ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
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GRAPHICAL 
 
 AND 
 
 LITERARY ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 WILTSHIRE; 
 
 WITH 
 
 HERALDICAL AND GENEALOGICAL NOTICES 
 
 or 
 
 THE BECKFOKD FAMILY. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN BRITTON, 
 
 FELLOW OF " THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON," FELLOW OF " THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE," 
 HONORARY MEMBER OF " THE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY OF NEWCASTLE," 
 HONORARY' SECRETARY' AND TREASURER OF " THE LONDON ARCHITECTS AND ANTIQUARIES SOCIETY," 
 HONORARY" MEMBER OF " THE NORWICH SOCIETY OF ARTISTS," HONORARY SECRETARY OF " THE WILTSHIRE SOCIETY," ETC. ETC. 
 
 VIEW FROM THE END OF THE WESTERN AVENUE ENGRAVED BY J. THOMPSON, FROM A SKETCH BY T. HICHAM. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BURTON COTTAGE, BURTON STREET. 
 SOLD BY LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN, PATERNOSTER ROW; TAYLOR, HIGH IIOLBORN ; 
 
 CLARKE, BOND STREET; ETC. 
 
 1823. 
 
C. Wbittinghaiu, College House, Chiswick. 
 
AN ADDRESS TO THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS VOLUME. 
 
 The kindness and zeal of friends, in recommending the present work and 
 advocating- the cause of the author, demands not only his unqualified and 
 heartfelt thanks, but a frank and candid declaration of his intentions and 
 actions respecting its execution. Though he would gladly avoid every thing 
 that might savour of egotism, yet when he knows that falsehood and mis- 
 representation have been artfully employed against his " fair fame," he hopes 
 to be excused for saying a few words in self defence, or with a view of 
 counteracting the deleterious effects of calumny. He commenced this volume 
 under the most favourable and cheering auspices — for he was honoured with 
 the full approbation of the enlightened proprietor of Fonthill Abbey, who 
 also took the kindest interest in its execution and prosperity : to merit such 
 favoured distinction, and also to satisfy the reasonable and sanguine expecta- 
 tions of zealous friends, rendered the author's task delicate, arduous, and 
 difficult; delicate, as wishing to speak freely and fully both facts and opinions ; 
 arduous and difficult from the numerous and distracting occupations in which 
 he has been unavoidably engaged for the last year; from some very tantalizing 
 and distressing circumstances that have been connected with this volume ; 
 and further, from an apprehension that a merely descriptive essay could not 
 be easily rendered either amusing or interesting. These considerations 
 always obtruded on his mind, and of course must have checked or cramped 
 the free and fluent exercise of his pen. He was desirous of making a volume 
 unique in its style of embellishment and in the literary department : one that 
 should reflect some degree of credit on himself, as well as on the artists and 
 artisans jointly and severally engaged in its execution. He has not, however, 
 satisfied his own wishes and judgment ; but if his friends and the public in 
 general approve, he w ill thereby derive much consolation and reward. 
 
 He forbears entering into private disputes and misunderstandings : as he 
 hopes that even those who have been induced to act with hostility or enmity 
 towards him may grow wiser as they grow older — may learn to exercise 
 that candour, sincerity , and good will towards their associates, and even com- 
 petitors, which they will find most likely to be beneficial in their progress 
 
 b 
 
vi 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 through life, and afford them the best consolation in the hours of sickness and 
 sorrow. 
 
 It is commonly said that authors are a vain and irritable race of mortals : 
 it may be said with equal truth, that if they were not so, they never would be 
 authors. Without a little vanity, or ambition, for the first is only the 
 younger brother of the second, few persons would voluntarily place them- 
 selves, by their published writings, on a pedestal in the public market place, 
 to be pointed at by folly, pelted by envy, and bespattered with filth by 
 ignorance and vulgarity. The same vanity, or sensibility, that impels them 
 to court and covet fame and fear disgrace, naturally produces that irritability 
 which always has and must ever belong to acute minds. These characte- 
 ristics of authorship are either amiable or offensive, as they are exercised and 
 publicly manifested. Governed by reason and taste, they are virtues that 
 conduce to the public welfare : if influenced by a bad heart, or any of the 
 evil passions, they may corrupt others, but will inevitably disgrace the 
 possessor. An author naturally and rationally covets fame : it stimulates his 
 energies, awakens his faculties, and impels him to run the race of rivalry and 
 competition. But for its " spirit-stirring" influence, few persons would put 
 up with " the whips and scorns of time, the proud man's contumely, the 
 oppressor's wrong, the insolence of office, and the spurns that patient merit 
 of the unworthy takes." 
 
