xt7qjq0stw34_5002 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474.dao.xml unknown archival material 1997ms474 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. W. Hugh Peal manuscript collection William Beckford letter, fragments, and clippings text 43.94 Cubic Feet 86 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 22 items Poor-Good Peal accession no. 11453. William Beckford letter, fragments, and clippings 2017 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474/Box_58/Folder_35/Multipage26894.pdf 1811-1833, undated 1833 1811-1833, undated section false xt7qjq0stw34_5002 xt7qjq0stw34 .4/
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 WEALTHY AND ECGENTRIC.

” Man ie the creature of e1'reamslom'ts.”it tthN.

OR eccentricity few Englishmen of position lave ever

equalled William lieekiord, the author of the singular

“llistoryol'the Caliph Valliek,“ which has taken its place
among works of richly luxuriant imaginat ion.

He was born in 1701, and at an early age succeeded, by the
death of his father, to immense wealth. After travelling
abroad and residing for some time n3ar (Jintra, where he had
a princely establishment, he returned to England, and, after
selling his old house at Folithlll, began to build a magnilicent
residence there, the expendil ure on which, spread over eighteen
years, was not less than £373,000.

He pursued the objects of his wishes, whatever they were,
not coolly and conside‘ately like most other men, but with
all the enthusiasm of passion. No sooner did he decide upon
anythinbr than he had it carried into iimnediate cXCtjllitUIl,
whatever might be the cost. After the new house was rom»
meneed, he was so impatient to get it. linished that; he kept
regular relays of men at work night and day, including
Sundays, supplying them liberally with ale and spirits while
they were at work, and when anything was completed which
gave him particular pleasure, adding an extra live pounds or
ten pounds to be spent in drink.

The first tower, of immense height, was built of Wood in
order to see its etl'ect; this was then taken down, and the
same form put up in wood covered with cement. This fell
down, and the tower was built a third time, on the same
foundation, with brick and stone. The foundation of the
tower was originally that of a small summer-house, to which
Mr. Beckford was making: additions when the idea of the new
building occurred to him, and this idea he was so impatient
to realise that he could not wait to remove the summer-house
to make a proper foundation for the tower, but carried it up
on the walls already standing.

The extraordinary residence erected at Fonthill, together
with its splendid library and paintings, he disposed of in 15::
to a Mr. Farquhar. He went then to live near Bath, where he
began to build another lofty structure, and here he lived till
his death, in 1844.

Not long after he went to Bath the great tower of Foothill
Abbey came tumbling to the ground, fortunately without.
doing serious injury to anyone. When M r. Beckford was told

, of it, he merely observed that; it had made an obeisance to
Mr. Farquhar which it had never done to him.
There is no doubt that; Mr. .lieckford’s enjoyments con~
. sisted of a series of violent; impulses. When he wished a new
walk to be cut in the woods, or any work of that kind to be
done, he used to say nothing about it in the way of prepara-
tion, but merely give orders, perhaps late in the afternoon,
that it should be cleared out and in a perfect state by the
following morning at the time he came out to take his ride.
The whole strengl ll of the village was then put in requisition,
and employed during the night ; and the next day, when Mr.
Beekford came to inspect: what was done, if he was pleased
with it, he used to give a live-pound or a ten-pound note to
the men who had been employed, to drink, besides of course
paying their wages, which were always liberal.

Even his charities were performed in the same manner.

‘ Suddenly he Would order a hundred pairs of blankets to be
purchased and given away, or he would give orders to have
all the lirs cut out of an extensive plantation, and all the poor
who chose to take them away were permitted to do so, pro-
vided it: were done in one night. He was also known sud-
denly to order all the wagons and carts that could be procured
to be sent oil‘ for coal to be distributed among the poor.

lie seldom rode out; beyond his gates, but: when he did was

generally asked for Charity by the poor pupie. Sometimes
he used to throw a one-pound note or a guinea to them, and
Sometimes he used to turn round and give the suppliants 11
severe horsewhipping. When the last vas the case, soon after
he had ridden away, he generally sent bac c a guinea or two to
the party who had been beaten.

ln his mode of life .‘dr. Heel-ford had many singularities.
Though he never had any society
every day in the most .1 yle. He was known to give
oidei's for a dinner for twelve llt'l'fiitdlfl, and to sit down alone
to it. attendml by twelve Elt‘l“..’llli.3 in full die 5, *at of one dish,
and send all the rest. away.

'l'here were no bells in the, house, with the exception of one
room, occupied occasionally by his daughter, the lmehess of
Hamilton. ’l'lic sei\ants used to wait by turns in the ante—
rooms to the rooms which Mr. llccklord might occupy at the
tip e.
L r. li‘rith, in his “ lleminiscenees,” gives a curious story of
an adventure which happened to a cousin of his who entered
the sacred domain of Mr. lieckl'ord by stealth. He went. into
the gardens, where he met a man who he supposed was the
gardener, but who proved to be, Mr. lh-ekt'ord himself. Mr.
lieekl'ord not only showed him his pictures, but kindly asked
him to dinner, and then tutned him out to spend the night—
in a tree. '

“The. dinner was magnificent," says Mr. l"rilh, “served on
Mi ve plates «the wines of the rarest \int:t;:e. ltarer still

Mr. Heckl'ord's conversation. lle entertained his guest
with stories of Italian travel, with anecdotes of the great in
whose sot-ieryhe had mixed till he. found the shallowness of
it; in short, with the outpouring of a mind of great power
and thorough (,tultivation. My cousin was well read enough
to be able to appreciate the conversation, and contribute to
it, and thus the evening: passed I 4liil:tlly away. Candles
were lighted, and the host; and guest tall-:ed till a line Louis
Quatorze clock struck eleven. Mr. Beckford rose and left
the room. The guest; drew his chair to the tire, and waited
the return of his host. He thought: he, must have dozed, for
he started to lind the room in semi-darkness. and one of the
solemn powdered footmen puttingr out the lights.

“ ‘ Where i \lr. lteckl‘ord i" said my cousin.

“‘Mi'. Bechtord has gone to bed,’ said the man, as he ex-
tinguished the last candle.

“ 'l'he dining-room door was open, and there was a dim light
in the hall.

“"l'his is very strange,’ said my cousin. ‘l expected Mr.
Rockford back again. I wished to thank him for his ho's-
pitality.’ This was said as the guest followed the footman to
the front door.

“ ’l'hat functionary opened it wide, and said, ‘Mr. Deekford
ordered me to present his compliments to you, sir, and Iain
to say that as you found your way into l"onthill Abbey with-
out assistance, you may lind your way out again as best you
can; and he hopes you will take care to avoid the blood-
hounds that are let loose in the gardens every night. I wish
you good evening. No, thank you, sir; Mr. Beckford never
allows vails. '

As an author Mr. Beekford is chiefly remembered by his
romance of “Vathek,” which was published in French at
Lausanne in 1787. The English edition, ssued in lTSo', was a
translation not made by the author, nor by his consent.

Lord Byron, a verycompetent judge both of the subject and
the way in which it should be. treated, praises “Vathek” in
the highest terms. “ For Correctness of costume,” he says,
“ beauty of description, and power of iniauiuation. this most
Eastern and sublime tale surpasses all l‘luropean imitations,
and bears such marks oforiginality that those who have visited
the East will have some ditliculty in believing it to be more
than a translation. . . . As an Eastern talc even Itasselas
must bow to it; his Happy Valley will not bear a com-
parison with the Hall of Eblis."