“Literary Notice.” National Aegis, vol. XVI, no. 827, 3 Dec. 1817, p. [2]. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. Accessed 27 June 2026.
The great writer, Mr. Cobbett, in his Register of the 6th inst. announces his intention to publish the life of THOMAS PAINE, in the following terms:
“However, there is one thing, which, if I have life and health, I am resolved to do while in this country; to write an account of the life, labors and death of that famous writer, THOMAS PAINE, and, perhaps, to collect and republish the whole of his writings complete in a cheap form, and with some explanatory notes, to the Rights of Man, particularly. I am here now upon the spot. I have within my reach all the means of correct information. There are only Long Island Sound and some few miles of land between me and the spot where he died. Justice to his memory, justice to the cause of freedom, justice to the country that gave him birth, justice to his friends on both sides the Atlantic, demand at my hand an earnest endeavor to perform this task in a manner worthy of the subject.”
Mr. Cobbett could not perform a work more acceptable to the public. Who can say how much the political principles promulgated by PAINE, during our revolution, contributed to the consummation of that glorious struggle, and to the establishment of our blessed republican institutions. In his own peculiar style of plainness and energy, he spoke to the understanding of all ranks, and taught those of the meanest capacity to understand the “RIGHTS OF MAN” and to fight for them with unconquerable perseverance.
If General WASHINGTON was justified in joining in the charge of the “ingratitude of republics,” what might not be forsaken, the neglected, the abused writer of Common Sense and the Crisis be allowed to say? Aristocrats who hated his politics—his devotion to the doctrine of equality of rights—have mounted upon his tract against christianity, as upon a stalking horse to trample upon his memory, and to destroy his influence as a politician.
Religion is a work of divine origin, and it was impious to suppose that any speculations of a frail individual could circumvent the benevolent schemes of Omnipotence—Is it in the spirit of Christian charity to permit the sentiment of revenge for one fault to induce us to forget ninety-nine favors—No American gentleman’s library can be thought complete, or even honorable to the taste and principles of the proprietor of it, did it not contain the political writings of Thomas Paine if they could be got—but unfortunately they cannot. Hence the performance of Mr Cobbett’s promise will be waited for with anxiety.
An anecdote may be here related as connected with the subject; in Pernambuco, a city of 80,000 people, the vile government of Brazils had never permitted a newspaper to be published—even their commander’s proclamations were circulated in manuscript. When the revolution broke out, a press was found concealed in a garret, the owner not daring to let it be previously known that he had one. It was brought out, and the very first use to which it was applied was to print the political works of Thomas Paine, which were just ready to appear when the revolution was suppressed.