 At page 26 of this volume, it is stated that a great part of the rare and 
 valuable contents of Fonthill Abbey was to be sold: that event has taken 
 place, not by public sale, but in a way as unexpected and extraordinary as 
 many other extraordinary transactions connected with this extraordinary 
 place. Only a day or two previous to the appointed commencement of the 
 auction it was publicly announced that Fonthill Abbey, with all its contents 
 and appurtenances, were collectively sold to John Farquahar, Esq. 1 In the 
 
 1 In the Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1822, appeared the following remarks respecting 
 the close of the Abbey: — " The pleasing vision is now passed, and the noise of the auctioneer's 
 hammer will not be heard — silence pervades the long-drawn ailes — the lofty portal is closed — and 
 the abbot is returned to his cloisters. But with a farewell look he will shortly bid adieu to these 
 walls, which are destined to greet a second abbot. We are enabled to state from undoubted 
 authority, that the number of admission tickets to Fonthill Abbey amounted to 7200." 
 
ADDRESS TO THE SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 vii 
 
 summer of the present year, 1823, " the splendid effects" of this mansion are 
 again announced to be sold by auction, by Mr. H. Phillips, and the grounds, 
 house, and its contents to be again exhibited to visitors, from the sixteenth 
 of June to the commencement of and during the sale, when thirty-seven days 
 are to be occupied in the disposal of its contents. 
 
 As the volume now produced differs from the terms announced in the 
 original prospectus, it may be proper to explain that the author has in 
 almost every respect exceeded his promises ; that it contains more engrav- 
 ings and more letterpress than he either proposed or intended ; and that he 
 cannot accuse himself of having forfeited his pledge on any other point, but 
 as it respects the number of copies to be worked. This has been exceeded, 
 and for the following plain, and as every publisher would say cogent reason : 
 at the time of printing fhe letter-press more large paper copies were subscribed 
 for than was originally promised, and to supply the same, it was evident 
 that a larger impression must be worked. The author ventured to do so, 
 relying on the good wishes and interpretations of real friends, and not 
 thinking it of much consequence to anticipate enmities on such a point. 
 Reflecting, however, on this subject, and fearing there may be the least 
 ostensible ground of objection to his extension of number, he has resolved to 
 make some sacrifice on his part by destroying seven out of eleven of the 
 plates. By this means the original subscribers are guaranteed against a 
 depreciation in the value of their copies by a multiplicity of impressions and 
 volumes being circulated. The author has been induced to adopt this course 
 of procedure, first, to give an additional interest and value to the copies 
 originally subscribed for; secondly, to prevent the possibility of the com- 
 plete volume being hereafter printed and multiplied, to the deterioration of 
 its value ; thirdly, from a persuasion that many of his old established friends 
 and patrons will see an inferiority in some of the plates to those belonging 
 to his Cathedral Antiquities ; and, fourthly, from an ardent desire to advance 
 his works in literary and graphic execution, as he advances in age and expe- 
 rience, rather than allow of u a falling off." Another consideration has also 
 had some weight in this determination : some years back his name appeared 
 to a volume entitled " The Fine Arts of the English School," in the property 
 
viii 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 of which he had a small share. After expending a large sum of money on the 
 work, and not finding an adequate return, the proprietors sold the whole 
 stock, with the copper plates : the latter have been ivorked so hard that they 
 can work no longer ; and many weak, worn out impressions have been sold 
 at depreciated prices all over the country. The author has sutfered by this, 
 and has received some harsh and unmerited reproofs for a transaction over 
 which he had no controlling power. 
 
 August 27, 1823. J. BRITTON. 
 
 In addition to the above statement, for those who are not intimately 
 acquainted with the author may fairly question his veracity on a point where 
 so much property has been sacrificed, he has obtained the following declara- 
 tion from his copper-plate printers. 
 
 " We the undersigned hereby declare, that we have seen the 
 faces of the plates hereafter named completely destroyed : viz. Plates 
 I. III. IV. VII. VIII. IX. and X. of Britton's « Illustrations of Font- 
 hill Abbe.)/ 1 
 
 (Signed) Cox and Co. ) 
 
 v Copper-plate Fruiters. 
 
