The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-02-11

TIE -HIRAGE or WEALTH.


Charge them that are rich n ibis world
that they be not figh-minded, nor trust in IN
certain riches, but in The living God, no Civ
eth us richly ell things 10 enjoy."-l TIM ii.
III.
william Becktord was barn towards the mid
! die u the eighteenth crntusy He was the
only son OF q wealthy West Indian proprietor,
! who, dying when his child was Ten wears oi
/ age, Left an income Of more than Sj00,000 a
! year, to accumulate until the boy should reach
/ bis majority Young Becklord's mental powers
/ were good, and no palGs were spared IN culti-
waiting hem by refined education. Sir VIII
| liam Caa n bers instructed hia N architecture,
while the eminent Mozart taught him music
| 4 t%eBty-one, with the income Of prince,
aud accumuiatious in ready money TO the a.
mount Of about million sterling, be lauached
upon The world. How vast the capacities Of
usefulness placed before him The great
talent II Promoting human happiness was pla-
ced within his reach; out be threw the golden
opponunity away. Proud and naughty, the
youthful Bsckioii Withdrew from the active
business o! life. and retiring to i'otagal, there
devoted himself toa life OF iuEerious ease
The first outlay Of lis wealth taert was in The
erection O. gorgeous palace.
During his residence in Portugal, he visited
under the royal Sducion, some Of the wealthy
and luxurious Glonaslerirs OF that country. Il
is difficult to caavey aa idea Of lie pomp and
Sp!tudoF OF this Journey, which Frsrmbled more
the cayacadt OF eastern prince than the
tour Of private Individual.
''Everythiog . he himself SAYS, '1hat could
be thought Or dreamed Of Tor cur convenience
or relaxation was carried in our traia-nothing
was 10 be leit behind 5Yt care and s5grow."
'.rhe ceiling OF my apartment in the nonas-
tery,' he adds, ''was Eided and painted, the
looF spread with Ptrsi2a carpets OF The finest
texture; the tables deckrd w.ta sopycI eutt7s
aud basins q chased silver"
The kitchen 10 which his diancr was pfera-
red is thus described "a stream Of water
flowed through ii, from which were formrd res
eTyoiss containing every kind oi river fish. On
one side were heaped up loads Of game ana
yeniSon; on the other side were vegetables and
fruits in endless variety. Beyond long lae
Of stores extended row Of ovens, ana close toI
I5 ls g 81 susaT, + afs aiq 81 iq2 fes o, and lsTs
10 various abundance" Tie dinners which
followed these preparations were served Ia
magnificent saloon, covered with pictures, aad
li.iipd up with pJoiuSGa ot wax tapefs 10
sconces of silver. .Fhe banquet" be adds,
consisted OF gagIties aal d. iicacies Of every
season llom distant couutrirs." Confectionery
and fruits awaited the party in ROOM still
more suaiptu0us, where vessels Ci GoahlLree,
containing the ralrst and most fragrant spices,
were handed round. Such ,ras BecGloFd's mode
OF ljf- duriog this jauraey.
Returning at the commencement Of the pre-
sent century 10 his native country, Bycklord
again abandoned himself 10 tie selfish enjoy
mrnt OF his wealth. Taking caprcious DIS
like 10 a splendid MANSION on his estate, which
had been erecleG 5y bis lllhrr at a cost ot ST.
800, 900, he ordered i! to be po!ied down. lie
resolved that pheniX Ike, there should arise
from it ruins building which should surpasS
in magniiCeuce all that hitherto had been
known N EH.iist art. Fouthlil Abbey, once
one OF the wonders OF the West Of New Eng
land, was tbe result OF this discrimination
Whole galleries Ul that vat pile were erected,
solely Tor The purpose Of enabling Becktoid 10
eu,5lazon on their windows the crests OF the
families from Whom be bgastrd his DESCENT
] ittr wonder OF the fabric, however, was a tow
er Of colossal dimensions and great height, errc
ted somewhat iH The manner and spirit Of those
v no once reared a similar structure on the
plains OF SbioaF: $50 10, let Us build US tow
er whose top may reach unto heaven; and let US
make Us a name.
To complete the erection Of Btckfo tower,
almost every cart in the country was employed,
so that al one time agricultural labor was well
nigh suspended Impatient OF delay, night was
not allowed TO impose obstacles to the progress
Of the work. Torch light was employed; fresh
bands Of laborers relieving at evening those
br., a E,. n In Io.t rbtc c+
winter, the distant traveller was startled by
the blaze Of light from Fonthill, which proclaim
ed at once the resources and the folly of the
man OF wealth Beckiord's principle enjoy
meut was watching The erection of this slruc-
ture. at nightfall he would repair 10 some ele-
waited part of his grounds, and there in solitude
would least his senses lor hours with the singu-
| lar spectacle presented by the dancing Of the
| lights, and the reflection OF their glare on lhe
surrounding wood. The building was indeed
! Beckiord'S idol; the object for which he lived.
| He devoted the whole Of his energies TO make
/ il realize The most fascinating visions OF vain
lmaginatiop.
| After the completion OF the abbey, Beckford's
conduct was still more extraordinary. A wall,
| nearly two miles in circumference, surrounded
| his mansion, and within this circle scarcely any
visitors were allowed to pass. La sullen gram
deur he dwelt alone, stunning converse with
the world around. Majesty itself was desIous
ot visiting this wonderful domain, but vas re-
fused admittance. Strangers would disguise
| themselves as servants, as peasants, or as ped
lars, the hope of catching glimpse Of IFS
gl3Fies. Nor was its interior unworthy OF this
curiosity. All that art and wealth could give,
| TO produce effect, were there. ''Gold and silver
vases and cups" says one who saw the place,