewish prophets, or Christian prophets! look at this -little pamphlet, and here you will find a prophet indeed! No imposter -but a real prophet! A prophet who preferred common sense to divine -inspiration. A prophet who stood not in need of any Holy Ghost to -instruct him, but who prophesied from reason and natural circumstances. -Mr. Cobbett has made this little pamphlet a text book, for most of his -elaborate treatises, on our finances, and funding systems. This pamphlet -was written in the year 1796, one year before the bank refused to pay -its notes in gold. This latter circumstance, has in some measure had the -effect of lengthening the existence of the funding system, although its -occurrence was previously foretold by Mr. Paine, as one of the natural -consequences of that system. On the authority of a late register of -Mr. Cobbett's, I learn that the profits arising from the sale of this -pamphlet, were devoted to the relief of the prisoners confined in -Newgate for debt. - -Mr. Paine, found it impossible to do any good in France, and he sighed -for the shores of America. The English cruizers prevented his passing -during the war; but immediately after the peace of Amiens he embarked -and reached his adopted country. Before I follow him to America, I -should notice his attack on George Washington. It is evident from all -the writings of Mr. Paine that he lived in the closest intimacy with -Washington up to the time of his quitting America in 1787, and it -further appears, that they corresponded up to the time of Mr. Paine's -imprisonment in the Luxembourg. But here a fatal breach took place. -Washington having been the nominal Commander-in-Chief during the -struggle for independence, obtained much celebrity, not for his -exertions during that struggle, but in laying down all command and -authority immediately on its close, and in retiring to private life, -instead of assuming any thing like authority or dictation in the -Government of the United States, which his former situation would have -enabled him to do if he had chosen. This was a circumstance only to be -paralleled during the purest periods of the Roman and Grecian Republics, -and this circumstance obtained for Washington a fame to which his -Generalship could not aspire. Mr. Paine says, that the disposition of -Washington was apathy itself, and that nothing could kindle a fire -in his bosom-neither friendship, fame, or country. This might in some -measure account for the relinquishment of all authority, at a time when -he might have held it, and, on the other hand, should have moderated -the tone of Mr. Paine in complaining of Washington's neglect of himself -whilst confined in France. The apathy which was made a sufficient excuse -for the one case, should have also formed a sufficient excuse for the -other. This was certainly a defect in Mr. Paine's career as a political -character. He might have attacked the conduct of John Adams, who was a -mortal foe to Paine and all Republicanism and purity of principle, and -who found the apathy and indifference of Washington a sufficient cloak -and opportunity to enable him to carry on every species of court -and monarchical intrigue in the character of Vice-President. I will, -however, state this case more simply. - -During the imprisonment of Mr. Paine in the Luxembourg, and under the -reign of Robespierre, Washington was President of the United States, -and John Adams was Vice-President. John Adams was altogether a puerile -character, and totally unfit for any part of a Republican Government. He -openly avowed his attachment to the monarchical system of Government: -he made an open proposition to make the Presidency of the United States -hereditary in the family of Washington, although the latter had no -children of his own; and even ran into an intrigue and correspondence -with the Court and Ministry of England, on the subject of his diabolical -purposes. All this intelligence burst upon Paine immediately on his -liberation from a dreadful imprisonment, and at a moment when the -neglect of the American Government had nearly cost him his life. It -was this which drew forth this virulent letter against Washington. The -slightest interference of Washington would have saved Paine from several -months unjust and unnecessary imprisonment, for there was not the least -charge against him, further than being born an Englishman; although he -had actually been outlawed in that country for supporting the cause of -France and of mankind! - -If all the charges which Mr. Paine has brought against Washington be -true, and some of them are too palpable to be doubted, his character has -been much overrated, and Mr. Paine has either lost sight of his duty in -the arms of friendship, by giving Washington too much applause, or -he has suffered an irritated feeling to overcome his prudence by a -contradictory and violent attack. The letter written by Mr. Paine from -France to Mr. Washington stands rather as a contrast to his former -expressions, but he who reads the whole of Mr. Paine's writings can -best judge for himself. Some little change might have taken place in the -disposition of each of those persons towards the close of life, but -I will not allow for a moment that Paine ever swerved in political -integrity and principle. This letter seems to stand rather as a blur in -a collection of Mr. Paine's writings, and every reader will, no doubt, -exercise his right to form his own opinion between Paine and Washington. -I am of opinion, that one Paine is worth a thousand Washingtons in point -of utility to mankind. - -We must now follow Mr. Paine to America, and here we find him still -combating every thing in the shape of corruption, of which no small -portion seems to have crept into the management of the affairs of the -United States. He now carried on a paper war with the persons who called -themselves Federalists; a faction which seems to have been leagued for -no other purpose but to corrupt and to appropriate to their own use -the fruits of their corruption. Mr. Paine published various letters and -essays on the state of affairs, and on various other subjects, after his -return to America, the whole of which convince us that he never lost an -iota of his mental and intellectual faculties, although he was exposed -to much bodily disease and lingering pain. He found a very different -disposition in the United States on his return to what he had left -there, when he first went to France. Fanaticism had made rapid strides, -and to a great portion of the inhabitants Mr. Paine's theological -writings were a dreadful sore. He had also to combat the Washington and -John Adams party, who were both his bitter enemies, so that instead of -retiring to the United States to enjoy repose in the decline of life, -he found himself molested by venomous creatures on all sides. His pen, -however, continued an overmatch for the whole brood, and his last essay -will be read by the lover of liberty with the same satisfaction as the -first. - -Mr. Paine was exposed to many personal annoyances by the fanatics of the -United States, and it may not be amiss to state here a few anecdotes on -this head. On passing through Baltimore he was accosted by the preacher -of a new sect called the New Jerusalemites. "You are Mr. Paine," said -the preacher. "Yes."