Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-10-12

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a capriciOus dislike to a splendid mansion
on his estate, which had been erected by
his father at cost of 100000, he or
dered it to be pulled down. He resolved
that, phoenix like, there should arise
from its ruins building which should
surpass in magnifcence all that had been
known in English art FOnthill Abbey,
once one of the wonders of the west of
, England, was the result of this determi-
nation. Whole galleries of the vast pile
were erected, solely for the purpose of en-
abling Beckford to emblazon on their
windows the crests of the families from
whom he boasted his descent. The Won
der of the fabric, however, was a tower
Of colossal dimensions and great height
erected somewhat in the manner and spir-
it of those who once reared similar struc-
ture on the plains of Shimar; go to, let
US build tower, whose top may reach
unto Heaven; and let US make us name"
To complete the erection of Beckford s
tower, four hundred men we're employed
both night and day through an entire
winter, the torches used by the nocturnal
wOrkmen being visible to the aStonishcd
travellers at miles distant Beckford s
1
principal enjoyment was watching the cree
ton Of this structure. At nightfall he
would repair to some elevated part Of his
grounds, and there in 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 Becl,ford's idol-the object for
which he lived. He devoted the whole of
his energies to make it realize the most
fascinating visions of q vain imagination.
The tower was finally erected, but as might
have been expected. the mortar and cement
used had no time to set properly, ere a Vi
olent gale of wind brought the vast struct-
ure 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 for the erection of another
tower of 267 feet in height, this also fell
to the ground in 1885.
After the completion. Beckford's conduct
was still more extraordinary. A wall two
milcs in circumference surrounded his man
sion and within this circle scarcely any
visitors were allowed to pass In sulien
grandeur he dwelt alone, stunning converse
with the whole world. Majesty itself was
desirous of visiting this wonderful domain,
but was refused admittance Strangers
would disguise themselves as servants, as
peasants, or as peddlars, in the hope of
glimpse of its glories. Nor was
its interior unworthy Of this curiosity. All
that art and wealth could give, to produce
effect, was there. s'Gold and silver cups
says one who saw the place, are SO numcr-
Gus here that they dazzle the eye, and
when one looks round at the cabinets, can
1elebras, 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 1
7essels Of gold and silver, enriched with
precious stones of every sort from the ruby {
o the diamond - {
Such, was Bcckford, of Fonthill. With /
IN income of more than fl00 006 per an I
lum, he seemed above the reach of adverse ;
ortune. Who would have vcntured to :
AVE styled all this spleudor evancscent as
he mirage? A sudden depreciation of !
Vest India property took place. Some
aw suits terminated unfaForably. enbar-
poured in Ike a food on the K
rincely owner. The gates which had re-
used admittance to monarch were rude
: thrust open By a sheriff's officer The
lansiOn erected at so vast an expense, was v
Did. The greater part of its costly treas d
res were scattered by the hammer of the
and Beckford driven, with the a
battered fragments of his fortune, to spend t
solitary old age at watering place t
lere to moralize on the instability of b
ealth, there to feel how little pleasure the D
strOspeet Of neglected talents can give, and Il
paint the oft-told moral of the vanity Of OF
uman affairs. --... .... n
He fell, it is said, unpitied by any,. The "
,wer which he had erected at SO great a \,
,st fell to the ground and Fonthill Abbey Il
as pulled down by its new owner. Thus .,
cited away, like frcst-work before the a,
IN, the extravasant production of a man al
wealth. His whole life had been a sad et
of the talent committed to y;
S care, and in the end he discovered that a
, had been cheated by the mirage. tn
Though Beckford's S prinoely lavishness nj
ID caused him to be talked about all ever Ii
C werld, his true claim to remembrance cd
sts upon his talents as an author, and en-
s genius as displayed in the wild and tn
ngular Oriental tale of '.Vathek, which su
SO splendid in description true to east he
n costume, so wild and vivid in imagina- da
IN that Lord Byron considered it difficult a
credit that it was written by a Europe g
!, and said, seven Dr. Johnston s Ras- io
las must bow before it" Mr.. Beckford
Is the author of numerous other works.
e died in lS44, aged 81 years, leaving til
10 daughters, one of whom is the present flu
'lehcss of Hamilton. His wife was La fol
.alfC1