 Macqueen, \ 
 
 August 27, 1823. 
 
 Impressions of these plates may be seen at the Author's ; Longman and 
 Co.'s ; Taylor's, Holborn ; and Clarke's, Bond Street. 
 
 u I hereby declare that I have worked only six sets folio: — three 
 hundred imperial <lto. — and Jive hundred medium Ato. of the letter- 
 press of this work." 
 
 (Signed) Charles W hittingham. 
 
THE ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE 
 
 Was designed for the purpose of displaying some of the principal armorial 
 bearings of the Beckford family. These heraldical insignia have certain pecu- 
 liarities and distinctions which the learned herald will readily recognise, but 
 which may escape the notice of and be disregarded by the casual reader. 
 Mr. Beckford's paternal and maternal descent is remarkable, and in reference 
 to the extensive and illustrious combinations which it presents, perhaps 
 unprecedented. This has been ascertained after much laborious research and 
 critical investigation by the professional heralds; and the result has given 
 rise to the splendid, varied, and numerous armorial illustrations which at once 
 adorn and confer an unique character on Fonthill Abbey. Desirous of having 
 something in the present volume to designate this peculiarity, and at the 
 same time to exemplify the heraldical decorations of the edifice, I was induced 
 to arrange an architectural design, which might with propriety embrace some 
 of these objects. 
 
 In the painted windows, sepulchral monuments, and other parts of our 
 antient churches and monastic edifices, heraldical ornaments and insignia 
 have generally constituted a prominent feature ; for the chivalry and religion 
 of our fore-fathers seem to have been intimately blended. Whilst the knight 
 or baron was alike distinguished in the field and at the tournament by his 
 appropriate badge and crest, the bishop, abbot, and other eminent ecclesi- 
 astics had their respective cognizances. These were variously displayed, 
 and officially employed to identify rank, connection, attribute, and station : 
 heraldry was therefore studied and cultivated in unison with architecture, 
 and the designs of the one were often made subservient, as they were in fact 
 analogous, to the other. As the window was not only an essential but a very 
 important feature of a building, it necessarily engaged much of the attention 
 and fancy of the architect. He appears to have been constantly studying 
 variety, and seeking for novelty : and every succeeding age, from the eleventh 
 to the sixteenth century, manifests the exercise of imagination, caprice, and 
 taste in architectural design; I venture to say taste, from a conviction that 
 
 B 
 
6 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 many windows in our old ecclesiastical edifices evince beauty in form and 
 effect, as well as skill in execution. This member of a building having, 
 therefore, afforded so much scope for invention, and such abundant sources 
 of beauty, I conceived that it was susceptible of further varieties and adapta- 
 tions \ The design now exhibited was the result of this conviction ; but it was 
 only intended for a specific object : i. e. an arrangement of rich and varied 
 architectural features to combine with heraldical insignia. Each part of this 
 design is copied from antient ecclesiastical specimens, and is therefore 
 sanctified by age. The parapet, or upper member, with the frieze, is from a 
 beautiful monumental screen in the nave of Wells Cathedral : the arch 
 mouldings, spandrils, and trefoil suspended arches are from a monument in 
 the north transept of the same very interesting church, as are the two side 
 pilasters, with crocketed pinnacles : the six compartments of tracery enclosing 
 the shields are from monuments in Norwich and Winchester Cathedrals, as 
 are also the facings of the three pedestals beneath the niches : — the two side 
 niches are from St. George's Chapel, Windsor ; and the arch mouldings of 
 the centre niche are from Exeter Cathedral. The reliquary represented in 
 the centre, and the vase and cup in the side niches, are among the valuable 
 curiosities of Fonthill Abbey, and will be described in a subsequent page. 
 The upper centre compartment, containing the writing of the title, is intended 
 to represent different panes of stained glass, surrounded by a border of the 
 vine tendril. The whole design is supposed to be one side of an octagonal 
 
