Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-03-17
Thomas Paine.

| In a recent article on the celebration of Ton
Pane's Birthday, we alluded to Grant Thorburr
as living witness Of bis dissolute and disgusting
! habits The last New York Observer contains
letter from Mr. Thorburn, written On his SD birth
day, February 18th, and dated at Winsted, 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
anniversary of the infdel debadchee.
nv. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
AS there is but step between me and death, ]
owe it to generations yet to come, to tell what saw
and heard of Thomas Paine. Perhaps there lives
not man on earth, who traced him from his cradle
to his grave, except myself Carver and l were
fellow aborers in the same shop. Paine and Carver
were born in the same town in England. Paine
and boarded with Carver. T often heard Carver,
his wife, and Paine, as we four sat by the fire on a
winter night rehearse the items of his life. think
he was the worst member Of the body polite ever
met in all my journey through life. He married a
respectable lady, who died eleven months there
AFTER in consequence of brutal treatment He
then married daughter Of the Collector of the
Port Of Lewis; after three years she obtained a
divorce for like treatment.
In 1918, while he held an office in the Custom
house (given him by his tather-n-law,) he was de-
tected in taking brides from the smugglers, and
fed to America. He was made Secretary to the
private Committee of Congress, and took an oath
Of office to keep their secrets. He broke this oath
by divulgng the project of secret mission to the
Court of France by Silas Dean. He was dismissed
with disgrace. (See the Journal of Congress in
l774 or 75) This treachery was the cause of
much trouble in Congress, and in the Court Of
Louis XIV.
We next find him in Paris, helping Robespierre
in his abors Of love to establish the freedom of the
press, and the right Of speech, by means of the
guillotne. He quarrelled with Robbie, and was
chalked for guillotne. God, willing to make the
wrath of Paine to praise Him, sent an angel who
delivered him out of prison. (For particulars of
this miracle, the Life of Thorburn, 1O1st page.)
In 1901, when King Thomas the First assembled
the throne of his kingdom, he instantly dispatched
national frigate to convey to our shores the vener
ated Thomas Paine. He arrived early in the year
1902. spoke with him at the City Hotel, Bowery,
a few hours after his arrival. He found letters
urging him on to Washington, then four days
journey. He started next morning. At George
town messenger was sent forward to announce
his approach; feast was got ready, and all those
of like thinking were invited. Paine entered late,
his shirt unwashed, his beard unshorn, and reeling
like a drunken man. A look of CONSERVATION shone
forth from every face; mrth ceased; one by one
they went out leaving Paine alone on his chair fast
asleep. Next day he received letters and instruc-
tons to return to New York.
When Aaron Burr returned from Europe with
he had fed after his duel with Hamilton he kept
his office in Nassau street, near my feed store.
From him | received the account above stated
Paine, on his return, was unable to find lodgings
Carver took him in for old acquaintance sake. He
died at Greenwich, of delrium tremens, in 1909.