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Happy those heroes who are called from the scene of action, before envy, springing from their virtues, has undervalued their names; while the memory of their valorous deeds is still recent, and e'er their laurels have begun to fade. "Every soul, sensible to honour, envies, rather than compassionates their fate." Such has been the proud destiny of Allen. He has fallen in the meridian of his glory; fighting the battles of his country; and death has set the stamp of eternity on his fame. Clouds of misfortune and defeat gathered around his setting sun; but they obscured not its brightness-they only mellowed it into a more interesting splendour. His conquerors have published his worth, his bravery in battle, his fortitude in suffering and in death; and victory mourns over a triumph purchased at the price of such a life.

William Henry Allen, the deservedly lamented subject of the present memoir, was born at Providence, Rhode-Island, October 21, 1784. He was the son of General William Allen, a brave and distinguished revolutionary officer, and the nephew, by his mother's side, of his Excellency William Jones, the present Governour of Rhode-Island. In the very morning of life, when the bias of his mind first began to develope itself, he evinced that ardour for distinction, that devotedness to virtuous fame, which has, in the event, covered him with glory and a pall. It was the anxious wish of his friends that he should devote himself to the arts of peace. His venerable parent had intimately known the hardships, the dangers and the horrors of a military life; and though he had unmoved dared them all in his own person, he shrunk from encountering them again in the person of his son. But the spirit which distinguished the father had descended to the child, and remonstrance was unavailing to extinguish the fire of emulation in his breast. Connected with this ardour for fame, was a romantick inclination to visit foreign lands, and learn the varieties of men and manners: and that both might be gratified at once, he selected the navy for his profession, and in May, 1800, entered the service of his country as midshipman. In the month of August following, he was ordered on board the frigate George Washington, which shortly after sailed, under

the command of captain Bainbridge, for Algiers, bearing presents to the reigning Dey. The following extract from a letter, written to his father just before sailing, shews the high sense of duty which then animated him, and gives an early instance of that determined resolution, which has marked every transaction of his short and interesting life. "I now bid you a short adieu; but should it be the last, you shall have the satisfaction to hear of my good conduct in my station, as an officer and as a gentleman." Under the instruction of his excellent commander, Allen rapidly progressed in the acquirement of naval tacticks, and obtained so high a rank in the esteem of his officers and the confidence of the government, that when on his return in 1801, a reduction of the navy took place, by which many officers were discharged from active duty, so highly were his services appre ciated, that he was on shore but eight days before he received orders to repair on board the Philadelphia, then bound on a cruise to the Mediterranean, under the command of captain Baron. Actuated by that devotion to his country's wishes, which should characterize every officer in her service, he exchanged a basty farewell with his friends, and cheerfully obeyed the mandate, which so unexpectedly separated him from their tender. ness, and devoted him to the labour and peril of a lengthy and hazardous voyage. From Algiers they were ordered by the Dey to Constantinople. No incidents marked this cruise which fling any light on the character of Allen. Complete subordination to superior officers, and the strictest attention to all the duties of their station, were the characteristicks of every officer in the Tripolitan service. They were all emulous of distinction, all jealous for the honour of their flag, and all devoted to their country's service. Among such men the principles of honour and of humanity, would be fostered, as well as the sterner virtues of courage and fortitude. The Mediterranean has been with justice styled the school of our naval officers. It was there, by obeying, they learned to command-it was there they first encountered danger-it was there that they pledged themselves to each other, and to their country, to ennoble the navy of the United States by conquest or by death.

In June, 1802, the anxiety of Allen to visit his native place and enjoy a short repose in the bosom of his family, and in the society of his numerous friends, (second only to his anxiety to defend the honour and to fight the battles of his country,) was gratified by the return of the Philadelphia to the United States. It was not until the October of the same year, that he was again ordered into service, when he joined the frigate John Adams, under the command of captain Rodgers, and for the third time visited the shores of the Mediterranean. While absent on this voyage, an unfounded report that a younger officer had been promoted before him, was communicated to him by one of his correspondents. He replies, "I am too well grounded in old principles, to mind such assaults now. If the government decide thus, I can say amen, with all my heart." A very uncommon instance of subordination and manly resignation in a boy of seventeen. We take the following extract from a letter written by him about this time.