 1 Many beautiful and interesting examples might be adduced to exemplify this remark. In 
 Normandy, France, and Germany the old monastic churches abound with fine windows of varied 
 forms and elaborate tracery ; whilst many in our own country are at once bold, rich, and intricate 
 in design. The great eastern and western windows of York Cathedral, the eastern window in 
 Carlisle Cathedral, the western window in Durham Cathedral, that at the east end of Gloucester 
 Cathedral, one in the east end of Beverley Minster, and those in the chapels of St. George, 
 Windsor, Henry the Seventh, Westminster, and King's College, Cambridge, are distinguished 
 by numerous mullions, and tracery, in addition to a splendid display of painted glass. These, as 
 well as the circular or Catharine wheel forms in Westminster Abbey Church, Lincoln and York 
 Cathedrals, shew that the ecclesiastical architects were men of fancy and genius; constantly 
 seeking for novelty and beauty, and laudably emulous to surpass each other in their respective 
 designs. They did not slavishly and supinely copy the works of their predecessors, but dared to 
 think and act independently of precedent. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE. 7 
 
 museum, or cabinet room : four sides of which may be thus adorned with 
 painted windows, having- the centre divisions occupied by appropriate his- 
 torical pictures, the side compartments varied with portraits, fancy subjects, 
 &c. whilst the niches may be enriched with numerous choice and beautiful 
 objects, and the whole adapted to contain and display them to the greatest 
 advantage. The remaining four sides might be occupied by an appropriate 
 fire place, door-way, niches, &c. ; whilst the ceiling should be adorned with 
 several converging ribs, with bosses and shields, and an elaborate pendant 
 in the centre, with a branch, or lanthorn, suspended from it. To render such 
 an apartment complete, and each part in unison with the rest, its draperies, 
 carpet, stove, chairs, tables, and other appendages should be executed in 
 corresponding style, and the whole painted and gilt in harmonizing and 
 analogous colours. A judicious adaptation of the latter, with a liberal use 
 of mirrors, is calculated to produce many pleasing, impressive, and even 
 fascinating effects 2 . It will not require any great exertion of imagination to 
 conceive the effect of such a room on the eye, and the varied associations 
 and images which it must create in the vivid mind. In reflecting on the 
 subject, I was imperceptibly led to carry on the design, and form a plan of 
 a splendid mansion to be executed in a corresponding style, at least in 
 " gothic " form and " gothic " character. A suite of domestic and fancy 
 apartments were soon raised, in which a porch, a hall, staircases, and gal- 
 leries, libraries, drawing, eating, music, and cabinet rooms, with picture 
 and sculpture galleries ; also subordinate offices and bed rooms were all 
 
 1 In the very interesting house and museum of Mr. Soane, Lincoln's Inn Fields, are many 
 exemplifications of the beauty, variety, and pleasing effects that may be produced by the 
 admission of light, and by the employment of numerous mirrors. The skilful mode of lighting 
 his English gallery, museum, &c. is admirably adapted to display pictures and sculpture to 
 advantage. It cannot but excite the surprise and regret of every person who has reflected on the 
 subject, and been desirous of admiring and dwelling on the finer works of art, to find them badly 
 placed in common rooms, with several small windows opposite to the pictures, and these facing 
 either the east, west, or south ; added to which disadvantages may be remarked a total disregard to 
 the colour of the walls and to contiguous objects. After thousands of pounds have been expended 
 on a collection, it is really astonishing to find them thus sacrificed — thus immured either in dark 
 cells, or exposed to the scorching and dazzling sun. Let us, however, hope that a better taste 
 has commenced, and that the noble art of architecture will be liberally encouraged by the affluent, 
 and skilfully employed by the professor to protect and adorn her sister arts. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 combined, and peculiarly adapted to their respective purposes by forms, 
 colours, admission of light, and embellishment 3 . If the frigid, calculating 
 critic disapproves of this u vision of fancy," let him reflect that the place 
 which gave rise to it — the fascinations of art and literature with which it is 
 associated, and the marvelous tales related of the Abbey and its highly gifted 
 founder, are not a little calculated to awaken and give exercise to " the 
 Pleasures of Imagination." 
 
 " The ' artist's' eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, 
 
 Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven ; 
 
 And as Imagination bodies forth 
 
 The forms of things unknown, the ' artist's' pencil 
 
 Turns them to shapes — and gives to airy nothing 
 
 A local habitation and a name." 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE ARMORIAL BEARINGS IN THE ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE. 
 
 Upper compartment, dexter side: — the arms of Beckford, as borne on 
 antient seals and escocheons of the family. Azure, a clieveron between three 
 martlets Or. 
 
 Sinister side : — the said arms, as augmented in a grant to William Beck- 
 ford, Esq. son and heir of Sir Thomas Beckford, Knight, dated Feb. 2, 
 1 Jac. II. 1685. Party per pale gules and azure, on a clieveron argent, 
 between three martlets Or, an eagle displayed sable. 
 
