Thomas Paine.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3837, 16 April 1881, Page 1

Thomas Paine.

A correspondent sends the following to the editor of Scribner's Monthly:—

The statement of which I complain is in tbe following sentence, at page 32 of the number for November, 1880, volume XXI., number i, article "Bordentown and the Bonapartes" : " His. (Paine's) favourite resort was the bar-room of the Washington Souse, and the visitors to that ancient hostelry are told; that nothing but brandy and atheism passed his lips." ;■• This is,said to have been "during'a period of several years ; " and nothing in the context alters the bearing of tire sentence. Of course I cannot dispute the statement of such tales being told to the Washington House visitors: I only deny the truth of the tales.

Paine was neither brandy-drinker (implied drunkard) nor atheist. Against the atheism his own works are sufficient evidence. Throughout his writings, especially in the "Age of Reason ".;and his "Thoughts on a Future State," is proof that, although not a believer in * Christianity or the Bible, he was a steady thsist,—what in those days was known as a deist,—as distinct from the Unitarian, who accepts the authority while denying the divinity of Christ. In his will, Paine expressly directs that bis adopted sons shall be instructed in "their duty to God."

For the brandy-bibbing there is as little warrant as for the atheism. I hare before me a letter of his, to a friend intending to visit him (it is dated some years later than the bar-room period, but there is no reoord of any variation in his habits), in which he says :

" Wliea you come you must take such fare as you meet with, for I live upon tea, milk, fruit, pies, pluiu dumplings, and u piece of meat when I get it; but I live witb that retirement and quiet that suits me." >;

In truth, these aspersions of atheism and brandy, like the insolent appellation " Tom Paine " (to which your contributor stoops, though he does not write Joe Hopkinson nor Jack Adams), deliberately intended to cloak him with an atmosphere of vulgarity, are but proofs of the reckless blackguardism of polemical writers of Paine's time. It is not at the present more courteous day, at least not in America, that the author of " Common Sense " shoHld be so treated. Forty years ago I was employed to write Paine's " Life." Knowing nothing of the man, I was careful to examine everything I could fiud for or against