Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-14
THE
FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY II. 1859.

was onlN ten wears Oh aS', "rlucdtu'o 'hh
West Indian and other property which yield
ed an income equal to half IA million dollarsa
year. Young Bedford mental powers were
good, and no pains were spared in cultiva-
ting them by a refined education. Sir Will
liam Chambers instructed him in architecture
while the great Mozart taught him music
At twenty-one, with the income of Il Prince,
and accumulations in ready money to the
amount of about a million sterling five mil
lion dollars,) he launched upon the world
The great talent of human happiness was
placed within his reach; but he threw
the golden opportunity away. Proud and
naughty, the youthful Beckford withdrew
from the active business of life, and retiring
to Portugal, there devoted himself to q life of
luxurious ease. The first outlay of his
wealth there, was III the erection of Il gorge
Gus palace.
During his residence in Portugal, he visi-
ted, under the royal sanction, some of the
wealthy and luxurious monasteries OF that
country. 1t is difficult to convey an idea Of
the pomp and splendor Of this journey,
which resembled more the cavalcade of an
eastern prince than the tour Of a private i'll
dividual.
Everything" he himself says, THAT could
be thought or dreamed of, for our conve-
nience or relaxation, was carried in our train
nothing was to be left behind but care and
SORROW.
THE ceiling of my apartment in the mon
~astery," he adds, was gilded and painted,
the floor spread with Persian carpets of the
finest texture. the tables dccked with superb
ewers and basins Of chased silver"
The kitchen in which the dinner was pre-
pared is thus described: "A stream of water
flowed through it, from which were formed
reservoirs containing every kind Of river fish.
On one side were heaped up loads of game
and v%enison: on the other side were yegeta-
bles and fruits in endless variety. Beyond
q long line of stores extended q row o%fovens,
and close to the hillocks of wheaton flour.
finer than snow, blocks of sugar, jars of the
purest oil, and pastry in various abundance
The dinner which followed these prepare
tions was served in a magnificent saloon COW
cred with pictures. and lighted up with a
profusion of wax tapers in sconces OF silver.
1.-The banquet he adds, consisted of rarl-
ties and delicacies of every season from dis
tant countries" Confectionery and fruits
awaited the party in a room still more sump-
tuous, where vessels of Goa flligree contain
ing the rarest and most fragrant spices, were
handed round. Such was Bcekford's mode
of life during this journey.
Returning at the commencement OF the
present century, to his native country, Beck
ford again abandoned himself to the selfish
endowment of his wealth. Taking Il capri
cious dislike to a splendid mansion on his cs-
tate, which had been erected by his father
at a cost of one million four hundred thous-
and dollars, he ordered it to be pulled down.
He resolved that phoenix like, there should
arise from its ruins a building which should
surpass in magnifcence all that had hitherto
been knownin English art. Fonthill Abbey,
once one o fthe wonders ofthe Vest of England
was the result of this determination. Whole
galleries of that vast pile were erected solely
for the purpose of enabling Beckford to EN-
blazon on their windows the crests of the
families from whom he boosted his descent.
The wonder of the fabric, however, was Il
tower of colossal dimensions and great height,
erected somewhat in the manner and spirit
of those who once reared II similar structure
on the plains of Shinar: $50 to, let US build
us q tower, whose top may reach unto hea-
ven: and let us make us q name
TO complete the erection of Bcckfords
tower, AGO men were employed, both night
and day, through an entire winter, the
torches used by the nocturnal workmen being
visible to the astonished travellers at miles
distant. Beckford's principal enjoyment
was watching the erection of this structure.
At nightfall he would repair to some eleva-
ted part of his grounds and there III solitude
would feast his senses for hours with the
singular spectacle presented by the dancing
of the LIGHTS, and the reflection of their glare
on the surrounding woods. The building was
indeed Beckford's idol-the object for which
he lived. He devoted the whole Of his ener-
pies to make it realize the most fascinating
visions of a vain imagination. The tower
was finally erected. but, as might have been
eypacted. the mortar and cement used had
no time to set properly, ere a violent gale OF
wind brought the vast structure to the ground.
Merely remarking that he should have been
Glad to witness the sublime fall of such a
mass of materials, he gave orders tor the
erection of another tower of 2i6 feet IN
height: but this also fell to the ground in 1888.
After the completion of the Abbey, Beck
ford's conduct was still more extraordinary.
A wall, nearly two miles in circumference
surrounded his mansion, and within TINS CIR
Gle scarcely any visitors were allowed to pass.
In sullen grandeur he dwelt alone; stunning
converse with the whole world. Majesty
itself was DESTROYS of visiting this wonderful
domain, but was refused admittance. Stran-
gers would disguise themselves as servants,
as peasants, as pedlars, in the hope ofeatchlns
u glimpse of its glories. Nor was its interior
unworthy of its curiosity. All that art and
wealth could give, to produce effect, were
there. Gold and silver vases and cups
saws one, who saw the place, ARE SO numer-
GUS here that they dazzle the eye: and when
one looks around ut the cabinets, candelabras,
and ornaments, which decorate the room, we
may almost imagine that we stand IN the
treasury of some Oriental Prince, whose
riches consist entirely in vessels of gold and
silver, enriched with precious stones OF every
sort. from the ruby to the diamond
Such was Beckford of Fonthill. With an
income of more than El00.OW per annum.
he seemed aboveth reach of adverse fortune.
Who would have ventured to have styled all
this splendor evanescent as the mirage! A
sudden depreciation of West Indian property
took place. Some lawsuits terminated I'M
favorably, embarrassments poured IN ike a