 Centre compartment, dexter side: — the shield of William Beckford, Esq. 
 of Fonthill Abbey. The same arms, with the further augmentation of a 
 bordure Or charged with a double tressure flory and counlcrjlory gules 
 (assigned to him, by patent dated March 20, 1810, under the authority of the 
 Earl Marshal of England, as a memorial of his descent, by numerous lines, 
 from the blood royal of Scotland), quartering the arms of his late mother 
 Maria, daughter and coheir of the Hon. George Hamilton, second surviving 
 son of James the sixth Earl of Abercorn, viz. Hamilton and Arran, gules 
 three cinque/oils ermine, pierced of the field, and argent a lymphad sable. 
 
 s In the splendid mansion of Mr. Thomas Hope, Duchess Street, we see and admire the 
 exercise of taste and talent in the appropriate adaptation of furniture, draperies, and forms to 
 unite with the style and character of each respective apartment. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE. 
 
 9 
 
 Sinister side : — the arms of Mr. Beckford, impaled with those of his late 
 wife, Lady Margaret, only daughter of Charles Gordon, fourth Earl of 
 Aboyne, viz. azure, a cheveron between three hoars' heads, within a double 
 tressure, jlowered with Jieurs de lis within, and adorned with crescents 
 without, Or. 
 
 Third compartment, dexter side: — the shield of Mr. Beckford's grand- 
 father, Peter Beckford, Esq. impaling the arms of his wife, Bathshua, daugh- 
 ter and coheir of Julines Hering, Esq. viz. vert, on a bend argent a cinquefoil 
 betiveen two lions passant guardant gules. 
 
 Sinister side: — the shield of Mr. Beckford's late father, the Right Hon. 
 William Beckford, of Fonthill, Lord Mayor of London, impaling those of his 
 wife, Maria Hamilton, abovementioned. 
 
 On the frieze: — angels supporting shields of the arms of Beckford, 
 Bellomont, and Latimer; and the crest of Beckford, viz. a herons head 
 erased at the neck Or, gorged with a collar between two bars gemel fiory 
 gules, and holding in the beak a fish argent, and the crest of augmentation, 
 viz. in a ducal coronet Or an oak fructed and penetrated transversely in the 
 main stem by a frame-saw proper, being the crest of the noble family of 
 Hamilton, charged with the arms of Latimer (gules, a cross fiory Or) on a 
 shield pendent from the tree; which crest was granted to Mr. Beckford by 
 patent, December 31, 1798, in allusion to his descent, through the antient 
 family of Mervyn, lords of the manor of Fonthill Gilford, from William the 
 first Lord Latimer, temp. Edward I. 
 
 Base compartment, centre shield : — the arms of Latimer, as above described. 
 
 On the dexter side: — the shield of Mr. Beckford's paternal uncle, Julines 
 Beckford, Esq. M. P. for Salisbury, impaling those of his wife, Elizabeth, 
 daughter and coheir of Solomon Ashley, of Ashby-Ledgers in Northampton- 
 shire, Esq. viz. azure, a cinquefoil within a bordnre engrailed ermine. 
 
 On the sinister side : — the shield of Mr. Beckford's paternal uncle, Francis 
 Beckford, Esq. of Basing House, Hants, impaling those of his first wife, the 
 Lady Albinia, daughter of Peregrine Bertie, Duke of Ancaster, viz. 1. Bertie, 
 argent, three battering-rams azure. 2. Willouoiiby, Or, fretfy azure. 3. 
 Vbre, quarterly gules and Or, in the first quarter a mullet argent. 4 as 1st. 
 
10 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 LIST OF THE PLATES, 
 
 WITH BRIEF NOTICES OF THE SUBJECT OF EACH : ALL OF WHICH WILL BE 
 FURTHER DESCRIBED IN SUBSEQUENT PAGES. 
 
