Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-02-24

moment; at last recovered my self-Pos-
session and said,
"Geatemen, is Mr.. Paine 10 this room:"
he stepped towards me, and said, "My
name Is Paine" Iheld out my hand, and
whe0 | had hold of his, saysI, 'Mr. Paine,
and you gentlemen. will excuse my abrupt
entry. ] came out Of nero curiosity to see
the man whose writings have made so
much noise in the world" Paine answer
ed, i am very glad your curiosity Is so
easily a6sGed. Then without word
more, J rejoined, Good moraing;" and
walk,acolt shut the door behind rae.
heard them all burst out into loud
laugh. Thought l. they may laugh shat
wia--i have seen Pane, all things con
s.dered, baye made a good retreat
/ The enttmeu called The 0ai:er' and
I inQuirea VINO ! vas; ea de told them.
They reported the matter 10 the coffee
house among their acqjaiatances, and as
tic story travelled /, was enriched witEaA
mauoer Of garnishing. Oae Of them Fas,
! tLal bad told Paine he was Did
rascal. and bad it not been for his books
shotld never aavelelt my native country.
/ Are not people who invent additions TO
truth, hars2
At that time I was presenter IN the
Scotch Presbyterian Church, in Cedar
street, Of which tie famous Dr. John Ma
son was then minister. The Kirk Ses-
/ sion caught the alarm, an extra meeting
! was called. and ! was suspended from
Office for sC1ne months on account Of hay
Iine visited Tom Paine.
When Paine had afterwards falleu into
disre7ute, and was stunned by the more
respectable of his friend5 on account OF h,s
drunken habits, he boarded ia the hgnsc
of one William Case d farrier. This
C*s* end ] being acquainted, ! had free
I access to bis house, and frequently called
20 converse with Tom Paine. 0de even
| inc he related the following auociote.
During the slaughtery Of R0basPiere,
when every republican that the monster
could get in his power was beheadod,
Paine was cast into prison, and his name
was on a list with nineteen who were order
ed for execution the next mo1Ug. il was
customary for the clerk oftho tribunal 70
20 round the cells at night, AID 20 put a
/ cross on the back of the door Of such OF the
( prisoners as were ordered for the scatfoid
Ina ,be morning. When the eXecuboner
came with his guard to remove the victims,
waetaycra chalkiug was found, the inmate
/ Of tic cell was takan forth and executed.
Tn the horrible SHAMELESS there was a
long gallery having row OF cells on ench
side. The passage was secured at each
end. bat the doors Of the cells We're left
open, and Sometimes the prisoners stepped
! iuto the rooms Of each other for company.
! Il happened. on the night preceding the
DAY appointed for the doom Of Paine, that
lhebd zone into his neighbours cell, icay.
Ing ms dool open with IT'S back 20 the vail
lJust then the chaiker cane past, and be-
Ing probably drunk, crossed the inside OF
his cell door,
/ Next morning. when the guard came
with an order to bring out the twenty VIC
TINS, and fading only nineteen chalks,
Pane beng IN bed and MS door shut, they
took G prisoner from jhe farther end Of the
| gallery, and taus made up the requisite
number.
About 6rty.eichthour5 after this auoci-
oua deed, Robespiere was oycrthrown, and
his own head chopped or go that PANE
was set at liberty, aud made .hc best of his
way 70 New York.
/ asked bun what be thought Of his al
most mracuous escape. lie said the
! FARES had ordained he Was not then 10
Idle. SAYS ! "Mr. Paine, III tell you
what;-l think you know YOU have written
and spoken much against what we call the
religion Of the Bible; you highly extolled
the periectability OF human reason when
! left TO its own guidance, unshackled by
priestcraft and superstition. The God in
whom YOU live. move, and have your be-
ling. has spared your life that YOU might
give to the world a living comment on your
doctrines. You now show what human
nature IS when left to itself Here YOU SIT,
in an obscure and comtortless dwelling,
st.aed with snuff and Supplied with bran
dy:-you. who were once the companion
Of Washington, Jay and Hamilton. Every
good man has deserted you; and even
Deists. that have any regard for decency,
cross the street 10 avoid You"
He was then the most disgusting human
being that could any where be met with.
Intenperance had bloated his countenance
beyond description. a few o. his disciples,
VINO stuck TO BIN through good report and
through Dad report. 10 hide HIM from the