Paterson (Thomas), b. near Lanark early in this century. After the imprisonment of Southwell and Holyoake he edited the Oracle of Reason. For exhibiting profane placards he was arrested and sentenced 27 Jan. 1843 to three months' imprisonment. His trial was reported under the title God v. Paterson ('43.) He insisted on considering God as the plaintiff and in quoting from "the Jew book" to show the plaintiff's bad character. When released he went to Scotland to uphold the right of free publication, and was sentenced 8 Nov. '43 to fifteen months' imprisonment for selling "blasphemous" publications at Edinburgh. On his release he was presented with a testimonial 6 April, 1845, H. Hetherington presiding. Paterson went to America. Patin (Gui), French physician, writer, and wit, b. near Beauvais 31 Aug. 1602. He became professor at the college of France. His reputation is chiefly founded on his Letters, in which he attacked superstition. Larousse says "C'était un libre penseur de la famille de Rabelais." Died at Paris 30 Aug. 1672. Patot. See Tyssot de Patot (S.) Pauw (Cornelius), learned Dutch writer, b. Amsterdam, 1739. He wrote philosophical researches on the Americans, and also on the Egyptians, Chinese, and Greeks. Was esteemed by Frederick the Great for his ingenuity and penetration. Died at Xanten, 7 July, 1799. He was the uncle of Anacharsis Clootz. Peacock (John Macleay), Scotch poet, b. 21 March, 1817. He wrote many poems in the National Reformer, and in '67 published Hours of Reverie. Died 4 May, 1877. Peacock or Pecock (Reginald), the father of English rationalism, b. about 1390, and educated at Oriel College Oxford, of which he was chosen fellow in 1417. Was successively Bishop of St Asaph, 1444, and Chichester, 1450, by the favor of Humphrey, the good Duke of Gloster. He declared that Scripture must in all cases be accommodated to "the doom of reason." He questioned the genuineness of the Apostles' Creed. In 1457 he was accused of heresy, recanted from fear of martyrdom, was deprived of his bishopric, and imprisoned in a monastery at Canterbury, where he used to repeat to those who visited him, "Wit hath wonder, that reason cannot skan, How a Moder is Mayd, and God is Man." His books were publicly burnt at Oxford. He died in 1460. His influence doubtless contributed to the Reformation. Pearson (Karl), author of a volume of essays entitled The Ethic of Freethought, 1888. Educated at Cambridge; B.A. '79, M.A. '82. Pechmeja (Jean de), French writer. A friend of Raynal, he wrote a socialistic romance in 12 books in the style of Telemachus, called Télèphe, 1784. Died 1785. Peck (John), American writer in the Truthseeker. Has published Miracles and Miracle Workers, etc. Pecqueur (A.), contributor to the Rationaliste of Geneva, 1864. Pelin (Gabriel), French author of works on Spiritism Explained and Destroyed, 1864, and God or Science, '67.