The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-05
acknowledgement.
rhp sew York Observer in Reply
In IngeFAOll,

William Carver, hi, landlord, to show
Aa. he wasa man Of uncleanly habits,
and sl.o ChecthaIn's life Of Paine Ia work
pabli.hed in the year OF his DEATH to
prove both moral and physical shabbi.
Sem The most important OF its docu-
ueD,. Is, perhaps, the following letter
from Dr.. James Il, Manly, physician
who attended Paine in his last Illness.
We ouole this letter entire, rs follows:
New York, October ., 1901 was
called upon by accident to visit Mr.. Paine,
on The 18th Of February last, and found
him indisposed with fever, and very ap.
prehensivo Of an attack Of apoplexy, as
be stated that he had that disease before,
snj A. this time felt a great degree Of yer.
iigo and was unable 10 help hImselt as be
htdhither.o done, on account o fl an intense
pnin above the eyes. On inquiry OF the
attendants was told that three or four
Iays previously he had concluded to dis.
pe1.e with his usual quantity Of accus.
toned stimulus and that he had on that
Jsy resumed it. To the want Of his usu.
Al drink they attributed his illness; and
itshighly probable that the usual quaint.
" operating upon q state oil system more
easily excited from the above priyations,
vas Tie cause Of the symptoms OF which
lie then complained. q And
here let me be permitted to observe (lest
blame might attach to those whose bust.
mesa it was TO pay any particular atten-
lion 10 his cleanliness Of person. that it
va, absolutely impossible 10 effect that
purpose. Cleanliness appeared to make
10 part OF hia comfort; he seemed to have
singular aversion to soap and water; he
would never ask to be washed, and
when he was he would always make OBJ.
eCtions and it was not unusual 10 wash
and TO dress him clean very much against
biz inclination. In this deplorable
..sle, with confirmed dropsy, attended
wilh frequent cough, vomiting and hic-
cough, he continued growing from bad to
worse till the morning Of the Sth Of June,
when he died. Though | may remark
that during the last three weeks Of his
lie, his situation was such that his de-
cease was confidently expected every day,
hi,nlCers having assumed gangrenous
appearance, being excessively fetid, and
dlscolored blistcFs having taken place on
hesoles Of his feet without any ostensi-
BE cause, which bailled the usual at
tempis 10 arrest their progress; and
when we consider HIS former habits, his
advanced age, the feeblenesH Of his consti.
tuition, his constant habits Of using ar
dent spirits add libitum till the com.
mencement OF his last illness, 90 far from
wondering that he died so soon, we are
cOnstrained TO ask. How did he live so
long? Concerning his conduct during
his disease have not much to remark,
though the little | have may be some.
what interesting Mr.. Paine professed
to be above the fear OF death, and a great
part OF hia conversation was principally
directed to give the impression that he
was perfectly willing to leave this world,
and yet some parts OF his conduct were
with difficulty reConcilable with this be.
leI. In the frat stage of his illness he
was satisfied to be left alone during the
day, but he required some person to be
with him at night, urging as his reason
that he was afraid that he should die
when unattended, and at this period hia
department and his principles seemed to
be consistent; 80 much so that a stranger
would judge from some OF the remarks he
would make that he was an infdel. |
recollect being with him at night, watch.
Ing; he was very apprehensiVe OF speedy
dissolution, and suffered great dis.
Ifess Of body, and perhaps OF mind Tor
be was waiting the event OF m applica.
ton to the Society Of Friends for per.
mission that his corpse might be de.
posted in their grave ground, and had
reason 10 believe that tho request might
be retuSedl, when lie remarked in these
words, II think can say what they made
Jesus Christ 10 ssy-my God, my God,
Why hast thou torsaken meY He went
on TO observe on the want OF that respect
which he conceived he merited, when |
observed to him that I thought that his
corpse should be a matter OF less concern
10 him; that those whom he would leave
behind him would SEQ that no was prop
erly inferred; and, further, that 1t would
be Of little consequence to me where l
was deposited, provided was buried;
upon which he answered that he would
az leave talk about his death as anything,
but that no was not so Indifferent about
his corpse as | appeared to be.
During the latter part OF his life,
though his conversation was equivocal,
hls conduct was angular; he could moi
be left alone night or day; he not only
required to have some person with him
but he must see that he or she was there
and would not allow his curtain to be
closed at any time; and II, "a it would
sometimes uRavoidably happen, he was
Iell alone, he would scream and halloC
until some person came to him. Wher
relief from pain would admit, he seemed
thoughtful and COnlemplNtive, his eye
being generally Closed, and his hand
folded upon his breast, although no nevcl
slept without the RsSistance Of an ano
dyne. There was something remarkable
IN hs conduct about this period (Which
comprises about two weeks Immediately
preceding his DEATH particularly whei
We reflect that Thomas Paine was tn
author Of the Age Of Reason Hewoull
call ont during his paroxysms OF distress
without intermission, oh Lord help me
God help me! Jesus Christ help me
4 Al