Contemporary Views on Paine
A Loyalist View from the Localities
Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal, 1792
Paine has in his works remarked that a man can with greater ease write himself into discredit than
can a host of opponents.
The justice of that sentence, even his warmest advocates now declare he has himself exemplified as
his last letter to the National Convention is the most foolish, wicked, contemptible production that
was ever penned.
The frothy ebullitions of a bad man, grown insane with the appearance of a frantic mob.
A Radical View
God save great Thomas Paine
His 'Rights of Man' explain
To every soul.
He makes the blind to see
What dupes and slaves they be,
And points out liberty,
From pole to pole.
Thousands cry 'Church and King'
That well deserve to swing,
All must allow:
Birmingham blush for shame,
Manchester do the same,
Infamous is your name,
Patriots vow.
English Radical song, 1790s