486

MEMOIR OF REV. BENJAMIN ALLEN.

"Love to Thomas. Tell him his accounts gratify me very much."

"Some medicine put up for me by a very skilful physician, has been of much use."

"I start to-morrow for Edinburgh. Mrs. Cameron is there. Pray always for your loving husband."

To his second son he thus wrote

"Master John :-Your letter was short-mine is, Pray to God to give you a good heart.

"Your dear father,

BENJ'N. ALLEN.

On the same sheet of paper, he also wrote as follows to a member of his Bible-class

"KENDAL, July 13th.

"Miss Hannah :-A youth, having little comparatively to do, indeed, you must expect to write me very long letters, and have short ones returned. Your kind prayers I reciprocate. May the Lord bless you and Mary, your father and mother, and every one of the children. I pray that Rees may go on stronger and stronger.

"Have yet to see those females about whom you are so anxious. I have been busy for the Bible and Missionary Societies, I have yet to do all beside. Having done with those societies at present, I look to other matters."—"Give my best love to the Bible-class. The good Lord graciously bless all, and every member. I trust they seek to grow in grace.". "Take care of the Sun"Blessed Lord, pour

day-school in the country."

out thy Spirit upon all in and around Philadelphia.

The

work of the Lord prosper! Pray that I may be kept. With

sincere affection, your

PASTOR."

CHAPTER XXIX.

ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY RELATIVE TO HIS LABOURS IN ENGLAND-PROSTRATION OF HIS SYSTEM-GOES THROUGH A COURSE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT-ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIS LEAVING ENGLAND.

THE following additional testimony has fallen into my hands, relative to my brother's movements in England. I first present an extract of a letter from one of his parishioners addressed to myself

“PHILADELPHIA, December 13th, 1830. "Rev. Sir:-I was in England at the same time your brother was there, and often in his company. He appeared in much better health than he had been for some time. He said he thought the voyage had mended his health. I was myself induced to think so, when I heard him several times address different meetings of religious societies, which annually meet in May and June. It was in Freemason's-Hall, Great Queen street, a room much larger than St. Paul's church; and although I was at a distance from him, I heard him distinctly: this gave me the pleasing assurance his health was better. I was with him on Sabbath-day, at three different places of worship: the same day he dined with me at my nephew's, a pious young man, with a wife and children. Your brother seemed to enjoy our society with true domestic feeling, and took an early opportunity of expressing himself devoutly, as a husband

and father, in the hope that it might please the Almighty to protect him and return him safe to his dear wife and children, with this pious ejaculation (which I shall never forget) Not my will, O Lord, but thine be done.'

"He often assured me he had been received in a kind and friendly manner in London, by some of the bishops and other clergy, and a number of the most opulent residents in the metropolis, and had several invitations to the country seats of the nobility; he spoke in high terms of the kind and friendly attention of Mr. Wilberforce.

"It unfortunately happened, he left London without my knowing to what part of the country he had gone. I called several times at his lodgings, but could get no information, but that he had sent for his trunks. The last time I saw him, he was delivering an address in Freemason's-Hall.

66

This, dear Sir, is a brief recollection of what rests on my mind respecting your much lamented brother. You certainly knew his worth, and that he imitated his Divine Master, in going about doing good.

"I have sent you some English newspapers, printed in London, at the time your brother was there, in which you will observe some parts of addresses delivered by him at different religious meetings.

66

Accept, dear Sir, of the sincere respects of

"Your friend, &c.

ROB'T. PULLEN."

I have also been kindly favoured, by Mr. Charles Stokes, of this city, with the perusal of a letter, which he received from Mr. Charles S. Dudley, Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I take the liberty of here placing an extract, which relates to my brother

66

"BIBLE SOCIETY HOUSE, London, 21st January, 1830.

My dear Cousin :-It would be difficult to describe the feelings of my mind on perusing your letter, and con

versing relative to the writer and his estimable brother, with the lamented individual who was the bearer of it."“And what a consolation to you and to all his surviving friends, must it be to reflect, that he who was the bearer of your letter, had long been looking unto Jesus,' and manifesting an interest in His 'great salvation.' I had several opportunities of meeting and hearing him, and always with increased pleasure. Nor do I recollect many circumstances which excited more general sympathy, than that mysterious dispensation, which deprived us of one so deservedly esteemed. But it matters little in comparison, by which of his commissioned angels, God summons his servants to their rest; it is enough for us to know, that the rest is uninterrupted and eternal.

I cheerfully add the following grateful information from The Rev. Dr. Milnor, who attended the Anniversaries in England, the year after my brother—

"NEW-YORK, October 28, 1831. "Rev. and Dear Sir:-In answer to your inquiry, in regard to the reminiscences of your lamented brother, which I may have heard during my visit to England, last year, it gives me pleasure to say, that many expressions of the high sense entertained of his communications and addresses at the public anniversaries, fell from the mouths of very respectable speakers at those which I attended. In private intercourse, also, he was often spoken of in very respectful and affectionate terms, and deep regret manifested for his loss.

"While Divine Providence continued to him the ability for active service, he was unwearied in his endeavours to assist in those great religious operations in which our Christian brethren in England are so extensively engaged,

and I think it not improbable, that exertions, prompted by the purest motives, but far beyond his strength, inay have contributed to a catastrophe, so afflicting to his family and friends, so enduringly happy for himself.

Though it is grateful, indeed, to contemplate the happy and important excitement which my dear brother's last labours produced in England; yet, in these numerous efforts, we but too prominently discover the cause of the speedy prostration of his frail system. To every rising emotion of our bosoms, however, we would say, It is the Lord, who hath done all things well.

But a few days after the date of his last letter to his wife and others, which is inserted in the preceding chapter, it appears that his mind became seriously affected. It was a gracious Providence which placed my brother, at the time of this great trial, so near those dear friends, and especially that reverend brother, whose fraternal solicitude was so prominent towards a stranger in a strange land. In his letter to one of my brother's parishioners, he observes

LIVERPOOL, July 21st, 1828. Knowing how much you are interested in the welfare of your dear pastor, Mr. Allen, I am led to think that I have no better person with whom to confide the afflicting intelligence of his present state of trial.

"Instead of giving himself that rest in England, which his health evidently wanted, he too easily complied with the numerous solicitations of friends, to attend and speak at public religious meetings. The excitement has proved very injurious, and I am concerned to say, has considerably unsettled his mind. In fact, for the last fortnight, he