The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-10-21 00:00:00

PRICES OP CORN.

Weekly Return of the Average Price or British Cora,
Winchester kle.istire, x. reecivril from the lusywrinr. in
the irsprctive Maritime Cities gull Tuviis• ro Eugisuil and
Wales, (rum which the Price. that ruerra Impartation
arc calrulated.—Outuber 12, 11322.

4 11
C.
. 4. 1 •. d. 1. IC R. R. N. I. d.
39 5 1 2d I 1$ 7, 20 4 25 0 25

Every Visitor to Fruitla must have returned.
with 1:w• moat eager pleasure, to a minute stew of
Edewra In.'s Gallery. It is importable to imagine
tut •partrnent poosnoing snore of the grace and rich.
onto of splendid architecture, or more somptootioly
admired with every ornament that can give dellght
to a cabernet' truer. The room is illuminated by
'oven lofty windows on the western side, whose top
compartments are of brilliant painted glom. The
draperies are of scarlet and purple, and being ge-
nerally closed, they shed the richest light aver the
Eorgeons.iess of the gallery. and harmonise in one
bAlialit vitw the splendid objects winch meet the
.r.exi every side. . •
The roof is of carved ask, and the frieze of the
pUery is hung with seventy-tam achievements.
painted with the most exquisite minuteness. The
chimney-piece on the eastern side is an arch of Ma-
haotyr„ supported by columns, with vine-leaf capi-
tals of delicate sculpture. Above the fire-place I.
• whole-length portrait of King Edward I I 1.. copied
with great correctness and effect by Mr. Matthew
Wyatt, from the celebrated picture in the Chapter.
roam of St. George's, Windaor. On either side are
very highly...finished portraits of John of Moinford,
Duke of Brittany, the Constable Montinorenci,
livery VII., Edward IV., and Alfoi.so, King of
Naples.

The eastern side contsins six recesses, correspond-
ing with the opposite windows. These ere filled
with a part of Mr. Beckford's valuable library. It
'nay be proper Isere to mention that Si. Michael's
Gallery, and the adjoining Yellow Hoene, are also
the depositorire, of these literary treasures. The
books are out enclosed with glass, hut their ►e-
movsl by the visitors is eery judiciously prevented
by a piece of brans wire loorptudinolly crossing
each shelL, It was explained to us that Ibis pre-
c•utiso was adopted tu coosetpaeoce of the hyper
pornon of the volumes cootsioiag the most remask-
able proofs of M►. 13.ckford's nodosity. He is an
indefatigable reader, and newer studies without in-
terspersing every book with his own olmervatiosu
From a cursory iiisnection of the splendid exterior
of these volumes. we should consider that-few p►t?
rate libraries approach to the rarity aid costliness
of this collection.

Between the recesses of Edward lll.'s Gallery, in
which the hooks are cohlansed, are placed ail oak
cabinet.. There are of modern workmanship, sod
their rich carving at once displays the taste of their.
design, and the delicacy of their execution. •-Tlsey
are surmounted by some very remarkable speciosows
of Oriental vase.. It may he generally ohseried of
this species of ornament, in which Foothill is so
rich, that the rarity and elegance of the porcelain is
be many coon excelled by the singular beauty of
the swonotings. There displry the utmost skill of
the artist by whom they were modelled, whilst they
add a richness mid finish to the vases, which at once
proclaims the taste of their possessor.
_ _

The middle of this apartment presents a feast for
an almost inexhaustible curiosity. A number of
tables. stands, and cabinets, are here arranged,
crowded with the most rare and attractive objects.
The eye is first charmed by the magnificence of a
table of very large dimensions, whose top is formed
of variegated marbles and precious stones disposed
with the most symmetrical beauty. This was for-
merly in the Borghese Palace. There are several
other tables of ebony. and some toilette tables,
whose burnished surfaces spew like solid gold.
Upon these are placed many of the gems of art which
Mr. Beckford has collected daring an industrious
life. Here are drinking• cup,. carved in ivory by
the great artists of Rome and Florence ; Nautilus
shells, mosated upon the richest stands, and beau-
tifully engraved with mythological subjects ; cups
of rock crystal and agate ; gold-japan basins soil
coffers ; sod a bottle of sea.green china, the ear-
liest known specimen of porcelain introduced into
Europe. We of course can only glance at the most
remarkable of these rarities. They afford to the
artist and connoisseur objects full of interest and in-
struction. We may be here allowed to express
oar satisfaction that the flout disposal of the Ab-
bey. with all its appurtenances, in nit individual
of immense fortune, will prevent their dispersion.
Two ur three of them are enough to i,ive.value to
any collection ; the possession of the whole. we
think, imposes upon the gentleman, who has had
the good fortune to secure them, the obligation to
render them subservient to the progress of the arts
in this country.
Folding doors of plate glass divide King Ed-
ward's Gallery from the Octagon on one side, and
from the Vaulted Gallery on the other. This last-
mentioned apartment wawa a. singular sod hat.
moutons contrast to the splendour of that we have
just quitted. It is without esterual windows but
a glimmering light is received through six perfo-
rated bronzed doors, modelled after those in Henry
the SClll[llOl% Chapel. in Wemaaagrer Abbey.—
This glittery is watuseotad.wilh oak. and ribbed with
deep moulding., partly gill, and partly coloured.
The sculptured 'nese is hung with 36 achieve-
ments.

We ascend one step to the Orators>. It is diffi-
cult to conceive, that so epleudid an alra►tment cats
br intruded for the purposes of devotion. Ir 11
fiorined of five rides of an octagon. The ceiling is
loesutiftolly grouted and gilt; and its 'hope is
th.t.rmined by the elaborate fan-work springtog
From the coition's of each compsrtmeut. A laucet
window 011 each side, of the most elegant ;motor-
nun. adroit. the light through. painted gloss. The
place of the slier Is ill pfregUi 11110CCepled; but
under each window is a coffer of cedar. whose es.
tenor is coveled with the richest burnished gold.
We retr.ce our steps through these splendid
spartrnruts, and passing thorough the Octagon to
the southern mill, enter St. Mochael's Gallery. The
visitor will be fist •+ruck with the richness of the
vaulted ceiling. Its gripersl arrangement is very like
that of St. Geurge's Chapel at Wolidsor, but as the
work is smeller, it is also much richer. At the south-
ern extremity of tlor Gsllery is au oriel window of

the finest platr-glww. Nothing can be mute tre.oui
fel than thb flaw which it Wei.. The eye, saintord
with the brilliant colodring of the iottirion. ragged
with delight neer thlo npluoilie grade. and rests upon
the meat hill. which hound she diatomite: The
bpper Isart of this Kluth oisel is of ainintd.glperi
repteventing foot of the fathers of the Ostrich.
Ti* tate est•teret te:ittlows are mild titweihroted ti.lo sit
stained gloat by Egiaton. 'rite welteru aide OW
contain* five Gothic whitlows hong anth 'scarlet Oa-
lorries, which produce the sante heltultfol effeci of
light so in King thrones Gallery. 'tibia apart-
ascot contnitta several cabinet* tilled mils atlielea
of verti.

hissing to the west of the beibliag by *flair of
glass folding-doors, we, enter the Yellow isap.
These twoiaportinetstil see so called hone the pito.
&mask with shed) dreg are her* They have it
greater appeararsee 6f doniestic Consfoot ikan soy
through which we have wandered; their ornaosonter
bring confi.ird to the spiendid library, mud two ur
three cahiint. of recent-tit vitirkestr.hip. One of
these iterhap.. as great v curiosity as any which
Fouth.ll contain.. It is of, cari,ed prier-tree, of the
time of Henry 'Mt., and is and to be from a de-'
sign of Hulbein.
Tu the north of the Irellow.HoMns, in one of the
octagon towers, is a small Cabinet room, mast ex-
quisitely linidird, and filled with respiultible sr;
amens of antique jewellery.
Their is nothing very singular in the brown par.
lour below these roan*, except the miasma tusgui
ficesice of the plate glass of the windows.
The bustle and ausiely which this rentarksble
hibition created have now entirely crested ; and it is
probable that the Abbey may still be destined
to administer delight to the solitary pride of ow•
bounded wealth. As the creation of woe mower-
genies, this edifice and its satirOluuling scenery
may be considered among the most remarkable
objects in England. They have grown, a werei.
diet of a desert, by the nsaguificerion and taste of
one masa. Whatever be his eccentricities, it is wt..
deniable that, whde he has gratified his owls lore
or splendour, be has largely administered -to the
happiness of his numerous dependauts. Hu taste
has famished active employ to un immense number
of artisans ; his riches have enabled him to he the
most kind nod con.iderste landlord to a I trice
tenantry ; and his singular benevolence Isaa Ott -
ritited not only the poor of his, immense domain,
bat hes extended itself towards every living"
errata'. who there sought a shelter, for it is a
remarkable fact, that Mr. llrckfurd never suffered
a quadruped or a bird to be disturbed in his pion..
Cations, trod that the very dogs which constantly fol.
Wised him were so trained to obey their master's
'humanity. that a hare might cross their path weds:
out fear of molestation.

INtLAND.