Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/353

ALLEN 329 ment, commanded by Col. Ilinman, to whom he delivered his conquests. Allen immediately proposed to the authorities of New York an invasion of Canada, which was refused ; and he then proceeded to Philadelphia, where the continental congress officially acknowledged his services. He next joined Gen. Schuyler's army as a volunteer, was employed in secret missions to sound- the views of the Canadians, and rendered valuable aid in Montgomery's expedition to Canada ; but in an unfortunate demonstration against Montreal with a small force of American and Canadian recruits, made on the persuasion of Major Brown, Sept. 25, 1775, he was captured and sent a prisoner to England. A few months later he was sent back to America, and confined in prison ships and jails at Halifax and New York till May 3, 1778, when he was exchanged. During most of his captivity he was treated as a felon and kept heavily ironed, but for a part of 1776-'7 was allowed restricted liberty on parole. Kindly received by congress and by Washington, he was about to enter the military service again when the old colonial troubles regarding Ver- mont were revived. Allen was now chosen general, and appointed to command all the militia of that state. In the mean time 16 of the western townships of New Hampshire sought annexation to Vermont, sending a peti- tion to that effect to the legislature, who referred the matter to the people. The governor of New Hampshire protested against this course, writing to the continental congress to interpose its authority. Allen was sent as the agent of Vermont to explain to congress the course of the state. About this time the English com- manders in America began to meditate the res- toration of royal authority in Vermont, and, while the Vermont claim to self-government was in abeyance, sought to take advantage of the dispute. A tempting offer was made to Allen through Beverley Robinson, a well known tory of the time, without any result, except that, by feigning negotiations, Allen was able to preserve the neutrality of the English au- thorities toward his mountaineers, who were consequently unmolested until nearly the end of the war. Before that time he removed to Bennington, thence to Arlington, and subse- quently to the vicinity of Onion river, where he resided till his death, serving for some time in the legislature. He was twice married, and left a wife and several children. In addition to a history of the controversy between Vermont and New York, a narrative of his captivity, and various political pamphlets, he was the author of a work entitled " Reason the only Oracle of Man" (8vo, Bennington, 1784), in which the Bible and the Christian religion are assailed from a purely deistic standpoint. ALLEN, Ira, brother of Ethan, born in 1752, died in Philadelphia, Jan. 7, 1814. He served in the American army during the revolution, although at first a tory, was a member of the constitutional convention of Vermont, and was the first secretary of the state, afterward treas- urer, surveyor general, &c. In 1795 he went to France, where he purchased 20,000 muskets and 24 cannon, expecting to sell them to the state ; but while returning home with a por- tion of them, he was captured and carried to England, under the accusation of furnishing arms to the Irish rebels. A lawsuit of eight years' duration followed, in which he was suc- cessful. During this time he published "The Natural and Political History of Vermont" (8vo, London, 1798). ALLEN, Joseph W., an English landscape painter, born in Lambeth, London, in 1803, died Aug. 26, 1852. He was for a time usher in a school, but soon went to London to study art. At this time he used to paint signs and transparencies to eke out a subsistence, and afterward took up scene painting, finally be- coming principal scene painter at the Olympic theatre. He had excelled in depicting quiet rural scenery ; but when he began to employ the brilliant effects which should be confined to the stage, the results which he obtained were far inferior to those exhibited in his earlier productions. He was active in the establish- ment of the " Society of British Artists." ALLEN, Paul, an American editor and author, born in Providence, R. I., Feb. 15, 1775, died in Baltimore in 1826. After graduating at Brown university, he went to Philadelphia, and was employed to write for the "Port Folio" and the "United States Gazette." In 1801 he published a small volume of poems. He also, about this time, superintended the publication of "Lewis and Clarke's Travels." He became successively the editor of the " Federal Re- publican " and the "Journal of the Times," but was unsuccessful in both enterprises, sank into extreme poverty, and for a time his reason was obscured. He finally assumed the manage- ment of the " Morning Chronicle " at Balti- more, and conducted that journal until his death. In 1821 the "Life of Washington" appeared, published in his name, but really written by John Neal and another of his friends, named Watkins, Allen merely con- tributing a portion of the preface. His poem of "Noah " was published in 1821, in 5 cantos. It had originally consisted of 25 ; but, having been placed in the hands of Mr. Neal for re- vision, he reduced it to its present dimensions. ALLEN, Samuel, a London merchant and act- ing governor of New Hampshire, born about 1635, died May 5, 1705. He purchased from Mason's heirs in 1691 a large tract of land in New Hampshire, including Portsmouth and Dover, and extending 60 miles inland. He acted as governor of New Hampshire until the arrival of Lord Bellamont in 1699. His pur- chase involved him in a protracted lawsuit with the actual settlers, who produced an Indian title, subsequently found to be a forgery, but not until his family had become extinct. ALLEN, Solomon, an American revolutionary soldier, born in Northampton, Mass., Feb. 23,