Litchfield enquirer., 1856-09-11

] gentleman's house or public building of any description could be commenced in Bath with ont a supply of stone from Mfr. Allen, as tue
 Bath postboy was now deseryedly called. Mrs. Allen had long given up washing, and gone to reside in a neat cottage which her son built out of the first produce of his quarry :
 aud many of her former employers saluted the good woman as she passed to St. Mary's church in her black sarsanet sac, high-hceled shoes, and velvet hood, like respectable old
 lady Of the period. About this time the works Of the celebrated Dr. Warburton were attracting public attention, and much talked of In the best society of Bath. Ralph Allen brought the latest published volume home one day, and found his mother seated in the small parIor with his old friend Mir. Leathcm, who was about to retire from public business, and had called to see him. "What books do you buy, Ralph ?" said the old woman, who had al- ways suspicion of her sons extrayagance on this point and she pointed to a large book case, where Dryden, TIllotson, and all the best authors of the preceding age might be seen in their works, closely ranged together "It was only last week." continued the good dame, that you brought home sthat book about Fame, written by MT. Popep
 " And don't you know, mother, who is the writer of this volume p said Ralph. "Don't you remember Mir. Warburtoa, the parsoa of our own Greasely in Nottinghamshire, who gave me the certificate which presented to you, Mr. Leatham, ten years ago, when wished to be postboy to Marlborough ?'
 This was true the vicar of Greasly became the celebrated Dr. Warburton, afterward Bisll- op Gloucester and it was said, Mr. Leath- am's family kept that certificate like sort of relic
 Ralph Aliens making his fortune" was the usual remark of everybody about the Bath when the quarry was mentioned :; and it had now grown an important matter, as the whole property of Coome Down, which so many far mers had called dead loss, was found to be onc vast bed of the best building stone
 Ralph was making money fast, and his de posits in the bank increased every year but his aims did not end there-thc experience of his former situation in the Post office was at length employed to some purpose. Sundry usc- tul arrangements and inventions had long ago made his Hame and abilities known to the au- thorities of that Department At the period of our story, the Post office. in almost every County was framed by some wcalthy or elftcsrf- prising person, who took its whole revenue and expenses in his own hands, paying to the Coy ernment certain sum annually, according to his contract. Ralph. who had acquired a con siderable acquaintance with the details of busi- ness, and had, beside, thu good opinion of the most influential functionaries, proposed to vest the small fortune already gained by the Coome Down quarry in Post office contract for all England and his proposal was accepted From this period the career of Ralph Allen was one of uninterrupted prosperity. Under his administration, the Post office revenue even in that age of comparatively little letter writ ing, was almost doubled in few years, owing to the better arrangements introduced by him in the transmission of mails, and various post- age regulations which have made his name celebrated as one of the few who have confer red benefits of lasting kind on their native country. But Ralph Allen was destined to be- come, if possible still niore honorably known to fame. From his earliest youth he had cuItiva- ted his mind, as we'll as improved his fortune l; as without the former eEdeavor, the latter would have been but half success, though wealth had been gathered like the sand. His Post of flee contract iu a short time realized such an income as made tho proprietor one of the richest men iu the neighborhood of Bath
 Mrs. Allen had lived to see her sons prudent conduct aud perseverance, rewarded to an cx- tent of which she had never dreamed and the good dame closed her days in peace and com.,rt in the pleasant cottage ut Coome Down, having nothing to regret, and no annoy ance, but slladowy fear, which at times slight ly agtated the calm current of her latter-day thoughts, that Ralph was buying too many books But hayiug gained the summit of his early ambition-a well and honoraby won for tune-hc determined to enjoy it agreeably to his refined taste in the munificcnt encouragr- ment of arts and literature He had acquired general respect as well as riches and as his fortune raised him gradually in the scale of so- ciety, had won the esteem, and formed the ac> quaintance of men celebrated for their talents. aud still famous through their works. Pope, Fielding. Swift, and Goldsmith were among the number of his friends and the titled and fash ionable paid . natural tribute to merit and sue cess, by including Mir. Allen in their most se- lect society.
 The country round Bath is one of the finest districts in England. being diversified with beautiful wood-crowned hills and broad green meadows. One property, in particular, popu- larly called Prior Park, had long attracted Ralph Aliens eye from the barren slopes of Coome Down, and there, he often said, he should wish, if fortune permitted him, to build mansion worthy of the scene. This project was at last put in execution. 4ke possessor of the estate ruined his affairs by carelessness and extravagance in Loadon it was, in con scnuenro offered for e To and Ralnh A lIon E,,,