Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-10
Railp Tir9iaiaa.
Strange Frcaks of a Millionaire.

ten years III age, btqucatheu hlh West Inulnn
aud other property which yielded an income equal
to half million dollars year. Young leckford's
mental powers were good and pains were
spared in cultvntlng them by n refined education.
SIR William Chnmhcrs instructed him IN architec.
lure while the great 1zart taught him music
At twenty with the income Of Prince, and
nccumulations in ready money 10 the amount Of
about n million sterling lhvc million dollars he
launched upon the world. The great talent Of hu-
mnn happiness was placed within his reach; but
he threw che godon opportunity AWAY. Proud aud
naughty, tho youthful Becktord withdrew from
the active business OF life. and retiring to Por,u-
gal. there dev t,d himself to u life of luxurious
ease. The first outlay Of hs wealth there, was in
the erection OF II gorgeous palace.
During his residence in Portugal, hc visited,
nndor the royal sanction, somc Of the wealthy and
luxurinnt nonuscrics Of that country. II is diff
cult to convey idea Of tho pomr and splcndor
of this Journey. which resemblcd more the caval-
cade of an eastern prince thnn the tour of u pr-
va,o individual.
"Evcrvthing," hr himself saws "ihnt could be
thought or dreamed of. Tor our convenience or
taxation. wns carried in our trnin--nothns was to
be left behind but care and sorrow
The ceiling Of my apartment in the monaste-
ry." he nils was rillcd aud painted, tho floor
spread with Persian carpets of the finest texture;
the tables decked with superb cwers and basins of
chased silver"
The kitchen in which tho dnner was prepared
is thus described "A stream Of winter flowed
through it, from which formed reservoirs CON
tainng every kind Of river fish. On ono side
were hcnpcd up loads Of gamo and yenlson; on the
other side were vegetables and fruits in cndlcss
variety. Beyond II loug limo of stnrcp extended
row of ovens, and close to the hilocks of whcntrn
flour. finer than snow. blocks of sugar. jars OF tho
purest oil. and pastry in various abundance. -
The dinner which followed these preparations was
served in n magnificent saloon COVERED with pic
lures, aud lighted up with proiusion OF wax ta-
pcrs in soonccs of silver. "The banquet he
adds CONSISTED Of rarites nnd dclicacies of every
season from distant countries" Confectionery
and fruits awaited the party in room still more
sumptuous, where vessels Of Con illngr,R contain
ing tho rarcst and most fragrant spices were
handed round. Such was Bcckfnris mode of
lifn during this journey.
Returning at the commencement Of the present
century, Ia hiS native country, Beekord ngain
abandoned himself to tho selfish enjoyment Of his
wealth. Taking cnprlrious dislike to splendid
mansion on his estate, which had been erected by
his father nj cost ol one million four hundred
thousand dollars he urlc.cl it tn be pulled down.
Ile resolved tln Itn"l'y lie. there should arise
from ita runs Ii built u nh'h 'h' nd thrpnss in
maguihccnce NIL that hni hiiEcrto been Known in
English nrt. Fon,hil Ahhrv. ou,n uur f the
wonders Of the West of Enrlnnl. was the re alt
of this determination. Nhrc galleries Of that
vnst pile were erected solely for the purpose of en-
abling BE kiord To- cmhlazon ON their windows tho
crests of the families from whom he baascd his
descent. Tho wonder Of tho fabric huwelc or, was
n tower of colossal dimensions and great height,
erected somewhat IN the manner n, Il spirit Of
| those who onre reared similar str,as.ure ON the
plains of Shinar 't'n T. let IA build us tower,
whose top may reach unto heaven; and lot US make
us u name
To complete the creeilun # Rrckforl's tower
! 400 men were employed, both night and day.
through nm entire winter tho torches nsc by the
al ynrkn,pu lrin visible tp tho sbp1
travellers Mt miles distant Bccklord's principal
enjoyment was watching tho erection Of this struc-
ure. At nghiia he would repair Ia some cleyn-
tod part of his grounlsand there in solitude would
feast his scusca for hours with the singular spec
tacle presented hv the tnncing of thu lights. and
the reflection Ut their glnre on the surrounding
wood. The lmlu% indeed Brckiord's idol
the oh ect for which be lived. lie devoted the
whole Of his energies 10 make it realize tho most
fascinating visions of n vain Imagination. The
tower wa. finally ere ted. but as. might have been
| expected the mortar aud cement used had no time
to set properly. ere violent gale Of wind brought
the vast structure to the ground Merely remark
| ing TINT he should have been glnd to witness the
sublime fall of such miss OF materials. he gave
orders for the erection of another tower of 276 feet
in height but this also fell to the ground in 1898.
| After the completion Of the Abbey, Beckford's
| conduct still more extraordinary. wall,
nearly two mile. in circumference, surrounded his
!
tors allowed to pass. In sullen grandeur he
dwclt alone, stunning converse with the whole
world Majesty itself wns tlesirous of visiting this
wonderful domain but refused ndmittnncc
| Strangers would disguise themselves servants,
as peasants, ms pedlars, in the hope Of catching
glimpse of its glorics. Nor its interior
worthy Of its curiosity. All that art and wealth
could give to produce effect, there. Gold
and silver vases and cups" snys one. who saw the
place, "are so numerous here that they dazzle the
| eve; and when ono looks around ut the cabinets,
candelabras, and ornaments, which decorate tho
room, may almost imagine that We stand In
the treasury Of some Oriental Prince, whose riches
consist entirely in vessels of gold and silver, en-
riched with precious Of every sort, from tho
| ruby to the diamond"
| Such was Bcckford of Fonthil With an in
come of more than floo,000 per annum. he seem
| ed above the reach Of adverse fortune. Who would
have ventured to have styled all this splendor
eyanesecnt MS the mirage? A sudden depreciation
of West Indian property took place. Some law
suits terminated unlayoraby cmbarrassments
poured in like food on the princely owner
The gates which had refused admittance to mon
arch, were suddenly thrust open by sheriff's Of
icer. The mansion erected Mt vast an expense
sold. The grca ter part of its costly treasures
was scattered by the hammer of the auctioneer;
and Bccki 1rd driven, with the shattered fragments
of his fortune, to spend solitary old age in \
watering place; there to moralize the iDstabli.
y of wealth. there to feel how little treasures the
retrospect of neglected talents can give and to
point the oft told moral of the vanity Of human
affairs. lie fell it is sai unpitied by any
The tower which he had erected Mt so great an
expense fell TO the ground anil Fonthll Abbey
was pulled down hy it, new owHer. Thus mel
ted away like a frost-work before the sun, the
| extravagant productions OF II of weath.-
His whole life had been snd misapplication
of the talents committed to his care, and the end
he discovered that he had been cheated by the mi