Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-15
GNortester 0a1lp gpp.
STRANGE FREAKS OF A MILLIONAIRE,

VI lhah Deckioru OF London, who died
when his son was only ten years of age, be-
queathing him West Indian and other proper
ty which yielded an income equal to half
million dollars year. Young Beckford's men,
tai powers were good, and no pains were spar
ed In cultlvating them by refined education.
Sir William Chambers Instructed him in ar
chitecture, while the great Mozart taught him
music AT twenty-one, with the income of
prince, and accumulations in ready money to
the amount OF about million sterling five
million dollars), he launched upon the world
The great talent of promoting human happi-
ness 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, devoted himself to a life of luxurious
ease. The first outlay of his wealth there was
IN the erection of gorgeous palace.
during his residence in Portugal he visited,
under royal sanction, some Of the wealthy and
luXurlant 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 private individual
Everything" he himself says, "that could
be thought or dreamed Of for our convenience
or relaxation, was carried in our train; moth
ing was to be left behind but care and sorrow"
The ceiling Of my apartment in the monas-
Wy, Ho auus, was gllueu anu painted, the
floor spread with Persian carpets of the finest
texture; the tables decked 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 We're heaped
up loads of game and venison on the other
side were vegetables and fruit in endless vari-
ltnV Nfnno lA,Nrr H., =
row Oh ovens, and close to them hillocks of
wheaton flour, finer than snow, blocks of SUI
gar, Jars OF the purest oil, and pastry in vari-
Gus abundance"
The dinner which followed these prepare
tons was served in magnificent saloon, COW
cred with pictures, and lighted up with a pro.
fusion OF wax tapers in sconces of silver. "The
banquet, he adds, Consisted of rarities and
dellcacies of every season from distant coun-
tries" Confectionery and fruits awaited the
party In room still more sumptuous where
vessels of Goa filigree, containing the rarest
and most fragrant spices were handed round
Such was Becktord's mode of life during the
journey.
Returning, at the commencement of the
present century, to his native country, Beck
ford again abandoned himself to the selfish en-
loyment of his wealth. Taking a capricous
dislike to a splendid mansion on his estate,
which had been erected by his father at a cost
of 81, 100000, he ordered it to be pulled down.
He resolved that, phenix like, there should
arise from its ruins building which should
surpass in magniticence all that hitherto had
been known in English art. Fonthill Abbey,
once one of the wonders Of the West of Eng
land, was the result of this determination.
Whole galleries of that vast pile were erected,
solely for the purpose of enabling Beckford to
emblazon on their windows the crests of the
families from whom he boosted his descent
The wonder of the fabric, however, was tow
er OF colossal dimensions and great height,
erected somewhat in the manner and spirit of
those who once reared similar structure on
the plains Of Shinar: GO to- let us build
tower whose top may reach unto heaven; and
let us make us a name'
To complete the erection of Beckfords tower,
400 men were employed both night and day
through an entire winter the torches used by
the Nocturnal workmen being visible to the as
tonished travellers at miles distant Beckford's
principal enjoyment was watching the erection
of this structure. AT nightfall, he would re-
pair 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 wood The
building was indeed Beckford's idol-the OBJ
ject for which he lived. He devoted the whole
of his energies to make it realize the most tas-
cinating visions of 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 violent gale
OF wind brought the vast structure to the
ground. Merely remarking that he should be
glad to witness the sublime fall of such mass
of materials, he gave orders for the erection of
another tower of 276 feet in height this also
fell to the ground in 1885.
After the completion of the abbey, Berk-
lords conductwas still more extraordinary. A
wall nearly two miles in circumference, sur
rounded his mansion, and within this circle
scarcely any visitors were allowed to pass. In
sullen grandeur he dwelt alone, stunning
the whole world. Majesty itself was DESTROYS
OF visiting this wonderful domain, but was re-
fused admittanee. Strangers would disguise
themselves as servants, as peasants, or as ped
oilers, in the hope of catching glimpse of its
glories. Nor was its interior unworthy of this
curiosity All that art and wealth could give
to produce effect, was there "Gold and silver
vases and cups" says one who saw the place.
are so numerous here that they dazzle the eye;
and when one looks round at 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 Fonthil With an
income of more than 100000 per annum, ne
seemed above the reach of adverse fortune.
Who would have ventured to style all this
splendor evanescent as the mirage? A sud-
den depreciation of West India property took
place. Some lawsuits terminated unfavorably,
embaTassments poured in like a flood on the
princely owner. The gates which had refused
admttance to monarch, were suddenly thrust
open by sheriffs officer. The mansion
erected at so vast an expense was sold The
greater part of its costly treasures were scat
tered by the hammer of the auctioneer and
Beckford driven, with the shattered fragments
of his fortune, to spend solitary old age in a
watering-place, there to moralize on the in
stability of wealth. there to feel how little
pleasure the retrospect Of neglected talents
can give, and to point the oft told moral of the
vanity of human affairs.
He fell it is said, unpitied by any. The
tower which he had erected at so great cost
fell to the ground, and Fonthll Abbey was
pulled down by its new owner. Thus melted
away like frostwork before the sun, the ex-
travagant productions of a man of wealth.
His whole life had been a sad misapplication
of the talents committed to his care, and in
the end he discovered that he had been cheat
ed by the mirage.
Though Beckford's princely lavishness caus-
ed him to be talked about all over the world
his true claim to remembrance rests upon his
talents as an author, and his genius as display
ed in the wild and singular Oriental tale of
"Vathek," which is splendid in description, so
true TO Eastern costume, and so wild and vivid
in imagination, that Lord Byron considered IL
difficult to credit that it was written by En-