"The third edition".

A hostile account. The words, "With a defence of his writings" were clearly used as a means of attracting Paine's supporters. The pseudonym was wholly fictitious, as Chalmers had no such degree and no connection with the University of Pennsylvania; it was evidently devised to compete with Paine's honorary degree from the same institution, as well as to lend dignity to the publication by making it appear the work of a clergyman. cf. Conway's Life of Paine, 1892, v.1, p.xiv-xvi, 337-338.