The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll Volume V Part 57

To-day the following from the New York _World_ was received, showing that I was right in my conjecture:

Tom Paine's Death-Bed.

_To the Editor of the World_:

Sir: I see by your paper that Bob Ingersoll dis- credits Mary Hinsdale's story of the scenes which occurred at the death-bed of Thomas Paine. No one who knew that good lady would for one moment doubt her veracity or question her testimony. Both she and her husband were Quaker preachers, and well known and respected inhabitants of New York City, _Ingersoll is right in his conjecture that Mary Roscoe and Mary Hinsdale was the same person_. Her maiden name was Roscoe, and she married Henry Hinsdale. My mother was a Roscoe, a niece of Mary Roscoe, and lived with her for some time. I have heard her relate the story of Tom Paine's dying remorse, as told her by her aunt, who was a witness to it. She says (in a letter I have just received from her), "he (Tom Paine) suffered fearfully from remorse, and renounced his Infidel principles, calling on G.o.d to forgive him, and wis.h.i.+ng his pamphlets and books to be burned, saying he could not die in peace until it was done." (Rev.) A. W. Cornell.

Harpersville, New York.

520

You will notice that the testimony of Mary Hins- dale has been drawing interest since 1809, and has materially increased. If Paine "suffered fearfully from remorse, renounced his Infidel opinions and called on G.o.d to forgive him," it is hardly generous for the Christian world to fasten the fangs of malice in the flesh of his reputation.

So Mary Roscoe was Mary Hinsdale, and as Mary Hinsdale has been shown by her own admis- sion to Mr. Cobbett to have known nothing of the matter; and as Mary Hinsdale was not, according to Willet Hicks, worthy of belief--as she told a false- hood of the same kind about Mary Lockwood, and was, according to Mr. Collins, addicted to the use of opium--this disposes of her and her testimony.

There remains upon the stand Grant Thorburn.

Concerning this witness, I received, yesterday, from the eminent biographer and essayist, James Parton, the following epistle:

Newburyport, Ma.s.s.

Col. R. G. Ingersoll:

Touching Grant Thorburn, I personally know him to have been a dishonest man. At the age of ninety- two he copied, with trembling hand, a piece from a newspaper and brought it to the office of the _Home Journal, as his own_. It was I who received it and

521

detected the deliberate forgery. If you are ever go- ing to continue this subject, I will give you the exact facts.

Fervently yours,

James Parton.

After this, you are welcome to what remains of Grant Thorburn.

There is one thing that I have noticed during this controversy regarding Thomas Paine. In no instance that I now call to mind has any Christian writer spoken respectfully of Mr. Paine. All have taken particular pains to call him "Tom" Paine. Is it not a little strange that religion should make men so coa.r.s.e and ill-mannered?

I have often wondered what these same gentle- men would say if I should speak of the men eminent in the annals of Christianity in the same way. What would they say if I should write about "Tim"

Dwight, old "Ad" Clark, "Tom" Scott, "Jim"

McKnight, "Bill" Hamilton, "d.i.c.k" Whately, "Bill"

Paley, and "Jack" Calvin?

They would _say_ of me then, just what I _think_ of them now.

Even if we have religion, do not let us try to get along without good manners. Rudeness is exceed- ingly unbecoming, even in a saint. Persons who

522

forgive their enemies ought, to say the least, to treat with politeness those who have never injured them.

It is exceedingly gratifying to me that I have com- pelled you to say that "Paine died a blaspheming Infidel." Hereafter it is to be hoped nothing will be heard about his having recanted. As an answer to such slander his friends can confidently quote the following from the _New York Observer_ of November ist, 1877:

"WE HAVE NEVER STATED IN ANY FORM, NOR HAVE WE EVER SUPPOSED THAT PAINE ACTUALLY RE- NOUNCED HIS INFIDELITY. THE ACCOUNTS AGREE IN STATING THAT HE DIED A BLASPHEMING INFIDEL."

This for all coming time will refute the slanders of the churches yet to be.

Right here allow me to ask: If you never supposed that Paine renounced his Infidelity, why did you try to prove by Mary Hinsdale that which you believed to be untrue?

From the bottom of my heart I thank myself for having compelled you to admit that Thomas Paine did not recant.

For the purpose of verifying your own admission concerning the death of Mr. Paine, permit me to call your attention to the following affidavit:

523

Wabash, Indiana, October 27, 1877.

Col. R. G. Ingersoll:

Dear Sir: The following statement of facts is at your disposal. In the year 1833 Willet Hicks made a visit to Indiana and stayed over night at my father's house, four miles east of Richmond. In the morn- ing at breakfast my mother asked Willet Hicks the following questions:

"Was thee with Thomas Paine during his last sickness?"

Mr. Hicks said: "I was with him every day dur- ing the latter part of his last sickness."

"Did he express any regret in regard to writing the 'Age of Reason,' as the published accounts say he did--those accounts that have the credit of ema- nating from his Catholic housekeeper?"

Mr. Hicks replied: "He did not in any way by word or action."

"Did he call on G.o.d or Jesus Christ, asking either of them to forgive his sins, or did he curse them or either of them?"

Mr. Hicks answered: "He did not. He died as easy as any one I ever saw die, and I have seen many die in my time." William B Barnes.

Subscribed and sworn to before me Oct. 27, 1877.

Warren Bigler, Notary Public.

524

You say in your last that "Thomas Paine was abandoned of G.o.d." So far as this controversy is concerned, it seems to me that in that sentence you have most graphically described your own condi- tion.

Wis.h.i.+ng you success in all honest undertakings, I remain,

Yours truly,

Robert G. Ingersoll.