Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-06-14

much distracted by what was going on around
me to permit me to do much during the day.
AT eleven at night We were locked in our cells,
and then generally wrote for a quiet hour
before going 10 bed.
had been thus engaged for some three or
four months. and had completed more than half
ofmy undertaking when of the attendants
knocked at my cell door, and announced
visitor in the person Of an Englishman, who.
having been consigned to prison. had inquired
If any ofhis fellow-country men We're in con
Gnement and. having been referred TO me.
now sought an introduction rose, of course
Immediately, and proceeded to offer him such
welcome as the place afforded. He was
an already stricken in years, of rather for
bidding aspect. but the fire of intellect in his
restless eve. He introduced himself to me as
Thomas Paine. the author Of the Rights OF
Man" and he hoped he might add, the con-
sistent friend Of liberty. ihoug h. for the pres
ent at least, he had lost his own. | condoled
with him as well as could. and assisted in
installing him ina cell next TO mine. which
happened TO he vacant. lmay confess that
much more astonished than gra,ifed by
the accession of such companions; but as he
never sought to intrude upon my privacy,
was enabled TO proceed with my work unmo-
Tested. | made him acquainted with the Ell
quel'e of the prison. and the necessity af
cheerful face if he went into company; and he
warmly approved OF the regulation. though he
rarely complied with it, as he kept himself al
most constantly in his cell. He wrote for sew
eral hours every day; and iold me that he
approaching fast to the completion Of work.
which. under tire title CT "The Age ofReason."
would one day make noise in the world. and
do something towards putting the forces OF
priestcraft TO the rout. At my request he lent
me a portion of the manuscript, which, having
perused with indignation, returned with my
unqualified condemnation. at " hich he laugh
ed good-humoredly. and said had been too
efectuaily nursed in preudices to he able to
judge impariiaIly. did not return the conf
dence " it'll which he had honore,l me ly ma
king him acquainted with the purpose for
whci, was lahoring. The winter of 1884
was nearly over before had got my manu-
script in fit condition TO he put into the
hands oflhe printer. remember being much
troubled in the preparation OF the last tew
pages by the crowded state of the prison.
Not only were all the cells occupied, but
full hall them contained couple of inmates
each, and was obliged myself to purchase
immunity from partnership with a stranger a,
a considerable sum. We who had been long
In prison knew well enough what to look for
from such state of things. and every night
after supper we expected the summons of the
bell which preceded the reaIing over the black
list. 1t came at last, alters respite OF eighteen
days. an interval which had caused many to
hope that these judicial slaughters were al an
end. The first stroke of the bell produced a
dead silence. and we listened with horror " lille
tw weniy seven names were deliberately called
over, together with the number Of the cells in
which their owners domiced l saw Mr.
Paine seated in his cell, and clutchlng the door
in his hand, as he looked sterny through the
partial opening upon the face of the gaoler as
he read over the list When it was concluded
he shut himself in; and heard him moving a.
bout at intervals during the whole night.
did not sleep myself. and felt sure that he
did not attempt to sleep.
When the victims we're mustered the next
morning previous to the arrival OF the tum
Drills which were to bear them to death. the
goaler declared that the number was short by
one; that he was bound to furnish the full
compliment oftwenty-e ght. which he asserted
was the the number he had read off the night
iefore He was requested to refer to the list,
and read it again; but, by some strange man
asement. this could not lie fourd
"Gentlemen." said the gaoler, "you must
manage it among you somehow; it is as much
as my own head is worth-though to be sure
heads at discount just now-to send
short weight in bargains Of this sort Be so
good to settle it among yourselves" At
these words a volunteer stepped forward
"What signifies day or two more or less p
he cried, IL vii! 60 Gentlemen. do not rrou
blt yourselves-the affair is finished !" A
light murmur at applause was deemed sufi
cient reward for his grauitous act of self devo-
ton, which under different circumstances
might have won an immortality Of fame The
voluntary victim could have been barely FIVE
and.twenty. He was allowed 10 lead off the
dance in The grim tragedy of the morning. -
He did so with an alacrty altogether and ex
ceednglv French. ! do not recollect his name;
his exploit was no more than a three DAYS
wonder
From what reason know not. hut it began
to he rumored that one of the Englishmen
ought to have completed the condemned list
and suspicious of dishonorable conduct on the
part of Paine were freely whispered about
They were. perhaps, founded on the fact oi
his being constantly in communication with the
gaoler. who brought him almost daily des-
patches from some Of his Jacobin friends. Ii
was reported soto coce that he had bribed the
gaoler to erase his name from the list though.
as he had never been brought to trial, nor, as
far as know, was aware, any more than my.
SELF of the specific charge made against him.
| do not see that that was very probable-a
form Of trial at least being generally allowed
10 prisoners.
When my manuscript was ready sent for
printer and bargained with him for pretty
large impression of the book. in cheap and
portable form. Nearly two months were oc
cupied in getting it through the press ow-
ing to the amount of business with which
the printers OF Paris were at that time over
loaded. When the whole edition was ready
fer delivery. sent for bookseller Of my ac
quaintance, and gave him an order upon the
printer for the whole Of them, with directions
to sell them at the low price of ten sous, or
fve-pence each, about equal to two thirds of
the cost Of their production. supposing the
whole number TO go off. which. in my gno-
rance of the book-trade and Of the literary k
ings Of the Parisians. / looked upon as the next
thing to a Certainty.
This undertaking off my hands. my mind
felt considerably more at ease. and l became
capable Of enjoying the few pleasures which