138 
strength, and may be expected to derive great advantage from 
his assistance. 
The Anniversary Meeting was held on the 18th of February, 
1890, as usual, when the Officers and Committee were reappointed, 
and the Excursions for the year fixed; and on Wednesday, 
March 5th, the fourth and last afternoon meeting for the session, 
1890, was held at the Literary Institution. Mr. H. D. Skrine. 
presided, and the first paper read was one by Mr. Austin J. King 
on “Some Memorials of Ralph Allen and William Pitt.” 
This communication, full of interesting local information 
respecting the great citizen and the great statesman of the 18th 
century, is printed in full at p. 99. 
Mr. SKRINE, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. King for his 
paper, said that there was a good deal of doubt as to where Allen 
obtained the bulk of his wealth. He had considerable property 
in quarries, and he wished it to be believed that he made his 
money from them. It was generally supposed, however, that he 
made more from his mail contracts with the Government. His. 
first contract was taken for £6,000 and this was afterwards 
renewed for £20,000 so that he must have secured a good profit 
from it, otherwise he would not have so largely increased his 
offer on the renewal. 
Mr. Suum followed, and remarked that the best house in the 
Circus, No. 7, was built for William Pitt after his first election, 
when he had an idea of residing in Bath. Good houses were. 
scarce in those days, and many were built specially for the great. 
men who took up their residence here. 
The Rev. H. H. Winwoop drew attention to the remnant of 
Allen’s town house which was still standing within a stone’s throw 
of the Institution, and remarked that it was worth visiting by 
anyone who did not know it. He said the club was much 
indebted to Mr. King for the addition of some further interesting 
pages to local history. ; 
Mr. Kr, in replying, stated that the letters which he produced 
