Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/100

 of the other earthquakes which happened in considerable numbers during his long life, he made it a rule from which he never deviated, to throw himself on his knees at the first symptom of the convulsion and to repeat, leisurely, the Lord's Prayer, before he betook himself to a place of greater security.

An incident which happened during the occupation of the College by the French, was quite in keeping with this trait of his character. On one occasion at a banquet to which the French officers had invited the Superiors, a lieutenant forgetting the consideration due to the guests, rose to propose the health of the Emperor Napoleon, and called upon the Englishmen to honour the toast. This, at first, Allen declined to do, upon which the lieutenant observed, &quot;that he had not much reason to respect a country which had driven them forth to a foreign land.&quot; &quot; Let it be so,&quot;rejoined Allen, &quot;yet George the Third is our lawful King. I will drink your Emperor's health on condition that you drink George the Third s.&quot; All laughed heartily at the suggestion, there was much clapping of hands and the King's and Emperor's healths were drunk. Thus the whole passed off as a joke, which otherwise might have had serious results. The memory of this incident is perpetuated in the following verse of the College Song:

The distinguishing feature, however, of Allen's character was an unbending love of truth, which no respect of persons nor hope of advantage could ever prevent him from declaring. This he frequently carried to excess, allowing nothing either false or even doubtful which might be advanced to go uncontradicted or unchallenged. He, however, always observed the greatest good humour in his disputes, and the charm of his conversation was