The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-03-14


Bonneville and two sons who came
with Paine from France from hus-
band and father. Filthy and sdrunkn, e
he was compound of all vices.
The Rev BIr. Hatfield pnblished an
account of an interview with Carver,
when he (Carver was near his death
on sick bed, at which the following
occurred:
He-( Carver told us that Paine had
boarded with him about eighteen
months; that he Eas scouRdrel, a vii
lian, drankard, and everything that
was vile.
PAINE's HABITS.
Cheetham, in his biography of Paine,
says.
He { Paine continued ip;France from
the year 1898 to the year 1902, associa-
ting during that time with the lowest
company, and indulging to still greater
excess his thirst for liquor. He became
so filthy in his person, SO mean in his
dress, and SO notorious a sot, that all
men of decency in Paris avoided him.
His intemperance he could not con-
ceal, nor had he, to all appearance, a
wish to conceal it. He was daily drunk
with his favorite brandy, and every
body saw or heard of his intoxieation.
Ny intercourse with him was more
frequent than agreeable, but from what
I suffered in feeling from his want of
good manners, his dogmatism, the tyran-
ny of his opinions, his peevishness, his
intemperance and the low company he
kept, was perhaps compensated by ac-
quiring knowledge of the man.
In Paris, Mr.. Monroe, then our
French Minister, as matter of charity
took Pane in; but his habits were SO Of
fensive that Mr.. Monroe was obliged to
place him in a separate apartment on the
ground floor.
Grant Thornburn, in speaking of Paine
in 1905, says:
His habits had now become so intern
perate, and his dress and person SO mean
and slovcnly, that he was Stunned by
all the respectable portion of his own
disciples | often spent an evening with
Paine at the house of Carer and wife.
Grant Thornburn, in his letter before
referred to, of date Feb. 10th, '55,
speaks of Paine's return from France in
a National vessel in 1902. and says he
SpaIse-t0 Paine fe@ hours after his ar
rival in New-Horks ct the City Hotel,
Bowery, and that Paine, finding iettert
calling him to Washington, set out the
next morning for that city; Thornburn
then goes on to say:
At Georgetown messenger was sent
forward to announce his approach a
feast was got ready, and all those of like
thinking were invited. Paine entered
late, his shirt unwashed, his beard un-
shorn, and realing like drunken man.
4 look of CONSERVATION shone forth from
every face; mirth ceased; one by one
they went out, leaving Paine alone on
his chair fast asleep. Next day he re-
ceiyed letters and instructions to return
to New York
When Aaron Burr returned from
Europe, whithor he had fed after his
duel with Hamilton, he kept his Office
in Nessau street, near my seed store
From him received the account as above
stated.
PANE's INGRATITUDE.
Robert Carver, in answering Tom
Paine's letter, in which the latter refus
ed to pay the former just debt fol
board, liquor, care, and nursing, says:
Do you recollect the pains I took tc
clean you? That I got tub of warm
water and soap, and washed yeu from
head to foot, and this had to do three
times before could get you clean ]
likewise shaved you and cut your nails
that were like birds claws. I remem.
bera remark thatI make to you at that
time; which was, that you put me IN
mind of Nebuehadnezzar, who is said tC
be in this situation. Many of your
toe nails exceeded half an inch in length,
and others had grown round your toes,
and nearly as far under as they exten-
ded on the top Have 1 not reason to
exclaim and say, o the ingratitude OF
your obdurate heart
Cheetham, says of Madame Bonne-
vile the victim of Paine's wiles, that
in 1905 she had no home but garrett
in Liberty street, n. Y; aud that too,
during the raging of pestilence which
almost emptied the city. Paine being
at that time in independent circumstan-
ces. from property given him at New
Rochelle by the State of New Y ork, and
the proceeds of property and money Civ
en- him by Pennsylvania and by Con-
gress.
I" Unable to get out of town, she
Madame Bonneville would in all
probability have perished with hunger,
but for the pecuniary aid which MIR.
Carver liberaliy and humanity afforded
her. Paine was acquainted with her
condition, but he had no feeling.n
The admirers of Tom Paine plumes
themselves upon the friendship enter
tanned for him by Washington, and no
one will dispute that Washington be-
lieved this country owed Paine debt.
Acting upon that belief Gen. Washing
ton urged upon Congress to vote Paine
pay for such services, and through such
solicitation Congress did give Paine a
sum of money.
We close our extracts with the intro
duction of but one more historical fact,
showing the base ingratitude of Paine
towards his best friend. The proof of
this ingratitude is from Paine s own lips
In letter written in 1902, Paine thus
speaks Of Washington:
/" Though I came forward in defence
of Mr. Washington when he was attack
ed, and made the best that could be
made Of q series Of 6luaders that had
nearly ruined the country, he left mo t.
perish when I was in prison"
Again, Paine said of Washington, he