[4] This word originally stood as 'low-born;' but Pope (himself a
linendraper's son, it will be remembered) altered it, as it is said, at
Allen's request. Pope had previously asked Allen's leave to insert some
such passage (28th April, 1738).
[5] Allen's sister married a Mr. Philip Elliott.
[6] For particulars, see 'Parliamentary Papers,' 1807, 1812, and 1813.
The following extract from the _London Gazette_ of 16th April, 1720,
fixes the date of the commencement of the scheme: 'General Post Office,
London, April 12, 1720. The announcement recites that the Post Office
authorities, having granted to Ralph Allen, of Bath, gentleman, a farm
of all the by-way or cross-road letters throughout England and Wales,
and being determined to improve postal communication, give notice that
"the postage of no by-way or cross-road letters is anywhere to be
demanded at the places they are sent from (upon any pretence whatever)
unless they are directed on board of a ship,"' etc., etc.
[7] Curiously enough, after the lapse of many years, it has again
reverted, after a chequered history, to similar uses. It was used as a
Roman Catholic seminary in 1820, but did not at first succeed; and much
of the internal part was destroyed by fire in 1836.
[8] Their friendship seems to have arisen from Allen's great admiration
of Pope's letters (notwithstanding their artificiality) and of his
poems, of which Allen is said to have offered to print a volume at his
own expense. Mr. Leslie Stephen says, 'Pope first attracted Allen's
notice by his adroit but dishonest manipulation of the controversy
touching the Curil correspondence.'
[9] This lady, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Holden, was Mr. Allen's
second wife.
[10] In the Rebellion of 1745 he raised and equipped at his own expense
a corps of 100 volunteers.
[11] Engraved by Meyer for Polwhele's 'Cornwall.'
[12] The local guide-books to Weymouth state that Allen, whilst here,
invented an ingenious form of bathing-machine for his own use.
[13] Amongst other buildings, he cased the exterior of St.
Bartholomew's Hospital, in London, with Bath stone, provided at his
own expense; and furnished the same material for his nephew's, Thomas
Daniell's house in Prince's Street, Truro.
[14] Wood was author of three architectural treatises: one of them
descriptive of Bath; and another entitled 'The Origin of Building;
or, the Plagiarism of the Heathens Detected, 1741.' The former work
contains an elaborate, illustrated account of the mansion at Prior Park.
[15] A member of this family--a Truro man, it is believed--accompanied
Sir Francis Drake in his famous voyage round the world.
[16] It may not be out of place to remark that an article on Ralph
Allen in the _Family Economist_, and another (apparently by the same
writer) in _Chambers's Journal_, entitled 'The Bath Post Boy,' are mere
romances, with only a slight sprinkling of facts.
_JOHN ANSTIS_,