533 



exerted himself in behalf of the Greeks and of the Waldenses of 

 Piedmont. 



The source of Mr. Allen's extraordinary influence was to be found 

 in that singleness of purpose, which, breaking down the obstacles of 

 party, gave him access to those in power, and carried him as by a 

 royal road to the confidence and favour of princes. At home we 

 find him enjoying the marked consideration of their late Royal High- 

 nesses the Dukes of Kent and Sussex, the former appointing him 

 one of his executors ; and abroad he was in frequent communication 

 with the Emperor Alexander. 



Mr. Allen possessed in an uncommon degree the power of giving 

 his mind to a great variety of subjects, and this, together with his 

 activity, economy of time and early habits, enabled him to accom- 

 plish a prodigious amount of good. His correspondence alone was 

 a labour from which most men would have shrunk. 



In addition to subscriptions and donations to public charities, the 

 casual calls on Mr. Allen's benevolence were very heavy ; he also 

 gave cheerfully, and there are perhaps few great works which he 

 did not at some period of his life assist. The extent of Mr. Allen's 

 charity seems to have been widely known, for we find the Emperor 

 Alexander urging it as a reason for his undertaking the supply of 

 drugs for the Russian armies, an offer which he gratefully but firmly 

 refused, and to his honour be it spoken, he resisted a temptation the 

 value of which it would be difficult to estimate. At the end of a 

 long life he could say that he had never compromised his public use- 

 fulness for private interests. 



During the last fourteen years of his active life, Mr. Allen had 

 passed about half his time at Lindfield, diffusing happiness and doing 

 good to those about him. The review of a well-spent life gave com- 

 fort to the evening of his days, and that gospel which had been his 

 rule through life was his stay in death, sustaining his mind in sere- 

 nity and peace. 



He died at Lindfield on the 30th of December, 1843, aged 73. 



The thanks of the Meeting were given to the President for his 

 Address, with a request that he would allow it to be printed. 



The Statutes relating to the election of Council and Officers having 

 been read by the Secretary, and Joseph Smith and Samuel Solly, 

 Esqs. having, with the consent of the Societj^, been nominated Scru- 

 tators in examining the lists, the votes of the Fellows present were 

 collected. 



Dr. Roget, on the part of the Scrutators, reported the following 

 Noblemen and Gentlemen as being duly elected Officers and Council 

 for the ensuing year, viz. — 



President. — The Marquis of Northampton. 

 Treasurer. — Sir John William Lubbock, Bart., M.A. 



Secretaries I ^^'^^ 



[ Samuel Hunter Christie, Esq., M.A. 



Foreign Secretary. — John Frederic Daniell, Esq., D.C.L. 



