Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-05
pAlNE.S BONES.

As yet Mr.. Cobbett has eondescend-
Ell 10 make no reply, to .ne charge OF his
having removed the homes OF Thomas
: Paine, and caused them 10 be shipped 10
England. Ii is, however, placed beyond
doubt, that they have been torn from
their grave-ihat The repose of the dead
has been disturbed, and that the relics OF
tins distinguished champion Of A merican
liberty-this man who dared TO be great
and honest in times that tried mems
souls, have been carried off by an Eng
iish reformer, who intends paradiAg them
about, followed by a rabble host, TO pre-
duce excitement. and 10 ga change Of the
British Ministry :" That Cobbeti pre-
sided AT these sacrilegious orgies we are
not prepared 10 say, but his friend Ben
bow (ihe shoemaker) and some other
reformists have carried away these bones,
and his cOnscBt ii not CO. cooperation, could
not have been wiihlisld.' II has been
suggested that Madame Bonneville con
senied TO the active cannot believe il
she had no power or authority for giving
permission-neitber can we credit the
suggestion, that respectable lady,
would have So far forgotten the obl,-
cations of gratitude, as TO allow the
bones of her humble benefactor 10 be
torn from their cearmemts, and carried
on TO disiant country to create political
excitement. One of Paine's executors
has assured me that he gave no permis-
sion-ltOw then are we 10 account for
public apathy on the occasion that the
toU Of the state is TO be violated, and the
laws OF nature, humanity, and The obliga-
lions OF patriotism 10 be thus outraged
with impuni'y?
What would be said If a set of mad
enthusiasts were to break open the tomb
OF Washington, and carry his bones Ia
South America 10 inspire the people in
their contest against Spain? Would il moi
speak trumpet ioDgue,i il moi
be heard at every quarter of The globe Z?
and yetwe can SOC no difference IN the
act. Sioics and philosophers NAV saw.
what are The bones of dead man wei
who, when alive, is indifferent orr the
subject! Some would say Tat Poine
would not have cared about i,-nay.
would have consented TO the carving ,,i
ms remains 10 Ensland. We know bel.
ter: we have prof, fortunately living
proof to the contrary. Mr.Jarvis, OF this
city, who was on intimate terms with MIR.
faine, having an attachment to The study
OF cranIology, asked him once, in a friend
~ mode, II he would permit him 10 have
ms skull, TO study when ha vas dead
NJ let me alone When am dead: 7 skouLd
nat axe ny bones to be disturbed. Here we
heye his opinion on the subject as faith.
iGl as n he was present.
The following is Benbow's letter and
Jus piausihie excuse. N York ~. Adv.
e,n NcU York Oct. Q, 1919.
Slk--ln answer TO numerous oupstions re
iatve to the removal of the bones oftas con
ctlve) The greatest man OF the age i'm which
he lived, who Law in state of deprada,in,,
and whom, as an Euglishnan I claim as my
couDtryman, have to say, we mean 10 raise
colossal statue to his memory, which will
pyove to you. IN the first place, the value we
GsNEnglishmen, set upon the merits of Mr.
Pane =; and Oh the other hand, will prove "a
you, as Americans, your ingratitude Neglect
ing, as you have doue the man, who had
done more ten times told, THAI any .other ner
son, towards emancipaiing America from Ri
tSh slavery. However. Nc. E,ain,', reu,,;ns
are gene to the hiid, where ti.ey will he hon,
'oured: and. being instrumental In the TemovaI
forms onetof the happiest periods of nv life
follow him with pleasure. / shall see his re
mains receive the reward of his merits. which
~ least, ought 10 be given To whom il is dine =
am, sir with respect
Yours, &c.
wM. BENBOw.
'" The time was that when the
BRAINS were out the man would die,
But now it's otherwise.