St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-08-23
Death Bed of Tom Paine.
A MANIAC WITH RAGE AND MADNEs

To the Editor Of the Ne,U York Star:
NEW YORK, July 81, 1S7S.-A short
time ago the old controversy concerning
the state of mind and heart in which the
n"tariOus Tom Paine met his death, was
resgeut 6y his living congener in athe-
ism, Bob Ingersoll. Several accounts,
more or less self contradictory, appear
ed in the press at the time, and / was
half tempted to hunt up letter on the
subject and send it to you, as, perhaps,
the most interesting and reliable of all
the letters which have ever been written
about the death-bed of the author of the
cage of Reason.n Not having the letter
then at hand, l was compelled to put off
my search for it until the present time. /
have been fortunate enough to find it, and
herewith send you the whole of that pOr-
tion of it which relates to Paine. 1t was
written by Right Rev. Benedict Joseph
Fenwick, ID. D., Bishop of Boston, and
was addressed to his brother, Rev. Enocb
Fenwick, S. j., one of the most learned
and accomplished Professors at George
town college.
1t is hardly necessary to all those OF
the elder generation still living, for me
to say who and what Bishop Fenwick
was. His character for learning, piety,
public spirit and absolute veracity made
him an object of veneration among all
classes and denominations, not only in
Boston and New England, but through
out the entire Union.
submit to you and your readers the
whole portion of his letter on the mel
ancholy subject of Paine and his final
blasphemies against his Maker. That he
died impenitent appears, unfortunate
ly, too probable in the light of Bishop
Fenwick's account, which is as follows
A short time before Paine died, said
the Bishop, l was sent for by him. He
was prompted to this by poor Catholic
woman, who went to see him in his sick,
ness, and who told him, among other
things, that in his wretched condition
if anybody could do him good it would
be Roman Catholic priest. This wo-
man was an American convert, (former.
ly Shaking Quakeress,) whom l had
received into the church but few weeks
before. She was the bearer of the mes.
sage to me from Paine. l stated this cir
cumstance to F. Kohlmann at breakfast
and requested him to accompany me
After some solicitation on my part, he
agreed to do so, at which I was greatly
reJoiced, because l was at that time
quite young and inexperienced in the
ministry, and was glad to have his as
slstance, as | knew from the great repu
tatlOn of Paine that should have to dc
with one of the most impious as well al
Infamous of men.
We shortly set out for the house a
Greenwich where Paine lndUad and N,
the way agreed upon mode of proceed
ing with him. ...
We arrived at the house. A decen
looking elderly woman, probably hi
house-keeper, came to the door and in
quired whether we were the Catholi,
priests, "fOr," said she, "Mr Paine ha
been so much annoyed of late by minis
ters of different denominations .callin:
upon him, that he has left express OF
ders with me to admit no one to-day bu
the clergymen of the Catholic Church.
Upon assuring her that we were Catho
lie elergymen she opened the door an,
showed us into the parlor. She then lef
the room, and shortly after returned t.
inform us that Paine was asleep, and a
the same time expressed wish that w
would not disturb him; ''for," said she
''he is always in bad humor whel
reused out of his sleep. 'Tis better t.
wait a little till he be awake.n We ac
cordingly sat down and resolved to awai
the more favorable moment. "Gentle
men," said the lady after having take
her seat also, 81 really, wish you ma.
succeed with Mr.. Paine, for he is labor
ing under great distress of mind eve