Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1855-04-07
THOMAS PAINE.

| "ho ""o Pio'co III " VI iai " '"oa 1A"'i !
to have suffered at least one Hundred
and fifty severe fits of apoplcxy,-al-
ways attracted from a brandy bottle
Paine was the owner Of several pieces
Of land at one period Of his life, and
when he utterly refused to pay for his
board he was sued. On the trial it was
was shown that he kept ill-famed wo-
men around him, and was the continued
subject of ('apoplccticO Intoxicating fits:
Making himself q great burden upon
any family in which he lived. We are
glad that Mr.. Thornburn has furnished
the epublic with the following facts.
In o recent article on the celebration
of Tom Painc's Birthday, we alluded to
Grant Thorburn as a living witness Of
his dissolutc and disgusting habits; the
last New York Observer contains a let
ter from Mr.. Thornburn, written on his
S3d birthday, Feb. 18th, and dated at
Winstead, Conn, where he expects to
pass his remaining days. This letter
is devoted chiefly to "reminiscences Of
Tom Paine. We make the following
extracts, which we hope will be read at
the next and every subsequent anniver-
sary Of tho infdcl debauch. '5lag
GAS there is but step between me
and death, l owe it to generations yet
to come, to tell what I saw and heard
of Tom Paine. Perhaps there lives
not man on earth, who traced him
from his cradle to his grave, exceptmy-
self. Carver and I were fellow labor
crs in the same shop. Paine and Car
yer were born in the same town in
England. Paine and l boarded with
Carver. 1 often heard Carver, his
wife, and Paine, as We four satby the
fire in a winters night, rehearsc the
items of his life. / think he was the
worst member Of the body polite lever
met in all my journey through life
Hemarried a respectable lady who died
eleven months thereafter, in consc-
qence of brutal treatment. lie then
married a daughter Of the Collectorof
the Port Of Lewis; after three years
she obtained divorce fer like treat
ment.
In 177S, while he held an office in
the Custom House, (givcn him by his
fathcr-in-law) he was detected in taking
bribcs from the smugglcrs, and fled to
America. Flo was made Secretary to
the private Committee Of Congress, and
took an oath of officcto keep their So
crcts. Hc broke this oath by diEulg-
ing the project of asccret mission to
the Court Of Franceby Silas Dean
lie was dismissed with disgrace. (Sce
tho Journal of Congress in 1774 or '5.
This trcachcry was the cause Of much
trouble in Congress, and in the Court
of Louis XVI. Pr ti
We next find him in Paris, helping
Robespierre in his labors Of love to es-
tablish the freedom Of the press, and
the right Of speech, by means Of the
guillotine. He quarfelcd with Robbie,
and was chalked for guillotine., God,
willing to make the wrath Of Paine to
praise Him, sent an angel who deliver
ed him out Of prison. For particulars
of this miracle, see the Life Of Thorn
burn, 1o1stpage):
In 1901, when Thomas Jefferson was
elected President, he instantly dispatch
ed a national frigate to convey to our
shores the Generated Thomas Paine.
Hc arrived early III the year 1902. /
spoke with him at the City Hotel, Bow
cry, . few hours after his arrival. He
found letters urging him on to WASH
ington; (then a four days journcy).-
He started hextmoning. At George
town messenger was sent forward to
announce his approach; feast was
got ready, and oil those of like think
ing we're invited. Paine entered late,
his shirt unwashell, his beard unshorn,
and rceling Ikea drunken man.. A
look Of CONSERVATION shono forth from
every face; mirtl, ceased; ono by ono
they went out, leaving Paine alone on
his chair fast asleep! Next day hc re-
ceived letters and instructions to return
to New York.
When Aaron Burr returned from
Europe, whittier he had fled afttr his
duel with Hamilton, he kept lis ofliccin
Nassau street; near my sccd-storc.-
From him received the account above
stated.
Paine, Oh his return, was unable to
find lodgings, Carver took him in for
old acquaintance sake. lie died at
Greenwich, Of dclirium tremcns, in
1909"
Psnitc,ttiasy Facts.-Thc following
significant facts arc stated III conncc7