Paine lies asleep on straw on a ramshackle wooden bedstead, covered by his coat. He wears a cap inscribed 'Libertas'. He lies diagonally from left to right, facing the spectator. On the head of his bed are drawn the profile heads, with wings, of his Guardian Angels: Priestley (left) and Fox (right). His head rests on a bundle of straw round which is a striped and torn (?) flag inscribed 'Vive l'America'. His arm lies across an open book: 'The Rights of Farthing Candles proving their Equality with the Sun &amp; Moon. And the necessity of a Reformation in the Planetary System.' From his coat-pocket protrudes a pamphlet: 'Common Sense or Reason destructive to Free Government.' On a table by his side (right) are a rat with its head caught in a trap, writing materials, and a paper: 'The Golden Age The Art of Equalizing the Property of Princes &amp; Pikemen.'
<p><br>His dream appears surrounded with clouds on the right of the design. Three judges are represented by their empty wigs: before each hangs a long scroll headed [1] 'Pleas for Thos Paine. Ignorance Poverty Envy.' [2] 'Charges against Thos Paine Libels Scurrilities Lies Perjuries, Rebellions, Treasons.' [3] 'Punishments for Thos Paine Corporal Pain Contempt, Detestation.' Behind is the stone wall of a dungeon with a closely barred window, on each side of which hang heavy shackles.  A gibbet and a pillory also emerge from the clouds.  26 November 1792
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<br>Etching and aquatint
<div class="fn value">
<p>Print made by: James Gillray
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<dl><dd>Published by: Hannah Humphrey</dd></dl></div>
1792<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1792-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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