 Plate I. Plan of the principal suite of apartments, shewing their relative 
 situation and comparative sizes : a. the grand entrance hall or vestibule : 
 a a. staircases, that on the south, or right hand, leading to the minstrel 
 gallery, that to the left communicating by a passage in the wall to a niche or 
 oriel, b, containing a statue of Alderman Beckford, in white marble, by 
 Moore : b. landing at the top of a flight of steps, with small apartments on 
 each side : c. centre of the great octagonal tower, or louvre, with four arched 
 recesses, covered with red curtains, above which are four tall windows, filled 
 with stained glass : d. the gallery of King Edward HI. filled with books, 
 cabinets, curious tables, &c. and ornamented with pictures, painted glass, and 
 armorial blazonry : e. a dark arched vestibule to the oratory, or sanctuary, f. 
 with closets, in imitation of confessionals, on each side, h.h. and with doors of 
 open work in the screens : g. china room : h. and J. new rooms, appropriated 
 to cabinets, pictures, &c. : k. l. l. m. unfinished rooms : n. private room in the 
 north tower, with a large oriel window : o. passages : p. p. St. Michael's 
 gallery, with niches for books, cabinets, groined ceiling, havingyfive windows 
 to the west, three bay windows to the east, and one to the south, all 
 ornamented with painted glass of armorial bearings, historical figures, &c. 
 and hung with purple and scarlet draperies: Q. and r. yellow drawingrooms, 
 with bookcases, cabinets, and rich furniture : s. green cabinet room : t. u. 
 bed-rooms : w. x. g. g. z. d. e. staircases to other floors : p. p. enclosed 
 cloister or passage between the brown dining room, on the ground floor, and 
 the great hall: n. cloister, with five open arches to the south: f. passage to 
 domestic offices on the ground floor. (It will be necessary to observe, that 
 the plan of this passage, as well as those of the two cloisters, are on the 
 
rrom A trr G. CAT TEKMOLK for HHITTOJVS II AM 3 TRAT1T>N 3 of i'-.A. 
 
 Laadon.ptiWiahed Ear t-hr Am hor . April 1. llUj. 
 
LIST OF THE PLATES. 
 
 11 
 
 basement floor, beneath the galleries, but on a level with the great hall. It 
 was thought advisable to show them here for the sake of informing the 
 stranger.) No. 1, groining of the ceiling in the cabinet room, s : 2. pattern 
 of tracery, mouldings, and panels in the ceiling of the Edward gallery; the 
 lozenge compartments have the cinquefoil in the centre, accidentally omitted 
 in the drawing : 3. part of the groining in the St. Michael gallery : 4. pattern 
 of the ceiling in the yellow drawing-rooms, q. r. 
 
 Pl. II. View of the great hall, or vestibule, central tower, exterior part of 
 Edward the Third's gallery, &c. from the north east. Intricacy, variety, and 
 grandeur characterize this view of the building, from the varied lines, forms, 
 and parts that enter into the composition. Immediately in the centre is the 
 circular staircase, which communicates to a series of rooms and a gallery 
 called the nunneries, and also to the great tower. 
 
 Pl. III. View of the building from the south west, shewing a small part of 
 the oratory end, at the left; the west and south sides of the great hall; an 
 enclosed cloister, with seven windows, communicating between the hall and 
 the wainscot dining room, &c. ; two octagon towers of four stories, with a 
 bay of two stories between ; another open cloister to the right, facing the 
 south, connecting the octagonal tower at the south-west angle with a large 
 square tower at the south-east angle. Behind and beyond this cluster of 
 buildings are seen the two octagonal turrets at the east end, also a pinnacled 
 turret, two projecting masses of building on the south and west sides of the 
 tower, each of which contains a sitting and bedroom, also three sides of the 
 lofty tower. This view of the edifice, like the former, displays a variety of 
 forms and members, of studied dissimilarity, but all combining to constitute 
 a picturesque group. 
 
 Pl. IV. View of the building from the north-east represents to the right 
 a large and lofty mass of buildings, with two octangular turrets' at the east 
 end; two others of smaller dimensions at the opposite end; three lofty and 
 handsome windows perforat ing the side wall ; a range of open arches above ; 
 
 ' Those turrets arc copied from two in the entrance gateway to St. Augustine's Monastery at 
 Canterbury. 
 
