Beau of the Fifth Column on Thomas Paine

Nice work, but the Adams mistake gets a repeat

A while back, Beau of the Fifth Column issued a brief video encapsulation on Paine that is really quite good, despite a few small and common errors.

It was NOT John Adams who wrote the line that "Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.” Devoted readers of this blog will recognize the error — it figured in the review of that little graphic history (comic-book treatment) reviewed here recently and is by FAR the most frequent mistake in Paine biography or commentary. The passage appears nowhere in the writings or recorded words of John Adams. The earliest appearance is in a 1792 London edition of Paine's Common Sense with the introduction and more importantly this quote certaily NOT written by Adams and said to have been authored by the American diplomat, poet, and Paine friend Joel Barlow (March 24, 1754 – December 26, 1812).

Monroe did not rescue Paine in that short interval of three days. The key thing that happened was that Robespierre was himself arrested and guillotined the day following his arrestment, making Paine’s execution order void. It took a LONG time for Monroe to get him out; close to three months.

The portrait at 3:42 is not Paine. It may be Samuel Adams. I’ve seen it identified as Paine elsewhere, no doubt the same place Beau did. But it is definitely not Paine.

Double-click the image below and, keeping the previous details in mind, you’ll get a nevertheless GOOD little “from the woodshed” intro video on Paine.

One last comment: the reasons for Paine’s imprisonment are quite clear. All Englishmen were being arrested as spies by a panicky and paranoid faction led by Robespierre, Saint-Just, and others. Paine knew very well he was about to be arrested. That’s why he quickly began Age of Reason, a work Paine said that he had reserved for the end of his life.

This nevertheless skillfull and entertaining video tribute was obviously cobbled together from a “quick study” of Paine literature and available internet commentary. History cannot be deeply understood through quick study … it takes a great deal of time and disciplined effort. On balance and with it’s various flaws, though, “Beau” [actually Justin King https://youtube.fandom.com/wiki/Beau_of_the_Fifth_Column ] has actually done Paine and Beau’s fellow citizens of the world a service.