ing the success of her former scheme to destroy the reputation of Paine, she appears to have calculated on a similar result by pursuing the same course as to Mary Lockwood. Accordingly, on the decease of that young woman, she openly declared, that, on her death-bed, she had recanted her former opinions, and expressed the deepest penitence for the countenance she had given to Elias Hicks, whom she reprobated as an enemy to truth, and an artful deceiver. "The reverse of these representations as to Mary Lockwood, being perfectly known to many of the Friends, it was considered necessary that the matter should be investigated; when evidence was brought forward which clearly convicted Mary Hinsdale of deliberate falsehood, and that all she had said respecting the recantation of Mary Lockwood, was a wicked fabrication."-* Paine died, as he lived, an enemy to the "established" religion. Follower of the establishment! what hast thou to do with that? Art thou justified in violently assailing either the man or his works? Let a Christian answer; even the worthy Gilbert Wakefield, who wrote against the Age of Reason, but wrote thus of public prosecutions:-t "What right, I wish to be informed, can one man claim, distinct from power and tyranny, and usurpation, to dictate creeds, and to prescribe sentiments, for another? Let us put an extreme case upon this question, which will abundantly elucidate, and indubitably decide the controversy: I mean the publication of Paine's Age of Reason. "I would not forcibly suppress this book; much less would I punish, by fine or imprisonment, from any possible consideration, the publisher or author of these pages. "Prudential motives would prevent ine: because such interdiction serves only to excite the restless curiosity of * New York Correspondent; Lion, August first, 1828, vol. ii. p. 141. mankind; and the restraints of law give fresh vigor to circulation. "Motives of Philosophy would prevent me: because inquiry and discussion are hereby provoked; and sparks of truth, which would otherwise have been concealed for ever, are elicited by the collision of debate; to the unspeakable emolument and illumination of mankind, in the promotion of mutual forbearance and esteem, in the furtherance of valuable knowledge, and in the consequent propagation of all happiness and virtue. Truth can never suffer from argument and inquiry; but may be essentially injured by the tyrannous interference of her pretended advocates." "Motives of Justice would deter me. Why should I refuse another that privilege of thinking and writing, which I claim and exercise myself? "Motives of Humanity would deter me. I should think with horror on the punishment of any man for his belief, in which he has no discretionary power, but is necessarily swayed by the controlling depotism of arguments and reasons; and at what licence or patent shop shall I purchase a gag to silence him? Or, what shall hinder him from forming the same unfavorable judgment of my opinions, and pursuing in his turn the same measures of intimidation and coercion with myself? "Lastly, Motives of Religion would deter me from molesting any writer for the publication of his senti ments. "Who, then, art Thou, vain dust and ashes! by whatever name thou art called, whether a King, a Bishop, a Church, or a State, a Parliament, or any thing else, that obtrudest thine insignificance between the soul of man and its Maker? MIND THINE OWN CONCERNS. IF HE BELIEVES NOT AS THOU BELIEVEST, IT IS A PROOF THAT THOU BELIEVEST NOT AS HE BELIEVETH, AND THERE IS NO EARTHLY POWER CAN DETERMINE BETWEEN YOU." I APPENDIX. N Moore's Life and Death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, fifth son of the Duke of Leinster, and nephew to the Duke of Richmond; in a letter from Fitzgerald to his mother, dated "Paris, October 30th, 1792, the following passage occurs, throwing light on the high character of Paine : "I lodge with my friend Paine,- we breakfast, dine, and sup together. The more I see his interior, the more I like and respect him. I cannot express how kind he is to me; there is a simplicity of manner, a goodness of heart, and a strength of mind in him, that I never knew a man before possess." Dr. Walker was a great enemy to slavery under all its forms. He, one day, inquired of Thomas Paine how it was to be accounted for, that he had not taken up the pen to advocate the cause of the blacks. The answer offers as great a testimony to his judgment, as it does. honor to his feelings. "An unfitter person,' "said he "for such a work could hardly be found. The cause would have suffered in my hands. I could not have treated it with any chance of success; for I could never think of their condition but with feelings of indignation." "The counsel, that Thomas Paine had the courage to offer, in the French National Convention, on attempting to save the life of Louis the XVIth, must be approved and admired by every liberal mind. He proposed that the fallen king should be sent to the United States, where he would find many friends, not forgetful of the aid which he had rendered them in days of need, when striving to shake off the British yoke. On this dreadful occasion, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was his interpreter." -Dr. Epps' Life of Dr. Walker, pp. 140, 141. [The following extract is taken from a private letter of Mr. Paine's, dated July 31st, 1805, and addressed to Mr. John Fellows, of New York. It is quoted mainly to show the plain and quiet manner in which Mr. Paine lived; and to destroy the attempts so often made by the self-styled and exclusively religious people, that he was an intemperate man. A copy of the entire letter is in the hands of the publisher. It was given by Mr. Fellows to Mr. William Clark, of London.] "I am master of an empty house, or nearly so. I have six chairs and a table, a straw bed, a feather bed, and a bag of straw for Thomas, a tea kettle, an iron pot, an iron baking pan, a frying pan, a gridiron, cups, saucers, plates and dishes, knives and forks, two candlesticks and a pair of snuffers. "I have a fine pair of oxen and an ox-cart, a good horse, a chaise, and a one horse-cart; a cow, and a sow and nine pigs. When you come you must take such fare as you meet with, for I live upon tea, milk, fruit, pies, plain dumplings, and a piece of meat when I get it; but I live with that retirement and quiet that suits me. "If you can make yourself up a straw bed, I can let you have blankets, and you will have no occasion to go over to the tavern to sleep. "Yours in friendship, "THOMAS PAINE." |