PREFACE.

TWO lives of Mr. Paine have been published; one by "Francis Oldys, of Philadelphia,” a large octavo pamphlet, printed by Stockdale, London, 1792;* and an "Impartial Sketch," an anonymous pamphlet of ten pages, published by T. Brown, Drury-Lane, in the same year. To these may be added a continuation of Oldys's Life, by William Cobbett, Philadelphia, 1796.

Francis Oldys is, I believe, a fictitious name; "of Philadelphia," was probably subjoined to give interest and authenticity to the work. The French revolution, that terrible concussion which had per

* I have not seen a London copy of Oldys's Life, nor is there one either in our bookstores or in our city library. Mr. Cobbett says, that it was published in London in 1793, but as the "Impartial Sketch," which was avowedly written to correct some of the extravagancies of Oldys, bears upon its title-page the London imprint of 1792, I conclude from that circumstance, and from Paine's Rights of Man, part second, having been published in February of the same year, that Mr. Cobbett was mistaken in the date:

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niciously affected all Europe, and particularly England, had prepared the clubs for the unhinging doctrines of the " Rights of Man." Never did the parched earth receive refreshing rain with more welcome, than that with which the revolutionary people of England admitted amongst them the tumultuous writings of Paine. To that which was his object; to commotion, to the overthrow of the government, and to bloodshed, in all its horrid forms, they were rapidly hastening. Thus predisposed, the cordiality and enthusiasm with which the first part of the Rights of Man was greeted, although flattering to the vanity and encouraging to the hopes of the author, were not surprizing. The clubs, zealous to a degree of frenzy ; always vigilant, always alert, published a groat edition of thirty thousand copies of the work, which was distributed amongst the poor, who could not afford to purchase. In the great manufacturing towns, Paine was considered by the ignorant as an apostle of freedom.* The government, alarmed, knew not how to meet the evil†.

* A song was privately circulated, beginning with--God save great Thomas Paine,

His Rights of Man proclaim,

From Pole to Pole !

+ Mr. Burke, alluding to the language of the cabinet, says, "But I hear a language still more extraordinary, and indeed of such a nature as must suppose or leave us at their mercy. It is this: " you know their promptitude in writing, and their dilist

Burke did, however, by his successive and impressive appeals, animate them to precautionary measures. In these, Oldys's life may, I think, be included. To deprive Paine of the momentary and undeserved popularity which he had acquired amongst the illiterate, whose passions were to have been worked up to a revolutionary pitch, was no doubt esteemed by the cabinet an object of some importance. To effect this purpose, Oldys's life -was written; and perhaps I am not mistaken in ascribing it to the agency of the ministry. With many facts, such as Paine's birth, his education, his employment in the excise, his dismission from it, and his separation from his wife, are mingled more misrepresentations and distortions. On a work so evidently of a party nature, one cannot implicitly draw.

The " Impartial Sketch," written by a friend of Paine, is not worthy of particular remark. It is a compilation from such parts of Oldys's narrative as suited the views of the writer, stripped of Oldys's exaggerations.

Mr. Cobbett's is really a continuation of Oldys's life. His superadditions are in the spirit of the original. His vigorous pen was wielded against Paine by passions yet more vigorous. Roused by

gence in caballing to write, speak, or act against them, will only stimulate them to new efforts." Appeal from the new to the old whigs.

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the confusion which the author of the "Age of Reason was endeavouring to raise all over the world, and dreading the prevalence of it in the United States, he censured to excess; censured, perhaps, without judgment, censuring without discrimination.

My information respecting Paine before he left England in 1774, is derived from persons who knew him when he was a boy-when he was at schoolwhen he worked with his father at stay-makingwhen he was in the excise-when he was married, and when he separated from his wife: much of this agrees with Oldys's facts referring to the same time.

Of his career in the colonies after his arrival in 1774, my sources of information, in addition to the journals of congress, histories of the revolutionary war, &c. are gentlemen of the highest political standing, several of whom were members of the revolutionary congress.

When the Rights of Man was first published, I was in England, involved in politics, and tolerably well acquainted with political parties.

Respecting the conduct of Paine while in Paris, I draw the chief part of my information from notorious facts and gentlemen equally distinguished in diplomacy and in literature, have favoured me with their correspondence.

After his return to the United States from France, I became acquainted with him on his arrival in New-York, in the year 1802. He introduced him

self to me by letter from Washington City, requesting me to take lodgings for him in New-York. I accordingly engaged a room in Lovett's Hotel, supposing him to be a gentleman, and apprised him of the number. On his arrival, about ten at night, he wrote me a note desiring to see me immediately. I waited on him at Lovett's, in company with Mr. George Clinton, jun. We rapped at the door: a small figure opened it within, meanly dressed, having on an old top coat without an under one; a dirty silk handkerchief, loosely thrown round his neck; a long beard of more than a week's growth; a face, well carbuncled, fiery as the setting sun, * and the whole figure staggering under a load of inebriation. I was on the point of inquiring for Mr. Paine, when I saw in his countenance something of the portraits I had seen of him. We were desired to be seated. He had before him a small round table, on which were a beef-stake, some beer, a pint of brandy, a pitcher of water, and a glass. He sat eating, drinking, and talking, with as much composure as if he had lived with us all his life. I soon perceived that he had a very retentive memory, and was full of anecdote. The Bishop of Llandaff was almost the first word he uttered, and it was followed by informing us that he had in his trunk a manuscript reply to the Bishop's Apology. He then, calmly mumbling his stake, and ever and anon drinking

* Falstaff's description of Bardolph's nose, would have suited Paine's.