the sea coast in Sussex. From 1753, when Paine left his father's home, until 1759, when he first settled at Sandwich, he was without any fixed residence, of course he lived the life of an adventurer, his attention must have been chiefly directed to the obtaining a mere subsistence. He could scarcely be supposed to have enjoyed opportunities of improving his mind much by reading, and his associations were undoubtedly with that class of persons, that were not calculated either to enlighten his mind, or improve his manners or morals. Hurried as he had been, prematurely from school, without having finished his education, without the protecting care of parental instruction, in indigent circumstances, he was constantly surrounded with dangers of every description. A mind less capable or firm than Paine's, could scarcely have escaped from the excesses of vice, and its consequent misery: but a kind Providence had reserved him for a more exalted destiny. To most youth, the period which I have just mentioned, would have been a dreary waste, and a fruitful source of disaster and wretchedness. But to a mind like Paine's, it was not improbable, it was a profitable school of instruction.

Here, struggling for subsistence, mingling constantly with the laboring classes of society, he had an excellent opportunity to view their actual condition, their poverty and hardships; he could not fail to have investigated the prominent causes of their unmerited degradation. He could not fail to have beheld with abhorrence and disgust, the unnecessary inequality which prevailed in the society of England. He must have contrasted the situation of the laboring poor, with their scanty pittance, the fruits of their hardearned industry. Their numerous privations, the unreasonable burthens to which they are subjected, the contempt to which they are constantly exposed by the privileged orders of society, the very persons who en

joy the fruits of their industry. I say to have contr situation of the industrious poor, with those privileg es of society, whose cradles are rocked in pala are nursed in the lap of indolence and luxury, w to be born only to enjoy the fruits of the industry of who never encounter the ills of poverty, or experi hardships of labour;-who can have no sympathy t for the afflictions of the poor, or gratitude for the se industry. Such reflections as these, had undoub powerful influence in forming the future character o and stimulated his inspired pen, subsequently, to those astonishing essays in favor of political justice a liberty, which were first to awaken a spirit of polit quiry in America and Europe; and which spirit widely diffused wherever the art of printing is know has already regenerated the political condition of portion of the civilized world, and cannot be checke progress, although all the monarchs of the world wer bined to resist it.

After Paine became settled at Lewes as an excisem probably enjoyed some opportunities to improve his by reading and enquiry, having occasional leisure fro duties of his office, he devoted a portion of his time cultivation of his taste for astronomy and poetry; here, without an instructor, by his own industry and verance, that he laid the foundation for those literal quirements, that were afterwards so respectable and s ful to mankind. Having left his situation in the exc 1774, he became acquainted in London with Dr. Fra who perceiving that he was an enlightened man, wi much employment, generously undertook to be his pa and advised him to emigrate to the American colonies, w a man of his acquirements and intelligence, would be tain to find a profitable employment..

Accordingly, he embarked for Philadelphia and arrived there in autumn, 1774. With the aid of a recommendation from Dr. Franklin, he engaged immediately in the service of a bookseller. His employment was to edit a periodical publication, styled the Pennsylvania Magazine. This, with propriety, might be called the commencement of his literary career, although he had arrived to the verge of nearly forty years of age, yet the productions of his pen had been confined to a few fugitive pieces of prose and poetry, that were not sufficient to establish for him any reputation as a writer. He now suddenly burst upon the world as an able writer, and disclosed talents and acquirements that were unknown to his most intimate friends and acquaintance; in short, his reputation as a writer and a literary character were so well established in a few months, that he was selected by some of the most enlightened citizens of our country, to compose and publish a political work, on the then existing circumstances of the public affairs of the colonies. It was on this occasion that he produced that admirable political production, styled Common Sense, one of the most popular, able and useful political works that was ever written in the English language. The effect produced by this publication was the most astonishing: it literally electrified the American people with the love of liberty and independence; it was every where received and read with the greatest applause and admiration. The work was written with great care and perspicuity, and abounded with excellent republican principles, and sound political maxims, and added greatly to the stock of political information to a people, just emerging from colonial servitude to a foreign monarchy.

Previous to this time, republican doctrines were almost entirely unknown in the country among the great mass of people, and it was the publication of Common Sense which

produced that spirit of enquiry, which not only led to the establishment of the independence of our country, but laid in a great measure the foundation for our republican institutions. Paine's character was now established, not only as an able political writer, but as a distinguished statesman. He still continued his useful labors both in the newspapers and otherwise, with great zeal and usefulness to the American cause, near the close of the year 1776. When the American people and army were in a state of great despondency, one of the most critical periods of the revolutionary war, he published the first number of the CRISIS, a work well calculated to reanimate the drooping spirit of the nation, and inspire confidence in the army. This work was equally well received as Common Sense and had the most salutary effect on the country. The brilliant affair of Trenton soon followed, and the friends of liberty were greatly encouraged. During the succeeding winter, he published. the second and third number of the Crisis, publications of equal usefulness, and as well received by the American people as the first number.

In April, 1777, he was elected by Congress to the office of secretary to the committee of Foreign Affairs. In this situation he remained until January 1779, during which period, he extended the publication of the Crisis to the eighth number, all of which were well received by the American people and by the army.

In 1779, Paine resigned his office as secretary to Congress. The cause of this resignation was owing to a circumstance which does not reflect on the integrity, patriotism, or intelligence of Paine. He had, to be sure, in the ardor of his zeal to serve the country, published some of the secret proceedings of Congress; but in doing this, he performed an essential service to the American people.

He had exposed a fraudulent transaction, by which a large sum was saved to the nation, and was in justice, in future, rather entitled to the gratitude of the American people, than any censure, for violating one of the rules of the continental congress. In 1780, he was appointed clerk to the assembly of Pennsylvania, when he again resumed the publication of the Crisis, and extended them to the eleventh number.

In February 1781, he embarked for France, as assistant secretary to Col. Laurens, and in the following summer he returned to America; the mission in which he was engaged having succeeded, whereby a loan was obtained from the French government.

Paine once more recommenced the Crisis, and extended them to the seventeenth number. He also published, about this time, a review of Lord Sheffield's work on the commerce of America, a pamphlet entitled Public Good. Also a letter of 58 pages, addressed to the Abbey Raynal, wherein he endeavored to correct many of the errors of the Abbey's publication on this country.

The last number of the Crisis, dated April 19th, 1783, abounds in excellent advice to the American people. In this he points out the necessity of the formation of a national character, and strenuously recommends an union of the states.

The war was now closed, and the revolutionary army was about to be disbanded. The great and good Washington was not unmindful of the services of Paine, during the times that tried men's souls, now kindly invited him to a seat at his table; and recommended that congress should make a permanent provision for him, by appointing him Historiagrapher to the United States, with a compensation sufficient for his support; but for some cause, that has not been explained, congress neglected to make such a provision. In