ns and a hatred of
England. Whatever influence the oppressive policy of the British
Administration may have had in producing this change, was confined to
comparatively few in America, was little known to the masses, and had
little influence over them. This sudden and marvellous revolution in the
American mind was produced chiefly by a pamphlet of forty pages, written
at the suggestion of two or three leaders of the American
revolutionists, over the signature of "An Englishman." This Englishman
was no other than Thomas Paine, better known in after years as Tom
Paine, "the blasphemous infidel and beastly drunkard," as the New York
_Observer_, in answer to a challenge, proved him to be beyond the
possibility of successful contradiction. Tom Paine was of a Quaker
family; was a staymaker by trade, but an agitator by occupation. He had
obtained an appointment as exciseman, but was dismissed from his office,
and emigrated to America in 1774. He somehow obtained an introduction to
Dr. Franklin in London, who gave him a letter of introduction to a
gentleman in Philadelphia, through whom he procured employment in the
service of a bookseller. Beginning forthwith to write for a leading
newspaper on the agitated questions of the day, his articles attracted
attention and procured him the acquaintance of some influential persons,
and he at length became editor of the "Pennsylvania Magazine." He was
the master of a singularly attractive, lucid, and vituperative style,
scarcely inferior to that of _Junius_ himself. At the suggestion of
Franklin and one or two other leaders of the revolution, he wrote a
pamphlet of forty pages in favour of Independence, entitled "Common
Sense," and over the signature of "An Englishman," yet bitter against
England and English institutions. It was addressed to the inhabitants of
America, and was arranged under four heads: first, "Of the origin and
design of government in general, with concise remarks on the English
Constitution;" secondly, "Of monarchy and hereditary succession;"
thirdly, "Thoughts on the present state of military affairs;" fourth,
"Of the present ability of America, with some miscellaneous
reflections." Mr. Frothingham says: "The portion on Government has
little of permanent value; the glance at the English Constitution is
superficial; and the attack on Monarchy is coarse. The treatment of the
American question under the two last heads gave the pamphlet its
celebrity."[68]

Mr. Gordon sa