[ William Allen, Quaker scientist and philanthropist. ] Letter of recommendation, with autograph signature, written 'To my dear Friends on the Continent of Europe', regarding religious work by Joseph John Gurney of Norwich and his wife Eliza.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with a 2.5 cm closed tear and slight loss at one edge causing damage to one word of text. The text is neatly written out in another hand over 14 lines. Allen's signature and other details in his hand are at the end: 'Wm. Allen | Stoke Newington near London | the 11th. of the 4th month (April) 1843'. Headed 'To my dear Friends on the Continent of Europe to whom these lines may come'. Written a few months before Allen's death, the document reads: 'My beloved Friends Joseph John Gurney of Norwich, and Eliza his wife, having felt it their religious duty to abandon for a season the comforts of home in order to visit, and as they may be nabled, to encourage and strengthen their fellow believers in Christ Jesus our Lord, in the prosecution of his work and service on the earth, I affectionately recommend them, together with their companion in the work my intimate friend John Forster, who devotes himself to render them every assistance in his power, to the kind notice and care of all those to whom the Saviour is precious.'