"I can consider Mr. Burke's book in scarcely any other light than a dramatic performance, and he must, I think, have considered it in the same light himself by the _poetical_ liberties he has taken of omitting some facts, distorting others, and making the machinery bend to produce a stage effect.... I have now to follow Mr. Burke through a pathless wilderness of rhapsodies."--Rights of Man, part i.
"These letters, my lord, are read in other countries and in other languages, and I think I may affirm without vanity, that the gracious character of the best of princes is by this time not only perfectly known to his subjects, but tolerably well understood by the rest of Europe. In this respect alone I have the advantage of Mr. Whitehead. His plan, I think, is too narrow. He seems to manufacture his verses for the sole use of the hero who is supposed to be the subject of them, and, that his meaning may not be exported in foreign bottoms, sets all translation at defiance."--Let. 49.
They sometimes wander from the point, and then bring the reader back by mentioning the fact:
"But to return to the case in question."--Crisis, vii and xiii. "Passing on from this _digression_, I shall now endeavor to bring into one view the several parts."--Crisis, viii. "But to return to my account."--Rights of Man, part i.
"But, sir, I am sensible I have followed your example too long, and wandered from the point."--Let. 18.
Another peculiarity is the method of bringing the subject "into one view:"
See last quotation above. "Having now finished this subject, I shall bring the several parts into one view."--Rights of Man, part ii.
"This, sir, is the detail. In one view, behold," etc.--Let. 1.
I have before called attention to the manner in which Mr. Paine signed his Introduction to Common Sense, and Junius his Dedication; but there is a similarity in the manner in which they frequently close their pieces. The expressions, "To conclude," "I shall conclude," "I shall therefore conclude," are used by both.
There is a marked peculiarity in taking illustrations from the Bible, and I now speak of and compare the political writings of Mr. Paine with Junius. Junius is filled with such references, and they are no less plentiful in Common Sense. This leads me on to speak of figures of speech.