Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 01.djvu/352

 but which seemed inconsistent with the general impression of him. These things being alone dwelt upon by the reviews caused the public to remain unacquainted with the many noble and generous thoughts and fine criticisms of Coleridge, which Allsop alone has recorded. It is impossible to read the poet's letters and be insensible to the personal value he set upon Allsop's companionship. Mrs. Allsop, who had great charms of manner and mind, as Coleridge's letters to her show, made her home so attractive to her husband's eminent associates, that it was a favourite resort also of Lamb, Hazlitt, Barry Cornwall, and others of similar mark. The letters of Lamb, no less than those of Coleridge, and the remarks of Talfourd in his ‘Memorials of Lamb,’ testify to a personal estimation of Allsop different from and much higher than that which a man entertains for a mere host, however generous. Allsop's power of seeing forward in public affairs, as well as in things intellectual, was shown in his ‘Budget of Two Taxes only,’ addressed to the then chancellor of the exchequer in 1848. His last work was ‘California and its Gold Mines’ in 1852–3—mines which he during two years personally explored. The book consists of letters addressed to his son Robert, after the manner of his friend Cobbett's letters to his son James. While Allsop's letters display remarkable practical judgment, similar to that of Cobbett on the subject of which he wrote, there is a brightness and vivacity of philosophic reflection in them without parallel in commercial reports. The expression of Allsop's admiration was always a gift which he had the art of making with that rare grace which imparted to the receiver the impression that it was he who conferred the favour by accepting it. And this was true, as Allsop regarded himself as personally indebted to all who, by sacrifice and persistence, made the world wiser and happier, and it was to him of the nature of a duty to acknowledge it by more than mere words. It was this alone that enabled Coleridge and Lamb to accept what Talfourd describes as Allsop's ‘helpful friendship.’ Besides men like Lamb or Robert Owen, who would remain weeks at will, the chief men of thought and action of his day, at home and abroad, were received at his house. He shared the personal friendship of men as dissimilar as Cobbett, Mazzini, and the Emperor of Brazil, who, after a pilgrimage to the grave of Coleridge, sent to Allsop a costly silver urn inscribed with words of personal regard. When Feargus O'Connor was elected member for Nottingham, Allsop gave him his property qualification, then necessary by law, that Chartism might be represented in parliament. Seeing the culpable insensibility of the state to the condition of the people, he, when on a grand jury about 1836, startled London by informing the commissioners at the Old Bailey that he should think it unjust ‘to convict for offences having their origin in misgovernment,’ since society had made the crime. He despaired of amelioration from the influence of the clergy, and, when needing a house in the country, stated in an advertisement that preference would be given to one situated where no church or clergyman was to be found within five miles. Deploring the subjugation of France under the late emperor, he, like Landor, entertained and showed sympathy for Orsini. On the trial of Dr. Bernard for being concerned in what was called the ‘attempt of Orsini,’ it transpired that the shells employed were ordered by Allsop in Birmingham; but as he used no concealment of any kind and gave his name and address openly, it did not appear that he had any other Knowledge than that the shells were intended as an improvement in a weapon of military warfare. The government offered a reward of 500l. for his apprehension, when Mr. G. J. Holyoake and Dr. Langley had an interview with the home secretary, and brought an offer from Mr. Allsop to immediately surrender himself if the reward was paid to them to be applied for the necessary expenses of his defence, as he did not at all object to be tried, but objected to be put to expense without just reason. The reward was withdrawn, and Allsop returned to England. By reason of his friendships, his social position, and his boldness, he was one of the unseen forces of revolution in his day, and his sentiments are instructive. He despised those who willed the end and were so weak as not to will the means; he regarded those as, in a sense, criminal, who willed an end, ignorant of what the means were which alone could compass it. His favourite ideal was the man who was ‘thorough’—who saw the end he aimed at, and who knew the means and meant their employment. He had a perfect scorn for propitiation when a wrong had to be arrested. Without expecting much from violence, he thought it ought to be tried when there was no other remedy. On the night before the famous 10th of April 1848, he, being the most trusted adviser of Feargus O'Connor, wrote to him as follows from the Bull and Mouth hotel, St. Martin's-le-Grand, London: ‘Nothing rashly. The government must be met with calm and firm defiance. Violence may be overcome with violence, but a resolute determination not to submit cannot be overcome. To remain in front,