In 1784 Allen published a book entitled "Reason, the Only Oracle of Man: or, A Compendious System of Natural Religion." In this book Allen endeavored to prove that the Bible was not inspired, but he declared it a necessity that a future life of rewards and punishments follow the good and evil of this life. His idea of the Deity is expressed in these words: The knowledge of the being, perfections, creation and providence of God and the immortality of our souls is the foundation of our religion. This book contained 487 pages. Fifteen hundred copies were issued, but most of them were destroyed by the burning of the printing office. Allen wrote to a friend: In this book you read my very soul, for I have not concealed my opinion. I expect that the clergy and their devotees will proclaim war with me in the name of the Lord. Sometimes Allen is too profane to be repeated, sometimes too frivolous for sacred subjects. Speaking of his prospects of being hung in England, he said: As to the world of spirits, though I know nothing of the mode or manner of it, I expected nevertheless, when I should arrive at such a world, that I should be as well treated as other gentlemen of my merit. Among the pleasant friends that Allen formed at this time was John Stark. The hero of Ticonderoga had never met the hero of Bennington. Three weeks after Allen's arrival in Bennington, Stark wrote to him proposing an interview at Albany, where he was stationed as brigadier-general in command of the northern department. He also wrote to General Gates: I should be very glad to have Colonel Ethan Allen command in the grants, as he is a very suitable man to deal with tories and such like villains. Four days later Gates wrote Stark: I now inclose two letters, one to Colonel Ethan Allen and one to Colonel Bedel ... it may not be amiss to take Colonel Allen's opinion on the subject, with whom I wish you to open a correspondence. Another pleasant episode in Allen's life was his association with St. John de Crèvecœur, who was the French consul in New York for ten years following the revolution. Sieur Crèvecœur married an American Quakeress, bought a farm which he cleared, wrote a book in English called "Letters from an American Farmer," and three volumes in French about upper Pennsylvania and New York. He wrote to Ethan Allen proposing to have the Vermont state seal engraved in silver by the king's best engravers, asked for maps of the state, suggested naming some towns after French statesmen who had befriended America. (St. Johnsbury was named for Crèvecœur.) He asked Allen for copies of his "Oracles of Reason" and also for some seeds.