Paine had gone into the next cell, and left his own door open back to the wall, thus having the door inside out. Just then came the chalkers, and probably being drunk, crossed the inside of Paine's door. Next morning, when the guard came with an order to bring out twenty-four, and finding only twenty-three chalks, (Paine being in bed and the door shut,) they took a prisoner from the further end of the passage, and thus made up the number; so Mr. Paine escaped. Before the mistake was discovered, or about forty-eight hours after, a stronger party than Robespierre's cut off his head and about thirty of his associates -- so Paine was set at liberty ; and being afraid to trust his head among the good republicans for whom he had written so much, he made the best of his way to this country." -- Re. miniscences of Grant Thorburn.

444 HISTORY OF THE

brown sugar, part of a rye loaf, and quarter of a pound of butter."^

The subsequent career of this unfortunate man is well known. On the Sth of June, 1S09, Thomas Paine breathed his last, aged 72 years and 5 months. Shortly after his decease, his body was brought up from New York, and interred on the farm, near the site of the present monument. In 1819 the remains of Paine \ were disinterred by William Cobbett, and conveyed to England. ^

The site of his grave has been recently purchased by his friends, and a handsome marble monument erected upon it. On tlie side facing the road is a medallion likeness, beneath which is inscribed,