So much has however been said on Mr. Paine having never cohabited with Miss Ollive, whom he married at Lewes, that if I were entirely to omit any mention of it, I might be charged with doing so because afraid to meet the subjeet, which forms, indeed, a very singular part of Mr. Paine's history,

That he did not cohabit with her from the moment they left the altar till the day of their separation, a space of three years, although they lived in the same house together, is an indubitable truth. It is also true, that no physical defect, on the part of Mr. Paine, can be adduced as a reason for such conduct.

I have in my possession the letters and documents on this subject,- Mr. Francis Wheeler's letters from Lewes of April 16, 1774, to Mr. Philip Moore, proctor in the Commons, and his reply of April 18, 1774; and from Dr. Manning of Lewes I have frequently heard a candid detail of the circumstances.

Well, of this curious fact in Mr. Paine's life, what is to be said? To make use of it

as a subject of reproach, abuse, and calumny, is absurd it is one of those things in human life upon which we cannot come to any decision, and which might have been honourable as well as dishonourable to Mr. Paine, I think most probably the former, could every why. and wherefore be known. But as this cannot

be, the fact, for a fact it is, must be left for the reader's reflection; and I dare say if he is a candid one, it is not the only circumstance in life which he cannot understand, and upon which therefore he should not decide uncharitably.

Mr. Paine's answer upon my once referring to this subject was, "It is nobody's business "but my own: I had cause for it, but I will 66 name it to no one."

Towards the end of this year, 1774, he was strongly recommended to the great and good Dr. Franklin, "the favour of whose friendship," he says, "I possessed in England, and my introduction to this part of the world [America] was thro his patronage."

Crisis, No. 3.

Mr. Paine now formed the resolution of quitting his native country, and soon crossed the Atlantic; and, as he himself relates, arrived at Philadelphia in the winter, a few months before the battle of Lexington, which was fought in April 1775,

It appears that his first employment in the New World was with Mr. Aitkin a bookseller, as editor of the Pennsylvanian Magazine; and his introduction to that work, dated January 24th, 1775, is thus concluded: "Thus encom"passed with difficulties, this first number of "the Pennsylvanian Magazine entreats a favor"able reception; of which we shall only say, "that like the early snow-drop it comes forth "in a barren season, and contents itself with foretelling the reader that choicer flowers are preparing to appear."

The following letter from Dr. Rush of Philadelphia it is presumed may not improperly be given here; but it should be remarked that this letter was written as late as July 1809, on purpose to be inserted in Cheetham's infamous Life of Mr. Paine, and under some prejudices,

as appears on the face of it, as well as at a period when every misrepresentation and calumny had been excited against him.

"Sir,

Philadelphia, July 17, 1809.

"In compliance with your request, I send you herewith answers to your questions relative to the late Thomas Paine.

"He came to Philadelphia in the year 1772* with a short letter of introduction from Dr. Franklin, to one of his friends.

"His design was to open a school for the instruction of young ladies, in several branches of knowledge, which at that time was seldom taught in the schools of our country.

"About the year 1773,† I met him acci

* Dr. Rush is mistaken-it was 1774.

† 1775.

E

dentally in Mr. Aitkin's book-store, and was introduced to him by Mr. Aitkin. We conversed a few minutes, when I left. Soon afterwards I read a short essay with which I was much pleased, in one of Bradford's papers, against the slavery of the Africans in our country, and which I was informed was written by Mr. Paine. This excited my desire to be better acquainted with him. We met soon after this in Mr. Aitkin's book-store, where I did homage to his principles, and pen, upon the subject of the enslaved Africans.

"After this, Mr. Aitkin employed him as the editor of his Magazine, with a salary of £25 currency a year. This work was well supported by him. His song upon the death of General Wolfe, and his reflections upon the death of Lord Clive, gave it a sudden currency which few works of that kind have since had in our country.

"When the subject of American independence began to be agitated in general conversation, I observed the public mind to be loaded with an immense mass of prejudice and error