The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-05-09
One of Thomas Paine's Victims.

The Rev. E. f. Hatfield, a New School Pres
byteran minister Of high standing, publishes the
following account of one o! Paines companions.
probably one of bis victims:
The "Anecdotes of Thomas Paine,' by Lau.
re Todd, in the last number of the Observer,
have recalled an incident in my pastoral expe-
rience, Of some interest. The conversation with
Thomas PaiEe took place, as your correspon.
dent relates, at the house of VIM. Carver. in
this city, in the year 1905.
On the I'd day Of February, 1888. member
Of my Church, who had been converted only a
few months previously from the doctrines taught
BY Francis Wright and Robert Dale Owen, called
upon me in the afternoon, to request me 10 visit
poor old man, in whom he felt a particular in.
ierest. ascertaned that his name was vii.
ham Carver that he was confirmed nfdeI, and
had been IN early days, the associate of Thomas
Paine. IL was the same individual 10 whom
Mr.. Fhorborn refers. as the host of Mr.. Paine,
lie resided al that time in honse OF III fame,
in Walnut street. near Grand street, aud occu-
pied small back room in miserable tenement,
and OF most lorbidding appearance. The room
was just large enough for narrow beadstead,
table and stnol, destitute of carpet or cur.
tains, or any such comfort. A .ilthy mattress.
with some wretched covering, lay upon bed
stead; while under it. and in open sight, was an
old pine coffin, designed as receptacle for the
remains OF him who occupied the bed above.
A more gloomy abode it has never been my ot
TO enter. 1t was cold, cherries, horid.
The occupant was short, wrinkled, sour
looking old man, whose habilimenis and general
appearance were in perfect keeping with the
establishments. He received us with a most
forbidding suenness; as If he wanted no con.
versaton with us. and cared not how soon we were
gone. He appeared tc be very destitute both Of
money and friends. He had outlived them all.
aud was more than fcur.score years of ape. He
had so long been shut out from sympathy, that he
looked upon all mankind as his enemies.
We entered into conversation with him, how.
ever and gradually drew from him much Of his
former history, especially in resrect to his con-
nec;lon with Thomas Paine He told us that
Paine had boarded with him about eighteen
months, that he was a sconndrel, a villain. |
drunkard and everything that was vile. He did |
not hesitate To bestnw upon him the most oppro- |
brious epithpts, and TO speak Of his principles |
With ronfempt. The very name Of Pai:e seemed |
to stir up all the rage of a heart. that for many
long years had not known kindly sentiment, |
nor bent but in hatred 10 mankind.
During the hour that we conversed with him. |
in reference TO the Bible, and the nature Of his
future prospects We spoke Of his departure
from the world; and he effected not to be afraid
OF death, bui to desire i. In The most qnerulous
manner possible, he would say gain and aaain. |
u don't know what have done to suffer as do |
wish God Almighty would Kill me, and put me |
out Of misery" When asked il he believed The
Bible. he would break forth in strain Of scofng.
and shocking. He had no faith in Thomas |
Paine, none in Francis Wright, and none in |
Robert Dale Owen, and none in the Bible |
Moses was grea, scnundre, and SO we're ali |
the rest He beloved in God, but conn. aimed |
most bitterly of the manner IN Which God had |
treated him. He seemed TO have no sense OF |
sin, or at least no pentence for 1t, and vet was
as sull o. horror as any creature could be.
z Several loose scraps OF manuscript were Ivino |
on the greasy table before him, wl.ich appeared |
to have been written upon in order to divert his
mind, and for mere employment. | took up |
one of them that Law before me, and found upon |
il these words: 'AIl he hell that priests preach
up, is not featfer IN the scale II hat ichich |
already suffer from my thoughts and gopertus |
Such were tne thoughts that occupied the snlic. |
ituJe Of this most miserable aposlafe. Such |
was the horror Of conscience with which The |
man was visited, and by which he was daily |
who had renowned the religion of |
The cross. and cast the Bible into .he flames
He could not say that he did not want the Bihle
yet he hated il, and rayed at It's doctrines.
As we left him, and returned to onr homes. / |
cnnd not but wish that every yonno man who /
was endeavoring TO free himself from the re-
straints Of the Gospel and 10 drink ID the poison
Of inhdelity, might spend an hour as had done
with sOid Carver" and learn from such an
example, the miserable end Of The infdel and
apostate. He survived but few months or at
most year or two, and bad dad az be lise5s.
toysaken o. God aud mzn, $500 's'ss'.f