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Literary
September 23, 1834
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Thomas Cooper, M.D., writes from Columbia, S.C., in August 1834, defending Thomas Paine's character as a gentleman, denying religious discussions, and sharing his own experience of political suppression for a reply to Burke akin to Paine's Rights of Man.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Having been intimately acquainted with Thomas Paine for a considerable length of time, when his dress, address, deportment and conversation were such as characterized a well-informed gentleman, accustomed to good society, I am tempted to send you this epistolary tittle-tattle, in vindication (so far I can honestly vindicate him) of a much calumniated, and, as I believe, a truly kind, honest and good man.
I never had any conversation at any time with Mr. Paine on the subject of religion : I never heard him introduce the subject, or remark on it. I have reason to believe the state of Mr. Sharp; whom I do not suspect of coincidence of opinion with Mr. Paine on that debatable ground; I never heard religion disputed, or even mentioned in company by any lay friend of mine in that country, so far as I now recollect.
I confess to a fellow feeling with Mr. Paine politically on the seizure of the Rights of Man; as Sir John Scott, Attorney General on the occasion, (now Lord Eldon,) wrote to Mr. Jordan, that if he attempted to sell one of the six thousand copies of my Reply to Mr. Burke, which, after the third edition, Johnson had printed in the same form with Paine's Rights of Man, he should be compelled to issue an ex-officio information against the publisher.
I need not say that after this broad hint on the subject, the impression was suppressed.
TH. COOPER, M. D.
Columbia, S. C.,
August, 1834.
I never had any conversation at any time with Mr. Paine on the subject of religion : I never heard him introduce the subject, or remark on it. I have reason to believe the state of Mr. Sharp; whom I do not suspect of coincidence of opinion with Mr. Paine on that debatable ground; I never heard religion disputed, or even mentioned in company by any lay friend of mine in that country, so far as I now recollect.
I confess to a fellow feeling with Mr. Paine politically on the seizure of the Rights of Man; as Sir John Scott, Attorney General on the occasion, (now Lord Eldon,) wrote to Mr. Jordan, that if he attempted to sell one of the six thousand copies of my Reply to Mr. Burke, which, after the third edition, Johnson had printed in the same form with Paine's Rights of Man, he should be compelled to issue an ex-officio information against the publisher.
I need not say that after this broad hint on the subject, the impression was suppressed.
TH. COOPER, M. D.
Columbia, S. C.,
August, 1834.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epistolary
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Political
Liberty Freedom
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Thomas Paine
Rights Of Man
Vindication
Political Suppression
Burke Reply
What entities or persons were involved?
Th. Cooper, M. D.
Literary Details
Author
Th. Cooper, M. D.
Subject
Vindication Of Thomas Paine
Form / Style
Letter Defending Character And Political Views
Key Lines
Having Been Intimately Acquainted With Thomas Paine For A Considerable Length Of Time, When His Dress, Address, Deportment And Conversation Were Such As Characterized A Well Informed Gentleman, Accustomed To Good Society, I Am Tempted To Send You This Epistolary Tittle Tattle, In Vindication (So Far I Can Honestly Vindicate Him) Of A Much Calumniated, And, As I Believe, A Truly Kind, Honest And Good Man.
I Confess To A Fellow Feeling With Mr. Paine Politically On The Seizure Of The Rights Of Man; As Sir John Scott, Attorney General On The Occasion, (Now Lord Eldon,) Wrote To Mr. Jordan, That If He Attempted To Sell One Of The Six Thousand Copies Of My Reply To Mr. Burke, Which, After The Third Edition, Johnson Had Printed In The Same Form With Paine's Rights Of Man, He Should Be Compelled To Issue An Ex Officio Information Against The Publisher.