-"My name is Hargrove, Sir; I am minister of the -New Jerusalem Church here. We, Sir, explain the Scripture in its true -meaning. The key has been lost above four thousand years, and we have -found it."--"Then," said Mr. Paine in his usual sarcastic manner, "it -must have been very rusty." At another time, whilst residing in the -house of a Mr. Jarvis, in the city of New York, an old lady, habited in -a scarlet cloak, knocked at the door, and inquired for Thomas Paine. -Mr. Jarvis told her he was asleep. "I am very sorry for that," she -said, "for I want to see him very particularly." Mr. Jarvis having some -feeling for the age and the earnestness of the old lady, took her into -Mr. Paine's bed room and waked him. He arose upon one elbow, and with -a stedfast look at the old lady, which induced her to retreat a step or -two, asked her, "What do you want?"-"Is your name Paine?"--"Yes."-"Well, -then, I am come from Almighty God to tell you, that if you do not repent -of your sins, and believe in our blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, you will -be damned, and----" - -"Poh, poh, it is not true. You were not sent with any such impertinent -message. Jarvis, make her go away. Pshaw, he would not send such a -foolish ugly old woman as you are about with his messages. Go away, go -back, shut the door." The old lady raised her hands and walked away in -mute astonishment. - -Another instance of the kind happened about a fortnight before his -death. Two priests, of the name of Milledollar and Cunningham, came -to him, and the latter introduced himself and his companion in the -following words, "Mr. Paine, we visit you as friends and neighbours. You -have now a full view of death: you cannot live long, and 'whosoever -does not believe in Jesus Christ will assuredly be damned.'"-"Let me," -replied Mr. Paine, "have none of your Popish stuff. Get away with you. -Good morning, good morning." Mr. Milledollar attempted to address him, -but he was interrupted with the same language. A few days after those -same priests had the impudence to come again, but the nurse was afraid -to admit them. Even the doctor who attended him in his last minutes took -the latest possible opportunity to ask him, "Do you wish to believe that -Jesus Christ is the Son of God?" to which Mr. Paine replied, "I have no -wish to believe on the subject." These were his last words, for he died -the following morning about nine o'clock, about nine hours after the -Doctor had left him. - -Mr. Paine, over and above what might have been expected of him, seemed -much concerned about what spot his body should be laid in some time -before his death. He requested permission to be interred in the Quaker's -Burial Ground, saying that they were the most moral and upright sect of -Christians; but this was peremptorily refused to him in his life-time, -and gave him much uneasiness, or such as might not have been expected -from such a man. On this refusal he ordered his body to be interred on -his own farm, and a stone placed over it with the following inscription: - - THOMAS PAINE, - - AUTHOR OF - - COMMON SENSE, - - DIED JUNE 8, 1809, - AGED 72 YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS. - -Little did Mr. Paine think when giving this instruction, that the Peter -Porcupine who had heaped so much abuse upon him, beyond that of all -other persons put together (for Porcupine was the only scribbling -opponent that Mr. Paine ever deigned to mention by name) little did -he think that this Peter Porcupine, in the person of William Cobbett, -should have become his second self in the political world, And should -have so far renounced his former opinions and principles as to resent -the indifference paid to Paine by the majority of the inhabitants of the -United States, and actually remove his bones to England. I consider this -mark of respect and honest indignation, as an ample apology for all the -abuse helped upon the name and character of Paine by Mr. Cobbett. It -is a volume of retractation, more ample and more convincing than his -energetic pen could have produced. For my own part whilst we have his -writings, I should have felt indifferent as to what became of his bones; -but there was an open retractation due from Mr. Cobbett to the people of -Britain, for his former abuse of Paine, and I for one am quite content -with the apology made. - -I shall now close this Memoir, and should the reader think the sketch -insufficient, I would say to him that Mr. Paine's own writings will fill -up the deficiency, as he was an actor as well as a writer in all the -subjects on which he has treated. Wherever I have lightly touched an -incident, the works themselves display the _minutiae_, and when the -reader has gone through the Memoir, and the Works too, he will say, "I -am satisfied." - -R. CARLILE, - -DORCHESTER GAOL, - -MAY 10, 1821. - - - ADVERTISEMENT. - - This little Memoir of Mr. Paine was written purposely to - accompany a new Edition of his Political Works, lately - published by R. Carlile, and whilst it was in the press, it - occurred to him that it would be desirable as a pamphlet to - those persons who had made a previous purchase of those - works. Accordingly lie worked off 500 of them, and found - that they were all sold in a few weeks, without a single - advertisement beyond "The Republican." It has now been out - of print for above three months, and finding a constant, and - increasing demand for them, he has been induced to make a - few corrections and some slight additions, and to print a - second edition. Brief as the number of its pages must - appear, for so interesting a character, the Compiler feels - assured that it will be deemed sufficient by all persons who - may possess Mr Paine's writings, for whose satisfaction it - was solely written, - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Life of Thomas Paine, by Richard Carlile - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE *** - -***** This file should be named 40208.txt or 40208.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/2/0/40208/ - -Produced by David Widger - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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