“IF EVER THE DEVIL HAD AN AGENT ON EARTH, I HAVE BEEN ONE." Paine's last momenta AMERICA PRINTED: LONDON: REPRINTED FOR A. MAXWELL, BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR. W. Pople, Printer, 67, Chancery Lane. 1817. District of New-York, ss. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the thirtieth day of August, in the thirty-fourth year of the independence of the United States of America, James Cheetham, of the said district, hath L. s. deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit: "The Life of Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, the Crisis, Rights of Man, &c. &c. &c. By James Cheetham. 'Speak of me as I am.' Shakspeare." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and also to an act entitled, "An act supplementary to the act entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints." CHARLES CLINTON. Clerk of the District of New-York, PREFACE. V2C5 1817 WHEN I first saw and read the production of Mr. Cheetham, which was but lately, I was forcibly struck with the able and interesting manner in which this gentleman had drawn the life and character of Paine. From the intimate knowledge which he had possessed of his person and character, and local connections for many years, and also from his strict impartiality, he was fully qualified to become his biographer. He has followed him gradually through the different scenes of life, until the last awful struggle of expiring nature. His writings are also ably reviewed, and every page is marked by authorities, the authenticity of which must be apparent to every reader. When I first perused the book, I naturally exclaimed to myself, "Why has not this work been reprinted in England?" To the question I could get no satisfactory answer, and: was therefore resolved to print it. The character which it pourtrays attained a degree of celebrity which few are permitted to enjoy ; but it is a cele |