hristian, if he did not wish to
believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and the dying philosopher
answered: "I have no wish to believe on that subject." Amasa
Woodsworth sat up with Thomas Paine the night before his death. In
1839 Gilbert Vale, hearing that Woodsworth was living in or near
Boston, visited him for the purpose of getting his statement, and the
statement was published in The Beacon of June 5, 1830, and here it is:

"We have just returned from Boston. One object of our visit to that
city was to see Mr. Amasa Woodsworth, an engineer, now retired in a
handsome cottage and garden at East Cambridge, Boston. This gentleman
owned the house occupied by Paine at his death, while he lived next
door. As an act of kindness, Mr. Woodsworth visited Mr. Paine every
day for six weeks before his death. He frequently sat up with him and
did so on the last two nights of his life. He was always there with
Dr. Manly, the physician, and assisted in removing Mr. Paine while his
bed was prepared. He was present when Dr. Manly asked Mr. Paine if he
wished to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. He said that
lying on his back he used some action and with much emphasis replied:
'I have no wish to believe on that subject.' He lived some time after
this, but was not known to speak, for he died tranquilly. He accounts
for the insinuating style of Dr. Manly's letter by stating that that
gentleman, just after its publication, joined a church. He informs us
that he has openly proved the doctor for the falsity contained in the
spirit of that letter, boldly declaring before Dr. Manly, who is still
living, that nothing which he saw justified the insinuations. Mr.
Woodsworth assures us that he neither heard nor saw anything to justify
the belief of any mental change in the opinions of Mr. Paine previous
to his death; but that being very ill and in pain, chiefly arising from
the skin being removed in some parts by long lying, he was generally
too uneasy to enjoy conversation on abstract subjects. This, then, is
the best evidence that can be procured on this subject, and we publish
it while the contravening parties are yet alive, and with the authority
of Mr. Woodsworth.--Gilbert Vale"

A few weeks ago I received the following letter, which confirms the
statement of Mr. Vale:

"Near Stockton, Cal., Greenwood Cottage, July 9. 1877.--Col. Ingersoll:
In 1812 I talked with a gentleman in Boston. I have forgotten his