Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

From the WESTERN STAR.

Democratic Biography

Few individuals have been more the subject of general conversation for some time past, than Gen. IRA ALLEN, of Vermont.—By his late letter to his friend in Fairhaven, it appears, that the principal officers in this nation have transmitted such vouchers and information, as will save that gentleman from the capital punishment which was expected about the time that M'Lean was executed in Canada.

Gen. Allen was born in Salisbury, in Connecticut, and removed not long before the late war into Vermont, where he had a large share in effecting the independence of that State from the State of New-York His lot was to become the chief agent in the land-office, he thereby procured large patents and grants to himself. Vermont neglected to make restitution to those who were deprived of their honest claims under the New-York title, and the people of Vermont obtained a quitclaim of all further title and jurisdiction, for thirty thousand dollars. The lands and public money thus engrossed and expended, left Gen. Allen with the largest estate in Vermont, and some say the largest in New-England.

In his attempts to build furnaces and mills, and make improvements on his estates, he became involved in debt, first in Quebec, and then in New-York. He was pursued in both places by his creditors, and made in vain effort to rescue himself by mortgaging his property. Lands he would not sell because they were rising in value; taxes were levied upon them, but he found expedients not to alienate any.

In this distress he embarked for England, having previously sent out a nephew to negotiate a credit. He procured a small quantity of goods, which arrived with his nephew at Boon; but the young man took them to his own use in reward for his services to his uncle.—A second quantity were shipped to New-York, but wanted some merchants in Gen. Allen's behalf: Having money to pay the impost, his agent intrusted these paid the public debenture, and then attached the merchandize for the debts due to themselves. In this dilemma he retreated to the French Directory—his party in Vermont were ready for war with Canada, and wanted arms; these Gen. Allen procured, with artillery, tents, camp kettles, &c. &c. The military feathers were shipped into Boston, by Mr. John A. Graham The General and one of the aides-de-camp of Gov. Chittenden were in London together. The latter wrote and printed upon vellum paper, an History of Vermont, in a series of letters to the Earl of Monross, a branch or head of the Graham family. In that volume attempts are made to exculpate Gen. Allen from treasonable designs against the government of Great Britain. Mr. Graham also mentioned Gen. Allen as the brother of the late Gen. Ethan Allen, whose prowess and insidiousness were so well known in the States, Canada and England, Gen. Ira Allen was offended with this information of Mr. Graham, being well aware it would do him no good.

Some time previous to the departure of Gen. Allen, he presented a petition to the Legislature of Vermont, for certain lands reserved for propagating the gospel, for the use of a college which he was patronizing in Burlington, near his own dwelling, in the neighborhood of Lake Champlain. He was defeated in his wishes, but his movements ended in a seizure of the glebes belonging to the Episcopal Church. Democracy. Genet's friends and agents had spread French politics, infidelity and avarice too far for the claims of religion or justice to be heard.

Part of the lands were in possession of the society in London, who had not alienated them Gen. Allen and Mr. Graham hoped to have obtained the agency and superintendence of that property; but information had long before been transmitted to England, and the British minister in the States, which put those concerned upon their guard

Great distress had been given to those who had settled in certain townships in which Gen Allen was interested, because he neglected to resign the property devoted to religious uses, into proper hands, that religious and other important institutions might be obtained as early as possible.

Gen, Allen thus engrossed large grants from the states to himself, and the lands of the church but in addition to this he had in his possession the property of the heirs of two of his brothers.

All this immense property is now involved in almost inextricable difficulties, by his great graspings, by his disappointments, and by his absence His is dismissed from all places of honor and profit, and his property is conveying into other hands.

Such is the short history of a DEMOCRAT— and such is the history of many others. Gen. Allen's leading trait is low cunning, a secret conducting of his business, and an artful endeavour to draw others into his measures by all apparent indifference as to the issue, or disposition to further the favorite wish of his neighbour.

He introduced himself to the late Bishop elect of Vermont, who is in London. The College in Vermont was a darling object with Gen. Allen, and he therefore flattered Bishop Peters with the idea of making him President—a measure which was not practicable, as that gentleman's zeal and opinions were not acceptable to Calvinists, Deists or Democrats.

The solicitous public are now waiting to hear further intelligence from the General. All humane men shudder at the idea of a halter, and many honest men will rejoice if Gen. Allen's liberation puts an end to his wiles career in future. Should the French Directory have no opportunity to reclaim their property, purchasers in England, or the merchants in Quebeck, may obtain the arms, artillery, tents and kettles.