Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper – Sunday 24 May 1846
PAINE’S MONUMENT.—This society met on Tuesday evening for the despatch of business, and it was resolved that an address should be issued in furtherance of the object.—”You, the people of England,” say the committee, “have all heard of Thomas Paine, the author of the ‘Rights of Man,’ who went over to America, where his book, entitled ‘Common Sense,’ roused the dormant spirit of the people to declare their independence, and to shake off the British yoke.
Having witnessed the successful effect of his doctrine in the ‘New World,’ he returned to his native country, in the hope of producing a like effect here. With this view he published his ‘Rights of Man,’ but a bigoted and tyrannical government had too strong an influence over society to permit the success of free and enlightened opinions at that time, and Paine went over to France, to assist in the revolution. There he strove, but in vain, to soften the sanguinary spirit which was endangering the cause of liberty.
He afterwards retired to America, the land of his adoption, where he died. The bones of Major Andre, the spy, and Cooke, the actor, having been removed to England, for the purpose of re-interment in their native soil, with public honours, the idea suggested itself to Mr. Cobbett, who was at that time an exile in America—whither he had fled from the persecution of Sidmouth and Castlereagh—that it would be a shame if the remains of Paine were left behind; and he therefore caused them to be exhumed, and to be brought to England, in the hope that he should be able to induce the admirers of disinterested patriotism, to concur in his design of paying due respect to the memory of that illustrious patriot and philanthropist.
Cobbett was obliged, however, to abandon his design, and the committee now call upon the people—whom they consider the proper parties to carry such a design into effect—to come forward and accomplish it. ‘The Americans,’ say they, ‘have erected a national monument to the author of “Common Sense;” and we trust that Englishmen, who are under not less obligations to the author of the “Rights of Man,” will show their gratitude with their usual generosity and nobleness of spirit.'”—The committee meets every alternate Tuesday, at the Craven’s Head, Drury-lane, to prosecute their design.