The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-03

Ine physician Nuo ass0
durin. his last illness was DR.. James Il
Manly, gentleman of the highest char
sstsr. 4 letter of his, written in Octo
Der of the year that Paine died, iulIy
oorroborates the account Of bis state as
recorded by Stephen GrelIet In nis Me-
molrs, which We nave already printed
| He writes:
New YORK, October 2, lSog.--i W.
called upon by accident 10 Visit Mr'
Paine on the 25Lh of February last, and
found him indisposed with fever, and
very apprehensiye of an attack OF apo
pleIv, as ne stated that he had that dis
ease before, and at this time felt great
degree of vertigo, and was unable to help
himself H he had hitherto
done, OH account to sn intense pain
above the eyes. On inquiry OF the at
tendsnts J was told that three or Tour
days previously ho had concluded 10 dis
pense with his usual quantity of accus.
toned stimulus and that he had on that
day resumed il. To the want OF his usu-
al drink they attributed his Illness; and
1t is highly probable that the usual quantl-
ty operating upon u state OF system more
easily excited from the above privstious,
was the cause OF the symptoms of which
he then complained. And
here let me be permitted to observe lest
blame might attach to those whose busi-
ness it was to pay any particular sLten
tion to his cleanliness OF person. that 1t
was absolutely impossible 10 effect that
purpose. CLEANLINESS appeared to make
no part OF his comfort; he seemed to have
Il singular aversion TO soap and water; he
would never ask to be washed, and
when he VAS he would al Eays make OBJ
iectons; and it WAS not unusual to wash
and 10 dress him clean very much against
mia inclinations. IL this deplorsble
state, with confirmed dropsy, attended
with frequent cough, vomiting and hlc-
cough, be continued growing from bad to
worse till the morning OF the 9Th June,
when he lied. Though | may remark
tnat during the last three weeks o. hls
life, his situation was such that his de-
ceaac was confidently expected every day,
his ulcers having assumed gangrenous
appearance, being excessively tetd, and
dIsColored blisters having taken place on
the so ga o. his feet without any Osteusl-
bic cause, which bsfiied the ususl at
tempts to arrest their progress; ana
.chen ygc consider his form r habits, nj
advanced age, the feebleu 9 of his Cor .
solution, ms constant habits OF using M
cent spirits add Iioitun till the con-
mencement Of his last illness, so far from
wondering that he died sOsDCr, We ale
constrained to ask. How did he live &C.
long2 Concerning his conduct during
MS disease nave not much H. remark,
though the little have may be some
what interesting Mr.. Patue professed
to be above the fear OF death, ard grea.
part of his conversation was principally
directed TO give the impression that he
was perfectly willing 10 leave this wor!cr
and vet some parts OF his conduct were
with difficulty reconCllablo with this be-
lief. In the first stages OF his illness be
WAS satisfied to be lett alone during the
day, but he required some person to be
with him ut night, urging as his reason
that he was afraid that he should die
when unattended, aud at this period his
deport ent and his principles seemed to
be cons stent; so much so that stranger
would Judge from some OF the remarks
he would make that he was an ihhdel.
| recOlleCt being with him 81 night,
watching; he was very aPPrehensive OF
speedy dissolution, aud suffered great
distress of body, and perhaps OF mind
Tor he was waiting the event of al ap
plication to the Society Of Friends tor
permission that his corpse might b."
aeposited in their grave ground, and had
reason t. believe that the request might
be retused), when be remarked in these
words, Il think | can say what they
made Jesus Christ to say-my God, my
God, why hsst Thou forsaken me" He
went on to observe on the want OF that
respect which he conceived he merIted,
when l observed to him that | thought
that his corpse should be matter OF leas,
concern to him; that those whom h"
would leave behind him would ee that g
was properly inferred; and, further that II
would be OF little consequence to me
where l was deposited, provided | WAS
buried; upon which be answered that ne
rothing else 10 talk about and that he
won d as leave talk Of his death as OF any
thing. but that he WAS not so Indiher-
ent about his corpse rs | appeared to be
"Durlng the latter part o! his lite,
though his conversation was cquvoc1l,
his conduct WAS singular; he could not
se 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
osed at any time; and u, Ms 1t would
sometimes unavoidsblg happen, he was
left alone, he would scream and hslloo
until some person came TO him When
relief from pain would admit, he seemed
thoughtful and contemplatlve, his eyes
being generally clos d, md his
hands folded upon his breast, a.
though he never slept without the
assistance OF al snOdyne. There was
something remarkable In his conduct
about this period (Which comprises about
two weeks INN, diateIy preceding his
death. partlcu arly when we reflect that
Thomas Paine WAS the author OF the
AYE OF Reason He would call out dur
in, his pSroxvsms OF distress, without IN
PERMISSION, 'Oh Lord help me! God help
mel Jesus Christ hep mel . Lord
help me- etc, repeating the same e1-
pressions without the least variation, IN
y tone It voice that would alarm the
house. 1t was this conduct which l.
duced me to think that be had abandoned
his former opinions, ana | was more in.
clined TO that below when | understood
from his nurse who l. very serious, and,
believe, pious woman), that he would
occasionally INQUIRE, when ne saw her
engaged with book, what was she read
ing, and, being snsw.red, and Al he same
time asked whether she should read
aloud, he assented, and would sPpear to
give particular attention.
i took occasion during the night OF
the 5th and 9th OF June to test the
strength OF his opinions respecting rev"le-
ton. l pUrposely made HIM very lsio
visit; it WAS time which seemed TO suIt
exactly with my Grand; 1t vas midnight
U L.