Obituary : the Duke of Sussex, William Allen. 525 



every department of science and learning, and unexcelled in its 

 biblical department. He enjoyed, in a high degree, the respect and 

 regard of the British public ; and this feeling was shared even by 

 those who differed most strongly from the views which guided his 

 course in political affairs. His, however, were hardly to be called 

 political leanings, for his liberal aspirations emanated from a truly 

 benevolent heart, wishing to promote the physical comfort and men- 

 tal improvement of his fellow- creatures. 



The cause of humanity has also experienced another serious loss 

 in the death of Mr. William Allen, a member of the Society of 

 Friends, President of the Pharmaceutical Society, and one of the 

 original Members of this Society. This gentleman was born on the 

 19th of August, 1776, in London, and soon entered upon the useful 

 profession of Chemistry, In this branch of knowledge he made 

 such advances as to be identified with its scientific progress ; and 

 he became a distinguished Professor of Experimental Philosophy at 

 Guy's Hospital, and the Royal Institution of Great Britain. He was 

 connected with some of the nicest experiments of the day, in con- 

 junction with Davy, Babington, Marcet, Luke Howard, and Dalton. 

 Together with Mr. Pepys, he made the well-known investigations 

 upon atmospheric air, and other gases, which are recorded in the 

 Philosophical Transactions ; and in which he proved the identity of 

 the diamond with charcoal*. 



What, however, distinguished him here, was his taste for astro- 

 nomy, as evinced by his elegant private observations, and his ex- 

 tensive astronomical library. In 1815 he published a neat little 

 work, intituled " A Companion to the Transit Instrument : " it con- 

 tains all the stars, from the first to the fourth magnitudes, together 

 with the places of some of the most interesting of the double stars, 

 and a few nebulae. 



Mr. Allen united, in a remarkable degree, sound knowledge, sua- 

 vity of manneis, and sterling principle ; and he deservedly possessed 

 the esteem of all who knew him. He pursued his views with per- 

 severing industry ; and travelled far and near in his search after the 

 means of advancing the moral and religious education of the poor. 

 He died on the 30th of last December, at Lindfield in Sussex, a scene 

 of his zealous benevolence ; for it was here that he endeavoured to 

 show how much aid might be afforded to the work of education by 

 the earnings of the scholars : and, with co-operation, he founded a 

 colony of labourers in that neighbourhood, to whom he allotted land 

 at a remunerating but easy rent, in order to improve their moral and 

 physical condition. 



Such was William Allen, whose life was devoted to the best in- 

 terests of mankind, and whose name is known wherever the efforts 

 of humanity are in activity. 



Professor Niccolo Cacciatore was born at Castel-termine in the 

 southern part of Sicily, of respectable parentage, on the 26th of 

 January, 1770. In his boyhood he was educated by his paternal 

 uncle, a Professor of Theology in Girgenti. At the age of 1 7 years 



[* Messrs. Allen and Pepys's papers here alluded to will also be found in 

 Phil. Mag. First Series, vol. xxix. p. 216 ; xxxii. p. 242 ; and xxxiv. p. 379.] 



