The Renaissance in the Eighteenth Century. 83 



The splendid mansion of Prior Park, which is still one of 

 the ornaments of the environs, was built in 1742, as a proof 

 of the adaptability of the stone to all the requirements of 

 modern building. 



Allen's connection with the city did not actively commence 

 until much of the work attending its restoration to pros- 

 perity had been accomplished. In 1725 he was elected an 

 " honorary freeman," and a few months later a member of 

 the Common Council, but we find few traces of any real 

 participation in municipal life until his election as mayor in 

 1742. He seldom attended the Council meetings, and 

 some of his recorded votes, in favour of the most retrograde 

 measures for retarding free competition were such as to sur- 

 prise those who knew his largeness of mind and general 

 breadth of view. Allen was not, it will be remembered, a 

 native of Bath; the principal pursuit of his life took him 

 much away from it, and he probably regarded it at first, 

 rather as a pleasant residence, than as the natural scene of 

 any active exertion. When, however, the city had forced 

 itself upon the attention of the fashionable world, Allen's 

 interest in its internal affairs became excited, and his energy 

 of character and strength of will were such as to impress 

 his personality upon all coming in contact with him. Ac- 

 •cordingly, in the fourth decade of the century, we find him 

 exercising an influence so paramount over the political and 

 municipal situation that the caricaturists made merry over 

 the " one-headed " corporation. 



William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, was, through 

 Allen's influence, one of the city members for several years, 

 .as well as a frequent visitor at Prior Park. Here, indeed, 

 was a rendezvous for the learned ; Pope, Fielding, Richard- 

 son, Hoare, Hurd, and Warburton enjoyed the genial hos- 

 7' 



