The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and WomenMarvin, Frederic Rowland
History
The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women
Marvin, Frederic Rowland
Last words
[39] The effects of Mr. Cobbett were sold by auction, in 1836; and
the bones brought forward to be offered for competition. The
auctioneer, however, refused to put them up; and they were
withdrawn, and remained in the possession of the receiver. This
gentleman, desiring to be relieved, awaited the orders of the Lord
Chancellor; but the latter, upon the matter being mentioned to him
in court, refused to recognize them as part of the estate, or make
any order respecting them. The receiver thus continued to hold them;
but finding that none of the creditors would relieve him of them,
or, indeed, make inquiry about them, he transferred them, in 1844,
to a Mr. Tilley, who retained them in his possession until a public
funeral could be arranged. I have never heard that this has been
done, and know nothing more of these _Thomae venerabilis
ossa_.--_William Bates: "The Maclise Portrait Gallery."_
_Ode to the Bones of the Im-mortal Thomas Paine, newly transported
from America to England, by the no less Im-mortal William Cobbett,
Esq._, by Thomas Rodd, Senr., the Bookseller (London, 1819, 4to). _A
Brief History of the Remains of the late Thomas Paine, from the time
of their disinterment, in 1819, by the late William Cobbett, M.P.,
down to the year 1846_ (London, Watson, 1847); and _Notes and
Queries_, Fourth Series.
"How Tom gets a living now ... I know not, nor does it much signify.
He has done all the mischief he can in the world; and whether his
carcase is at last to be suffered to rot on the earth, or to be
dried in the air, is of very little consequence. Whenever or
wherever he breathes his last, he will excite neither sorrow nor
compassion; no friendly hand will close his eyes, not a groan will
be uttered, not a tear will be shed. Like _Judas_, he will be
remembered by posterity; _men will learn to express all that is
base, malignant, treacherous, unnatural, and blasphemous, by the
single monosyllable_--PAINE!"--_Life of Thomas Paine_, by William
Cobbett.
PALMER (John, English actor of considerable merit), 1742-1798. "_There
is another and a better world._"
His death took place on the stage of the Liverpool Theatre while he was
performing the character of the _Stranger_, and his last words were a
line in the play.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account