American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-12-30
ANECDOTES OF Mr.. BEcKFoRD.
PROM A LONDON PAPER.


/, as few mortas ever had at their disposal. Eight
hundred thousand pounds in money he IS reported
to have possessed, besides the enormous income oil
7 l00,O00l. per annum With such wealth, the ordl-
! nary objects OF human ambition were so easily pur-
chased that him they seemed cheap and yalueess,
and his mind could only find soace in courling that
which, from its being beyond The reach OF all other
men, or nearly so, were calculated TO sslonish.
! Hence the thought of Fonthil. When Mr.. Beck
ford first consulted the late Mr. Wyatt on the sub
I lect Of building it was not such mansion as the
now view that he proposed to erect. He
wished to build a lofty tower, Ga sketch Of which
may be in the small apartment at the end
OF the vsulted library at the top oil which be propo
sed that his remains should repose after death, an
iron grating being provided 10 exclude birds from
acceleraling their decomposition. The tower was
not TO be wholly untenanted during his life. II was
occasionally TO be used a sort OF summer house,
and it was proposed TO be constructed that car
riages might ascend to the apartment which was to
occupy the place ola first floor. BY degrees, he
enlarged his plan and began act upon it but the
architect was frequently required to execute fanci-
full deviatlons and thus, eventually, the present
magnificent structure raised. Oh the impe-
tuoslty with which he urged on the workmen the
public have already been told.
Situated as Nlr. Beckford was, it perhaps is not
to be wondered at that he was in some instances
petulent and impatient. The orders which he is
sued were as peremptory, and almost as extrsord
nary, as those given by .1uaddin to the Stare ofthe
Lamp. When he required task to be performed,
it was in vain that difficulties opposed its execution.
These the contrary, excited him to pursue The
object which he had in view with increased ardor,
and his mind and his mesus such as 10 enable
him, in most cases, to triumph over obstacles which
seemed to be insuperabe.
lie wished to preserve his game but, in spite o!
his prohibition, hare or a fox was one day killed
within sight OF his residence. This he deeply re-
sented and he declared the offence should not long
be likely to be repeated. He called for his steward
ordered the map OF the grounds to be brought, and
drawing circular line, ordered stone wall TO be
erected, enclosing large portion OF the estate,
which wall was to be surmounted by palisades, the
whole 10 be finished in three months. The person
10 whom this order given remarked, that the
wall which he wished TO have built would be more
than six miles in extent. This mattered not. Mr.
Becklord was about to start for Portugal on that
day three months he meant TO return, and on his re
turn he expected to find the wall erected On civ
ing the order he took care that no pecuniary i'm
lpedlment should be urged The stone Of whio h the
wall was 10 be composed was then in the quarry,
but the work was completed by the time he had na
med and The intrusion Of The ighboiing sports
men was effectually prevented by that defence,
which is now called the barrier wall The expense
OF this, the stone being the estate, was l2000l.
The statement that there is no bell in the Abbey
is not strictly correct. Bells. however, some.
what scarce and in Mr.. Beckiords time, there was
none to those apartments which he inhabited. Mys-
eiously secluded from the world, he lived in regal
state. Attendants were constantly in waiting TO dol
his bidding, who passed the word which he deigned
to glvc from one to another with echo like raDidty
and when descending from the sublime reveries in |
which n iuDe h. Ia
tor cheese" or" fruit" cheese" or fruit " were
Voclferated by all the mental train.-Cheese or fruit
resounded through the portals halls, galleries, and
towers oil Fouthlll Abbey Though alone, or only
with his Secretary the Cheyalier Frsnchi twentyI
dishes were served up on plate Of the most costly
description; and ii is said, the slightest neglect in |
preparing one OF these was sure to meet with detec
lion Thus, surrounding himself in solitude, with
luxury and splendor, Mr.. Becklord placed himself
IN situation not unlike that OF Luke in :. Rickes'I
Could he, like Luke, excaim--" this is bliss.'
His Impotence would sometimes break out when
his tenantry broke in upon his rides They might
Poach with impunity; they might remove the dead
wood on the estate and ii occasionally young tree
was cut down, little notice was taken oil it but i'll
they came in his way, as to give him personal
annoyance, he was not slow to chasse the offender
Some curious rencontres, Of this Sort are told in the
neighborhood. Once rustic had to complain of
broken head, in consequence Of such mshap as
we have alluded to; Mr.. Beckford, however, had
hardly got home before he wished to make repara
ton, & accordingly sent money to the party who had
incurred his resentment. The man, SO runs The
tale" experienced grateful surprise at this, and
reTarked on receiving the cash, that Mr.. Beckford
should be perfectly welcome to break his head every
day on the same terms.
Bot he was sometimes believed 10 be more iras
eibe than he was in reality. Eager to see one of
his day dreams realized, he urged on the building
OF part o! The Abbey rapidly to conclusion, thai
the persons employed TO comply with his wish, for
the sake OF expedition forgot TO give their work pro
per strength. The tower, which had been hastily