his home, he left his second employer, and went on board the Terrible privateer, Captain Death. To a mind like his, which appears at the time we are speaking of, to have been ardent in the extreme, it is not surprising that the war which had just then been declared against France, afforded an abundant field of enterprising anticipation. Situated as he was, and feeling as he probably did, the army or the navy were his only choice, and he took the latter because it was nearest at hand. How long he remained on board the Terrible, has not been ascertained; but from his own account of the affair, the time must have been short. "From this adventure," says he, "I was happily prevented by the affectionate and moral remonstrance of a good father, who, from his own habits of life, being of the Quaker profession, must begin to look upon me as lost."

This affair made a considerable impression at the time, but, like most of the impressions of youth, it soon wore away, and left his disposition for enterprise in much the same state as it was, before the circumstance occurred. Shortly afterwards, he entered on board the King of Prussia privateer, Captain Mendez ; but as no account has been published of this

transaction, except that given by himself, it does not appear how long he remained at sea, or what occurred to induce him to desert the naval profession altogether, and resume his own business.

In the year 1759, he settled at Sandwich as a master staymaker. There he soon became acquainted with a young woman of the name of Mary Lambert, to whom he was married about the end of the same year. She was the daughter of an exciseman, and is said to have possessed considerable personal attractions.

His staymaking business not exactly answering his expectations, he removed with his wife to Margate, where she died in the year 1760. From Margate he went to London, and from London he again removed to Thetford.

Here he resolved upon relinquishing his business altogether. He had long wished for some employment more congenial to his turn of mind. At length, through the interference of Mr. Cocksedge, the Recorder at Thetford, he obtained a situation in the Excise. This was towards the end of 1763.

For some trifling fault he was dismissed from this situation, in something more than a year afterwards. What the nature of that fault

was, has never been satisfactorily explained; but those who are acquainted with the practices of the excise, must be well convinced that if the offence had been of any magnitude, he would never have been restored to the office, which was the case in about eleven months after his dismissal. The following is a copy of his petition to the Board of Excise to restore him to his situation:

" HONOURABLE SIRS,

"In humble obedience to your Honours' letter of discharge, bearing date August 29, 1765, I delivered up my commission, and since that time have given you no trouble.

"I confess the justice of your Honours' displeasure, and humbly beg leave to add my thanks for the candour and lenity which you at that unfortunate time indulged me with.

"And though the nature of the report and my own confession cut off all expectations of enjoying your Honours' favour then, yet I hunibly hope it has not finally excluded me therefrom; upon which hope I humbly presume to intreat your Honours to restore me.

"The time I enjoyed my former commission was short and unfortunate-an officer only a single year. No complaint of the least dis

honesty, or

intemperance, ever appeared against me; and if I am so happy as to succeed in this my humble petition, I will endeavour that my future conduct shall as much engage your Honours' approbation, as my former has merited your displeasure.

“I am, your Honours' most dutiful
"humble servant,

London, July, 3, 1766.

"THOMAS PAINE."

"July 4, 1766.-To be restored on a proper vacancy. S. B."

It is difficult to guess what was the real cause of Paine's discharge from the excise, since from the above, it is clear that his offence was neither drunkenness nor dishonesty. Whatever it might be, it is evident that it was of a venial nature, for his enemies must have been acquainted with it, and if its tendency had been to impeach our author's moral character, they would have rendered it as public as possible. Instead of this, they have never even ventured a malignant surmise upon the subject, and if we couple their silence with the circumstance of his restoration, we have every reason to conclude that the ground of his discharge was of the most insignificant character. As for the

portion of the petition in which he confesses that his former conduct "has merited their displeasure," it was no more than the customary form of a petition from a man who was begging to be restored, and is therefore unworthy of observation.

After his dismission he proceeded to London, where he became a teacher in an academy kept by Mr. Noble of Goodman's Fields.* In this situation he remained until the period of his restoration to office. It is probable that it was during his stay in London at this period, he applied himself to the study of astronomy and natural philosophy, and that this is the time he alludes to, when he says, 66 as soon as I was able I purchased a pair of globes, and attended the philosophical lectures of Martin and Ferguson, and became afterwards acquainted with Dr. Bevis of the society called the Royal Society, and an excellent astronomer."+ Indeed, as he himself expresses it, the natural bent of his mind appears to have been to

* As some have doubted the truth of this, I think it necessary to state, that I have a document in my possession, in the hand writing of a gentleman now residing at Camberwell, who was a pupil at Mr. Noble's academy at the period alluded

to.

† Age of Reason, Part I. p. 36.