Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-17


our great Pope selected il as the groundwork
Of a poem that can only be forgotten when all
that is exquisite in poetry shall cease to charm,
and taste and feeling shall be no more. The
present model is most ingeniously executed IN
glass. and presents very elegant specimen OF
the extraordinary perfection to which that
branch of art has been brought. It's size, IN pro-
portion TO the original, when IS so 'ee' III
height, is one-fourth The principal parts o!
the base, the tomb, and the ROOF, resemble DARK
bluesh marble, except SO far as glass is more
glossy than that material. The columns, or
namen1s, and edges OF the base, &c are tormcd
Of white spun glass, carious!v ihiaia; ana the
statues on the lid OF the tomb as well as the Il
cures in bas relief Ga the upper part oil the mo-
nument, are executed in alabasier: which I'M
parts to it the effect of closer resemblance 10
the original Monsieur Gibson. the artist, has
also some other specimens Of glass-work, which
| is sufficiently curious. particularly framed
cipher of George the Fourth, intended by NJ.
| Gibson as present to His Majesty; but oil
course the principal Of attraction in his exhibit
ton, is the monument OF that pair whose pas
sion not only survived "the living death OF
the cloister, but if the mirac ulous historian OF
| Tours is to be credited, triumphed over the ex-
tnction of natural life; for, according to him,
| upon the interment Of Eloise in the same grave
with her lover, who had died one-and-twenty
years before, he extended his arms ana clasped
her closely to his cold breast The writer o.
mitted 10 mention, however, whether the EN-
brace was momentary or permanent; so that IL
| would be venturesome to say whether, upon
opening the grave at this day, we might not
find, still in,erlocked in each others arms, the
| amorous skeletons of the pious founders oil the
Paraclete.
FONTHlLL ABBEY.
We cannot but regret having 10 announce
the demolition, in great part, OF that most
magnificent fabric, Fonthill Abbey; which has
been so universally and deservedy admired
On "Wednesday afternoon, about half past three
o'clock, the tower, which rose to the height Of
go feet from the centre of the building, fell
with tremendous crash, breaking through
great portion of the roof Of the Abbey, and in
| simultaneously presenting an immense mass OF
ruins. Most fortunately no lives were lost.
The tower, it appears, was OF too slight con-
struc ton; and from certain indications, its tall
had been expected for several days previous to
its actual occurrence 1t inclined, in its de-
scent, little to the southwest, and Tell into
the fountain court, destroying the hall, the
whole of the octagon, and great part OF the
galleries, north and south, together with the
first crimson room, leaving the grand entrance
standing with the organ in it, and the statute
of the late AID. Beckford in its niche. Mr..
Farquhar was in the large east wing OF the
building, at the time of the disaster, and 1t is
said he was not much alarmed, as he had expect
ed il; seven servants were also al the time en-
gagged, by his orders, in taking out the painted
windows of St. Michaers Gallery, and they all
ESCAPED unhurt. One servant boy, however
was considerably injured. great quantity OF
plate is still buried in the ruins.
Salisbury Journal.
On Wednesday afternoon, the inhabitants of
FonthilI Abbey were alarmed by most ire
mendous crash, which seemed like nothing
more nor less than the sudden crushing into
ruins of the whole building. Their terror was,
however, soon abated by finding that the lofty
tower had fallen, and burst through that part
OF the building which nearly adjoined it, with
out occasionHg any personal injury whatever.
1t appears, that the proprietor, Mr.. Farquhar,
had strong apprehensions otthis lamentable oc-
currence, and had removed most of the costly
embellishments, to secure them from the I'M
pending danger The cause OF this event is
not attributable to any fault Of the architect,
but to the instability of the materials. 1t not
being at first designed to be raised to any thing
near its height; the architect had, of course, fix
ed the foundation proportionateIy; and when ii
was proposed to raise it to its remarkable ele-
walton, the building was 100 far advanced to
allow Of any adoption to render the foundation
sufficiently strong TO support it; and, in order
to meet the wishes of the then proprietor, VIM.
Beckford Esq. in raising it to its noble and
commanding height and thereby add SO great
ly to the magnihcence Of the whole, the archi-
tect was obliged to use wood in its erection,
But alas! this was not Of that quality to rem
der so beautiful structure a lasting monu-
ment Of the taste of its designer; and as dis
play Of architectural excellence, an honour to
the country. bath Journal, Lee 26.
The lofty octagonal Tower; which formed so
prominen, feature in that magnificent and
farlamed structure Fonthill- Abbey, fell down
on Wednesday night with tremendous crash,
the foundation having suddenly given way. |
The tower was 276 feet high, from the floor 10
the top of the pinnacles. Had it fallen on the
roof Of the Abbey, its effects would have been
much more serious, and perhaps have caused
a loss of human life; but happily it fell outwards
and thus averted SO dreadful calamity.
Exeter Gaz.