The daily gazette., 1878-01-23
Last Hours saof Paine.
DEATH.RED ANDBURIAL OF
THE FAMOUS lNFIDEL.


THE FAMOUS JNFIDEL.
An Aged DIfnister's Account or
an Interview with Him.
James Inglis In the waymsrks In the
b. Wilderness tst Louis). jan, 1857.
An aged minister OF the 0ospel-the
only survivor Of the ministers of the city
OF New York In the commencement OF
this century-relates the particulars of
an interview with Paine, the notorious
reviler Of the Gospel, which may be in
structive to some Of our readers. Pane,
1t will be remembered, when member
Of the French Natinal Convention, fell
under the suspicion Of the Jacobins, and
was committed to the Luxembourg.
During the Reign of Terrer, member Of
the Committee Of Safety passed through
the prison every evening, aud made
private mark on the door of the cell of
such prisoners as had been condemned
| through the day. The following moru-
ing the executioners collected their vic
tins from the marked cells, and without
further ceremony, dragged them to their
fate. Paine was actually condemned TO
death, but, as 1t Afterwards appeared, the
door Of his cell stood ajar, al the time
the officer OF the Committee made his
fatal round, SO that the mark which
was 10 designate him for execution was
made upon the inner side. The doors
were locked at night, and in the morning
no mark being visible TO the exeeutioner.
Paine was left undisturbed. The keeper
OF the prison moved, by compassion, com
municated the fact OF his condemnation
and marvellous escape to DE Bonneville,
a bookseller Of Paris, who generously
resolved to run all the hazard of conceal
ing him In his own house. Paine's enc
mics supposed that he was dead, and he
remained safe in the asylum offriendship
Till after the fall Of Robespierre, when he
could make his appearance without dan
ger.
The generosity OF De Bonneville, the
wretch repaid by seducing his wife, and
carrying her, with her two children, to
this country. Ills reception III the Uni
ted States was very different from what
he expected. The popularity of his earlier
political writings was obllterated by the
adherence which his rudes attacks on
Christianity hud excited, and be found
himself everywhere Stunned, except by
the degraded and profilgate, with whom
bis own habits naturally allied him. He
was still, indeed, possessed, Of decent
competency, but 1t could not buy peace
OF mind or respect; and at length mise
rable wreck, deserted by the woman he
had taught the lesson oftreachery, he was
lingering out In profiigacy, the last rem
naiit of shameful life In the city of New
York. The grossness of his debauchery,
the filthiness of his habits, and the en-
veDomed hatefulness of his temper rem
dered his company inIolerable to his
warmest admirers. One after another
had cast him out of their homes with
loathing, and at last he had found refuge
In The house Of poor widow, who un-
dertook the care OF him, moved partly
by pity and partly by her own necessities
which obliged her TO seek support as a
sick-nurse. Two years ago, this lady, in
helpless decrepitude and senility, was
paraded a. the annual festival In which
The infdels Of New Y York celebrated thelI
masters memory. Had she been cap
able of recalling the past, what testl-
mony she could have given that assembly
OF the fruit of their principles!
| Our venerable Informant, then q
lyouthful and ardent minister of the Cos
lpel, had learned some particulars of the
awful condition of the blasphemer, and
could not rest without making an efforl
TO point him to the Lamb of God who
taketh away the sins of the world. Ac
companied by two friends, he waited up
on the widow at her house, and, aftel
Explaining his objects and motives, re.
quested her to introduce them to the un
happy man. She readily consented, and
displayed deep anxiety, though she ex-
pressed her hopelessness regarding the
result Of their visit, and cautioned then
against Introducing the subject of relIg
ion abruptly, lest a paroxysm of rage OF
the part Of the dying man should at ohc'
close the opportunity.
They found him lying In stupid sleeI
la bloated and revolving mass Of cor
rupt humanity. His complexion wa
purple by intemperance, and his counte
nance was rendered hideous by thu
monstrous defornity of his nose, pro
duced by excesses. When he collected
himself sufficiently to recognize them u
strangers, the Oldest Of the party intro
duced himself as an old political dlscipl
of Paine's in England, and then intro
duced his companions. E
at first, Paine seemed pleased and fiat
tered by the attention of the visit, an
entered into conversation regarding hl
d own failing health and many suffering.
The gentlemen who thus far had acte
as the spokesman OF the party endeavor
ed to lead the conversation on to tn
. great object Of their visit, and at lengtl
ventufed a question as to his preparation
! for an eternal state. which the youn
: minister followed up by an expression O
: affectionate concern about his salvation
: Their character and object at once fash
ed upon his mind. The purple of hi
D countsnance changed almost literally I
!. lhlack with rage and his eve was lighte