New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-15
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THOMAS PAINE.
RADICAL LEITIS FROM A MINISTER.

To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Thomas Paine's history is well-known.
His moral character was not good. II was not COM
liable in hn elope with his friends wife He WAS
too drunken, proane AMI VULGAR to retain the friendship
OF bis septieal associates. He wrote good political
essays. He also wrote "The Age OF Reason" in two
small volumes to bring the Bible into discredit aud TO
break down the moral restraints OF Christianity In the
FIRST volume he said in favor OF Jesus that the morality
he taught was of tie sirctcst kind" In the second vol
he takes back that statement, and gives reason
for having made It, that he had not then read the New
Testament
lie was not an Atheist He said 81 believe
In God and no more" Many think his moral charac-
ter the necessary ourovtl Of his religious errors
His is connected with birth Of the nation. lie
associate OF Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson BY all means let his bust be shown at the
Centennial would not object to the bust Of the devil
provided his friends would furnish it.
have spoken OF him and his religious writings so
times in the pulpit and out of IT, that want TO see
his Xix Tic Qlakers denied his request to be buried
in their cemetery but thew hardly object TO true
figure OF his head in the great Exhibition. H.J.E.
SyOOkign, n. L., April 4, 1876.
HIS ALLEGED RECLAMATION OF HIS RELIGIOUS
VIEWS.
TO the Edttor Of The tribune.
SIR In your issue of March 27 there is a
short article from W. II. Ladd giving extract from the
Journal OF ste hen Grelct noted minister of the So
cety Of Friends. In the extract Greet says OF Paine:
Hearing he i'll and in very destitutc condition,
went him. and found him in wreche1 state for
he had been neglected and forsaen by his pretended
friends that The common attentions to sick man had
been withheld from him." &c Grellet here intimates
and Ladd that Paine obliged to depend wholly
upon the charity Of his Christian nelghbors for the atten-
ito required by his condition That Paine may have
been neglected by pretended friends and reduced by
sickness and consequent suffering to Of physical
wretchedness. by unlikely; hut that he
I'm destitute condition, Obliged to depend upon
charity friends others for necessary attentions Is
not only In itself improbable but is positively Gisproved
by lis WILL made but few months before his DEATH by
which II ap& he possessed Of considerable prop
cry and certainly could have had, and doubtless did
have ali the attention his necessities required. Greet
lurtner states upon the authority OF one Mary Riscoe
that Pane great stress OF mind on account OF
his having written the age OF Reason" &c fully re-
cdntnS 10y the language imputed 10 hn) MS NE
long religious O Unions. The silly story OF Panes
rCcantatiCn Is sad 10 have originated with
woman by he name OF Mary Hinslae Rascoe y,
and was published By Quaker by the name OF Charles
Collins Wiliott Hicks was wcll-knOwu and reputable
merchant IN Newiork, member and minister OF Tho
Society OF QuaKcrs. He resided at Greenwich, was
ncighbOr Ia Paine, ana saw him frequently durnS
Ills Illness and "he hesated 10 pronounce the
Whole story plDus fraud" Even James Cheetam the
lbslcr Of Pane acknowledges he died in the
ligons faith inculcated his writings" The same Is
ilsted by his physician, Dr. Manly. and 10y al those
wb visited him in his last Illness" surely NlLet
Hicks DR.. Manly aud many others who were with him
frequently and conYrised WIN hlm, had every oppor-
tunity uf Knowing and must nave Known II any such
augc had taken place, aud they all deny H. Inis piu-
mi SANDER against one most consistent and fearless
advocates ciri and religious freedom Ger which Ills
bust entitled To place IN Independence Hl mas Detn
often tucd II Is surprising thaL even DSoJry ls not
ashamed To pIOlong H. me- o. C. H.
Mutton, y. L., April ,, 1876