"During our stay at Malta we had an opportunity of visiting most of the publick buildings; and amongst the rest, the superb church of St. John. The floor is laid in different coloured marble, in Mosaic, representing tomb-stones of the different knights who distinguished themselves in fighting and in falling in defence of Christianity, against the infidels. On every side there is a Latin inscription, describing his death. The walls are hung with the most superbly embroidered tapestry, representing the birth, crucifixion and ascension of our Saviour. The deaths of the saints are likewise represented in the same manner, and they appear like the most beautiful paintings. The wings are divided into chapels; and here they show us crosses and Saints in abundance, and the rich attire of the bishops and clergy, embroidered with gold. In an inner chapel we were shown a number of relicks, one of which they declared was a fragment of the cross on which our Saviour was crucified; another was the palm of the hand of St. John. The body of St. Clement was exposed, lying in state. This was a room that the French soldiers did not penetrate: it is said that they robbed this church of half a inillion."

Soon after his return from this cruise, he was appointed a sailing master of the Congress, and once more sailed for the Mediterranean. On the outward voyage, his life was wonderfully preserved when in the most imminent danger. While lying too in a violent gale and drifting fast, he was, while assisting in handing a sail, precipitated from the fore yard, into the sea, falling very near the anchor on the bows. Inevitable death must now have been his fate, as no assistance could be rendered him from on board, had he not arose directly by the mizen chains, on which he fortunately caught hold, and thus regained the ship. As a proof in how great a degree he possessed the confidence of his superiors, and how great reliance was reposed on his coolness and intrepidity, let it be observed, that when Rodgers, contemplating an attack on Tripoli, wished to take the soundings of the harbour, he selected Allen to accompany him in the hazardous expedition. They entered the harbour with muffled ours, and having completed the objects designed, in the midst of extreme danger, being some time in a situation where they distinctly heard the conversations on board the Tripolitan gunboats, and the watch word from the centinels on the battery; they returned in a tremendous gale to the Nautilus, at the very moment when she was leaving her position.

Thus did a protecting Providence evidently watch over the safety of Allen, until the measure of his glory was full. Thus was he preserved from danger almost inevitable, that he might die, covered with glory, in the battles of his country, and leave behind him, an imperishable fame.

In this voyage he had an opportunity of observing one of the many fanatical ceremonies of the Portuguese Catholics. We give the account of it in his own words.

"I was, while at Lisbon, witness to a very ludicrous ceremony. My ears were saluted by the hoarse chanting of some Portuguese sailors and I perceived about twenty in number approaching, bearing a large topsail, barefoot, with their hats in their hands, into which the multitude would now and then drop a sixpence, to save their souls from purgatory. On inquiry, I was informed, that it was a custom amongst them, when overtak

en by a violent gale at sea, instead of trusting to their own exertions, to offer up their prayers to their guardian saint, and to promise him the best sail in the ship if he would condescend to protect them from the dangers of the element. The top-sail was then taken to the church in the manner described, laid at the foot of the altar, and dedicated to the saint., It was then appraised by an old friar, who, unwilling to distress the votaries of old mother Church, accepted, as an equivalent, in money, one half of its nominal value. The saint has, by this time, become perfectly well acquainted with the value of sailcloth."

In October, 1805, Mr. Allen was promoted to a lieutenancy, and ordered to repair on board the Constitution, under the command of captain Rodgers. During the following cruise he availed himself of the opportunities offered him by his com. mander, for visiting the mountains Etna and Vesuvius, (the former of which, in company with captain Rodgers, he ascended) and the ancient cities, Herculaneum and Pompeia.

At this period the American navy had acquired no distin- . guishing character. Wherever it had appeared it had commanded respect, from the good order and correct discipline, prevailing on board the ships, and from the honourable conduct, and gentlemanly carriage of its officers; but opportunities to render its name illustrious and terrible had been wanting. Our valour on the ocean was not disputed, but it had never been shown to the world. Now a circumstance took place, which seemed to put all our pretensions to naval glory in question. The disgraceful encounter, between the Chesapeake and the Leopard, would not be to this day forgotten, or remembered without feelings of wounded pride and national mortification, had not our brave tars since washed out the invidious recollection with their blood. Mr. Allen was at this time the third lieutenant on board the Chesapeake. The following is his account of the ac

tion.

"On Monday, June 22d we weighed anchor and stood to sea The Chesapeake had, on this day, twenty-eight eighteen pounders mounted on the gundeck, twelve thirty-two pound carronades on the quarterdeck, and had, fitted for these guns, three