CHAPTER XIX. PERSONAL TRAITS
On July 1, 1806, two young English gentlemen, Daniel and William Constable, arrived in New York, and for some years travelled about the country. The Diary kept by Daniel Constable has been shown me by his nephew, Clair J. Grèce, LL.D. It contains interesting allusions to Paine, to whom they brought an introduction from Rickman.
"July 1. To the Globe, in Maiden Lane, to dine. Mr. Segar at the Globe offered to send for Mr. Paine, who lived only a few doors off: He seemed a true Painite.
"3d. William and I went to see Thomas Paine. When we first called he was taking a nap.... Back to Mr. Paine's about 5 o'clock, sat about an hour with him.... I meant to have had T. Paine in a carriage with me to-morrow, and went to inquire for one. The price was $1 per hour, but when I proposed it to T. P. he declined it on account of his health.
"4th. Friday. Fine clear day. The annual Festival of Independence. We were up by five o'clock, and on the battery saw the cannons fired, in commemoration of liberty, which had been employed by the English against the sacred cause. The people seemed to enter into the spirit of the day: stores &c were generally shut.... In the fore part of the day I had the honour of walking with T. Paine along the Broadway. The day finished peaceably, and we saw no scenes of quarreling or drunkenness.
"14. A very hot day. Evening, met T. Paine in the Broadway and walked with him to his house.
"Oct. 29 [on returning from a journey]. Called to see T. Paine, who was walking about Carver's shop."
"Nov. 1. Changed snuff-boxes with T. Paine at his lodgings.* The old philosopher, in bed at 4 o'clock afternoon, seems as talkative and well as when we saw him in the summer."
* Dr. Grèce showed me Paine's papier-machë snuff-box, which
his uncle had fitted with silver plate, inscription,
decorative eagle, and banner of "Liberty, Equality." It is
kept in a jewel-box with an engraving of Paine on the lid.
In a letter written jointly by the brothers to their parents, dated July 5th, they say that Paine "begins to feel the effects of age. The print I left at Horley is a very strong likeness. He lives with a small family who came from Lewes [Carvers] quite retired, and but little known or noticed." They here also speak of "the honour of walking with our old friend T. Paine in the midst of the bustle on Independence Day." There is no suggestion, either here or in the Diary, that these gentlemen of culture and position observed anything in the appearance or habits of Paine that diminished the pleasure of meeting him. In November they travelled down the Mississippi, and on their return to New York, nine months later, they heard (July 20, 1807) foul charges against Paine from Carver. "Paine has left his house, and they have had a violent disagreement. Carver charges Paine with many foul vices, as debauchery, lying, ingratitude, and a total want of common honour in all his actions, says that he drinks regularly a quart of brandy per day." But next day they call on Paine, in "the Bowery road," and William Constable writes: