The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-09-18 00:00:00

4' •

C.
I ifq *

.et• boo (..--$14•41) aiIeI44IIIICRSV

F.N P"

OftD-

-~...-. .

• .
• • .. • (rem was aotatna.).. • , • .
• The oriental magnificence and enchantments of Foothill-
Abbey have been the theme of public conversation (*Lame
months past ; yet we are told the possessor .of the
splendid treasure left. it alinest without • . pang..
—His first restalution was to build a cottegt •
lower down in the demesnes near the line esoed, eat,
let the Abbey:ter:oo ruin. "1 can live here." he salclo'l4,,
woodman. !' In epettee.and retirement for four thousand n•
year—sCrhy should I tenant that structure with a retinae that,
cosy me near thirty ti.orteand 7..." Subsequently. however,
he resolved to part with the entire. and aunonneed his in-•
tention without a " It has cost me." sold he (easing'
at it)," *with what it contains, near a million. Yet rhottfkl
leave it, and 1, can do so at once: Public. sarprierwitt hes,
created, hat that J. am prepared for. Beektottle ch.), nrUt
sq, lies squandeved Ma lefffortane : to me It is smatter
of perfect Indifference." He gave stit tallness fOr all the at-
rancements for visitors to view the Abbey yith the grated
ealincess, and closed with Mr. -Phillips on the part of Mr.
Farquhar for the purchase almost at once; the stioalatert
amount. was 300,0001, out of which about 12.0001. were
subsequently deducted for books, and a few pietures, se-
lected by Mr. Beckford. For this Mr. Farquhar received'
possession of the Abbey. with its treasures, of the splendid'
demesne, including 1,900 acres, and of about 300,000 acres.
around it beside, with Mr. Beeklord's interest in the ad
joining borough of !Thlon, for which Mr. Floater, who
had a large montage on Foothill, lately sate as hit Mewl
her. Mr, Beckford, it is generally supposed. possessee
little now beyond the remnant of eta' he acquired by the
sale of Fonthill. His once megniti..ent income tallea
to almost nothing. lie lost a large portion of ilia Wes,
India estates from defect of title, after a most CX.PengiVe
le!al contest of several years,aud was subjected to the heavy
• . of produce while ha held them. So far from de•
riving any thing from the remnant of those once proud
possessions, there was last year a lose on the expenditure.
and produce of 2031. Mr. ttrckfor.l possessed a fine ?eve,
but he *whin' little value to any thing that was not easily,
and is said to have been long the dupe of picture dealerraml
collectors, Ills Establishment, too for years. wis most 11-.
vishly expensive. t• The lazy vermin of the 11.01,—those.'"
trappings of his folly," swarmed et Fonthill. Mr. Beck-
ford never mooed but with a circle of them 'in attendance.
The; formed an apaendase of his invincible pride; there
was not a bell throuelloat the entire Ahbev ; but lie need, I
no summons to colon and attendance. ills liveried retainers
stood, in numerous succession, watchful sentinels at Ilia.
door, and at fixed periods anticip tied. their proud master's
wants. With all this expense, tew visitors were ever seen
within the Abbey gates, and his own habits were mi-t tem-
perate. The Chevalier Franchi had been his companion
for years ; lieekforel met him, we believe, is
Portugal. The Chevalier was then a married man,
and with a Emilie, b'i was induced to attend his patron
to England. His wife and children did not, however,
accompany him, or twit Portugal ',urine the many yeuri
the Chevalier remaieel ell England. He acted for several
years as comptroller of the household at Fonthill, is said'
ro he a man of very cultivated mind, and is now with Mr.
Beckford at Bath, who took front vie Ablrey 16 or Id era..
praises %shit him beside. Suon after the latterle tit at visit to
Portiteal, he became, it is Ken• rally supposed, a Citllfotte.
and a wtemt.er of the monastic 'trier of St. Anthony. The
Chevalier Franchi was also an extern associate of that er.
der, and initiated with Mr. Beckford in its tnesteries bat(
always wore the cross of the order, as a distingnishing
character, in their breasts; and, like Louis Cl. of France,
Mr. Beckford always carried about him a small silver
image of the saint. He had also in his chamber a picture
of the Anchoret, us which lie addressed his constant orison!.
Mr. Beckford fur years rose early, and re'ired as early to
rest. He read constantly during the evening; half the
books in the library bear marks of his studies; his days.
with few exceptions, were devoted to the improvements in
the building and demesne. He hail for a long time more
than four hundred persons employed at both, who were re.;
gularly paid every week. The works went ou constantly
night and day; thete have been instances of individuals
paid fur sixteen days work daring a week, including Suite
day as a double day. Mr. Beckford superintended all him
self. He stood amid torch light, urging on the growth of
the Abbey towers, and rode during the day anion„ his la-
bourers to see the plantations made.

SBAMAN'f; FRIEND SOCIETT.—The fourth Annual General
Meeting•of the British and Foreign Seaman's Ft iend Society
under time name of" the Bethel Union," was held yesterday
at the City of London Tavern. The attendenee was very
namaerous (the large room of the Tavern being entirely
filled), and was appal ntlj most respectable. 'fits majority
of the persons present was composed of females ; and those
who took the most active part in the proceedings of the day
were Dissenting Ministers. Lord Gambier was called to this
Chair, and after addressing the meeting, moved that this
Annual Report be reach -Who Report was accordingly rea I.
It stated the benefits which the seamen had already obtained
from the r ligious instreetions of the Society, and yme ad-
vantage they would derive from the cultivation of studious
habits. To complete the former object, the Society were
mieterutinmel nit to relax their exertions until every port in
England bad a Floe itmg Chapel : and to promote die lattei:,
they suerrested the formation of a Sailor's Library in the
metropolis. A string of resolutions was then proposed to.
and a mpted by, the Meeting, containing in substance a
stwement of time reasons fur the formation of the Society
which have been already alluded to in our notice of the
Report ; and calling for the assistance of the
,pu.miime. Ain
these Resolutions a number of Dissenting Ministers volte
at considerable length in support of the general objects of
the Society. Among those who proposed and eupiaorted
one of the Resolutions, was the Rev. Dr. Collyer, who wama
received with-considerable applause when he first appeareml
on the platform, and when he addressed the Meeting.
We understand that John Timothy, who was examined
on Thursday before the Magistrates at Greenwich, charged
as one of the murderers of Mr. Smith, at letwirt tm. and.
his brother, Thomas Timothy, oho were the least guilty in
the transaction, have been admitted King's evimmence;
have made a full disclosure of all the circumstances attend-
ing this atrocious transaction.—(Keatisla Gazette )
•

ALARMING FIRE AT BRZNTIORD.—Sunday oveainr,..
about seven o'clocic, the inhabitants of ST. x prentfur.i
were I:ready al 'rated by a fire breaking out in the bwise of
31r. Dwyer, chemist and drti;rgist, oppolite see church,
which burnt with unabated fury for ahowt.Wl,h.eut,„iltnd
half, by which time, although the enginteirrisie4 Immedi-
ately on the spot, the house,•ittoek, and furniture were en-
, tirely destroyed, leaving nothing but 11W baceosalia..-411•1
' tire then communicated to the adjoining hou:mi ofeupiAlky
a Mr. Canis, broker and undertaker, which was terjohify
injured. Portnnately the whole of his prorerty'efas 'sated,
through the prompt assistance of the firegnen;.:Theisboli
houses and property-have only ;been insured, wittilitt. tiktihic
few weeks eince thc I..te tirepi,tll4.c3l.oll,4ve,ipi
1. It
HOP INTELLIORNCE...XAN/lIIIIKIRT., Sept., 1.5. er4pet
Hop !Aching here will nearly eln?e this wee.k;witliicinp ar
llburt of the must moderate rileitlation.
ever, are iritrood condition, tritest, the es4uidiase severs de
its tiestrittive eppesrance.