An amusing albeit suggestive episode is recorded by William Bentley in his _Diary_, in connection with certain reflections on the dangers involved in the loaning of books: “Allen’s _oracles of reason_ ... was lent to Col. C. under solemn promise of secrecy, but by him sent to a Mr. Grafton, who was reported to have died a Confirmed Infidel.... The book was found at his death in his chamber, examined with horror by his female relations. By them conveyed to a Mr. Williams ... & there examined—reported to be mine from the initials W. B., viewed as an awful curiosity by hundreds, connected with a report that I encouraged infidelity in Grafton by my prayers with him in his dying hour, & upon the whole a terrible opposition to me fixed in the minds of the devout & ignorant multitude.” (_Ibid._, vol. i, p. 82.) The following extract from Timothy Dwight’s poem on _The Triumph of Infidelity_ supplies another interesting contemporaneous estimate of Allen’s assault upon revelation: “In vain thro realms of nonsense ran The great Clodhopping oracle of man. Yet faithful were his toils: What could he more? In Satan’s cause he bustled, bruised and swore; And what the due reward, from me shall know, For gentlemen of equal worth below.” A foot-note explains the point in the last two lines: “In A——n’s Journal, the writer observes, he presumes he shall be treated in the future world as well as other gentlemen of equal merit are treated: A sentiment in which all his countrymen will join.” (_The Triumph of Infidelity: A Poem._ [Anonymous], 1788, pp. 23 _et seq._ The copy referred to is dedicated by the author “To Mons. de Voltaire.”) [163] _The Age of Reason: Part I_, appeared in America in 1794. _Cf._ _The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine_, edited by Moncure Daniel Conway, New York, 1901, p. vii; also advertisements of its offer for sale, _Massachusetts Spy_ (Worcester), Nov. 19, 1794. The _Connecticut Courant_ (Hartford), Jan. 19, and Feb. 9, 1795, contains examples of pained newspaper comment. _Walcott Papers_, vol. viii, 7.