For the purpose of verifying your own admission concerning the death of Mr. Paine, permit me to call your attention to the following affidavit: 523 Wabash, Indiana, October 27, 1877. Col. R. G. Ingersoll: Dear Sir: The following statement of facts is at your disposal. In the year 1833 Willet Hicks made a visit to Indiana and stayed over night at my father's house, four miles east of Richmond. In the morn- ing at breakfast my mother asked Willet Hicks the following questions: "Was thee with Thomas Paine during his last sickness?" Mr. Hicks said: "I was with him every day dur- ing the latter part of his last sickness." "Did he express any regret in regard to writing the 'Age of Reason,' as the published accounts say he did--those accounts that have the credit of ema- nating from his Catholic housekeeper?" Mr. Hicks replied: "He did not in any way by word or action." "Did he call on God or Jesus Christ, asking either of them to forgive his sins, or did he curse them or either of them?" Mr. Hicks answered: "He did not. He died as easy as any one I ever saw die, and I have seen many die in my time." William B Barnes. Subscribed and sworn to before me Oct. 27, 1877. Warren Bigler, Notary Public. 524 You say in your last that "Thomas Paine was abandoned of God." So far as this controversy is concerned, it seems to me that in that sentence you have most graphically described your own condi- tion. Wishing you success in all honest undertakings, I remain, Yours truly, Robert G. Ingersoll.