Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1830-01-14
FROM BIackwooTs MagaERs, for November.
TOM PAINE.

geons Of the Committee OF Public Safety
IN Paris, he came to this city New York;
aud put up at the City Hotel. Ono morn-
! ing, about nine o'clock, 4 person came in
To my store, aud said that Paine was stand
ing on the steps at the entrance Of the hO-
tel. As I lived next street, aud being
curious TO see him, 1, with two gentlemen,
who happened 10 be In the store at the
time, went round the corner TO have a
look at him but before we got there he
had stepped IN. At that moment hap.
pencd to obServe s. L-n, tho
painter, enter the hotel. As I knew Sam
| and he were compatriots through the whole
Of the American Revolution, I presumed
he was going to see his old friend, aud
proposed to my companions to 60 in like
wise, saying, that as was acquainted with
Mr.. I.--n, he would introduce u.s.
They, however, declined 10 60, SO went
alone.
els Mr.. Paine at home I" said I to the
waiter. eyes" i" In his own room 7"
-" Ycs."-" Can I SEQ him ~" Follow
me )" and was ushered into spacious
room, where the table was set for break
fast. One gentleman was writing at tho
table, and another reading the newspapers
at tho further end Of tho room, and a
lengthy, lank, coNrse-looking figure was
standing with his back to the fire. l saw
resemblance to a portrait I had seen IN
",he Rights Of Man." I knew it was
Paine.
While following the waiter, presuming
Paine was alone, prepared a speech to
introduce mysclfto u plain Republican so
lus; but when l thus found myself in tho
presence Of others, with tho great author Of
Common SeMSe," was at a loss for
moment at last / recovered my self pos
session and said,
" Gentlemen, is Mr.. Paino in this
room2 :" Ho stepped towards me, and said,
"My name is Paine" I held out my
hand, and when had hold Of his, says /,
I" MIR. Paine, and you gentlemen, will eX-
cuse my abrupt entry. came out ofmere
curiosity to see tho man whose writings
have made SO much noise in the WORLDLY
Paine answered am very glad your cu-
riosity is SO easily satisfied" Then with
out word more, rejoined, Good morn
ing )" and walking out, shut tho door be-
hind me.
laugh. Thinks I they may laugh that
win-I have seen Paine, and, all things
considered, have made a good retreat.
The gentlemen called the waiter, and
inquired who I was; aud he told them.-
They reported the matter In the coffee
house, and among their acquaintances, and
as the story travelled it was enriched with
all manner Of garnishiMg. One Of them
was, that had told Paine he was id
rascal, aud had it not been for his books I
should never have left my country. Are
not people who invent additions TO truth
liars?
AT that time { was prcsentar in the
Scotch Presbyterian Church, in Cedar
Street, of which tho famous DIR. John Ma
son was then minister. The Kirk Session
caught the alarm, an extra meeting was
called, and was suspended from Office for
some months on account OF having visited
Tom Paine.
When Paine had afterwards fallen into
disreputc, and was summed by the moro
respectable Of his friends on account ofhis
drunken habits, he boarded in the house
of one William C"%~*, "A tarrier. This
C~~~% and being acquainted, had free
access TO his house, and frequently called
to converse with Paine. One evening he
related the following anecdoie.
During tho slaugh,ery of Robespiere.
when every republican that the monster
could get in his power was beheaded,
Paine was cast into prison, and his name
was on list with nineteen who were or
dered for execution the next morning. 1t
was customary for the clerk Of tho tribunal
10 60 round the cells a. night, and put
cross with chalk on the back of the door
of such prisoners as were ordered for the
scafTold in the morning. When the execu-
toner came with his guard to remove the
victims, wherever chalking was found.
the inmate Of the cell was taken forth and
executed.
In these horrible SHAMELESS there was a
long gallery having row of cells ON each
side. The passage was secured at each
end, but the doors Of the cells were left
open, and sometimes the prisoners stepped
into the rooms Of one another for compa-
ny. II happened, on the night preceding
the day appointed for the doom Of Paine,
that he had gone into his neighbours cell.
leaving his door open with its back TO the
nall Tnef than tha rhalker came mast