12 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTI1ILL ABBEY. 
 
 and the whole crowned with an open embrasured parapet. The great centre 
 tower is connected with the western end of this part of the edifice, and 
 brandling off from that to the south is a small tower, with a range of build- 
 ings connecting it with two other large square towers, having oriel windows, 
 embattled parapets, &c. The usual approach to the building conducts the 
 visitor to this point, after passing through a steep umbrageous road. There 
 are entrances to the house beneath the large oriel on the south, and also 
 under the smaller oriel, behind the two figures and dog. Seen from this 
 point, the building, as a whole, appears to disadvantage : for the large and 
 lofty eastern wing renders that to the south apparently small and low : the 
 centre tower also seems to lose in height and magnitude, and the eye is 
 dissatisfied with the disproportion and contrast between these two wings. 
 Although I cannot avoid noticing this want of combination and harmony, I 
 am also aware that this part of the edifice is evidently left in an imperfect 
 and unfinished state; and it cannot be doubted, but the mind that projected 
 so much, and has evinced on many occasions such acuteness and fine taste, 
 had resources and plans to remove or counteract the blemishes now noticed. 
 This part of the building was to have been enclosed by an embattled wall, 
 with a tower gateway, and other architectural appendages: these were to 
 have extended from the mansion to the north, where a mass of coach houses, 
 stables, and other buildings were also to have been erected in a style 
 corresponding with, and apparently forming part of the Abbey. 
 
 Pl. V. Distant view of the Abbey from an eminence to the south west. 
 This print serves to show the undulating form of the grounds, and the thick 
 plantations that surround the house. 
 
 Pl. VI. View of the hall, from the octagon, looking west, will be described 
 in a subsequent page, as will also the following subjects, 
 
 Pl. VII. View of four sides of the octagon. 
 
 Pl. VIII. View of part of King Edward the Third's gallery, looking 
 north. 
 
 Pl. IX. View of the south end of St. Michael's gallery, looking south. 
 Pl. X. One of the east oriel windows, with fire-place beneath ; in St. 
 Michael's gallery. 
 
\ 
 
 * 
 
London, l"ublished "by the Author. April 1,1823. 
 
NliOM' Mcr IT7T 3T Mn^IABf/v CAH.I.KITY. 
 
 London. Printed for the Mw Mqv ka&0 
 
 MAV 
 
LIST OF THE PLATES. 
 
 13 
 
 Pl. XI. The title page, has already been described. 
 
 The XHth subject or print, from an engraving on wood, by an artist of 
 talents and worth, is a view of the whole western range of buildings, as seen 
 from the end of the long vista, or avenue, which extends from the great hall, 
 about three quarters of a mile in a straight line. 
 
 The general dimensions or measurements, internally, of the building are, 
 entrance hall, a. sixty-eight feet long by twenty-eight wide, and seventy- 
 eight high. Of this area the stone stairs occupy a space of sixteen feet 
 eight inches by thirty feet: area of the octagon, c. is thirty-five feet in 
 diameter by one hundred and twenty-eight feet in height : d. circular stair- 
 case, twelve feet six inches in diameter, with a large newel in the centre, 
 two feet six inches, containing a chimney flue. Edward's gallery is sixteen 
 feet wide: and that of St. Michael thirteen feet seven inches, whilst the 
 length of the whole is more than three hundred feet. The exterior measure- 
 ments are two hundred and seventy feet from east to west, and three hun- 
 dred and twelve feet from north to south ; the centre tower is two hundred 
 and seventy-six feet high from the floor to the top of the pinnacles : the new 
 building, to the east, is forty-seven feet in width, by ninety-five feet six 
 inches high to the top of the parapet, whilst the two octagonal turrets are 
 one hundred and twenty feet high by twenty feet in diameter. 
 
 On reviewing the Prints just noticed, I am aware that they are not, in the 
 whole series, equal to those I have generally had executed for the " Cathedral 
 Antiquities." No one can feel and lament their imperfections more than 
 myself; for it was my wish and intention to have each and all .skilfully and 
 tastefully engraved. I was not a little solicitous of rendering the whole 
 correct and faithful ; and wherever they may be found otherwise, I hope the 
 critical reader will not attribute the blame to the author. For if incessant 
 devotion to the subject, great anxiety and solicitude to please and deserve 
 the approbation of the man of taste could have protected me, and rendered 
 the series unexceptionable, the present volume would certainly have attained 
 this desirable end. But the author and publisher of an embellished work is 
 necessarily at the mercy of others : and as all persons have not the same 
 
 c 
 
14 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 feelings — the same zeal — and the same responsibility, it is not surprising 
 that there be carelessness in one— want of judgment in a second— defective 
 taste in a third— and dishonesty in a fourth. No person, perhaps, has seen 
 and felt these discrepances of human intellect more than myself; and I can 
 conscientiously aver, that no one can more sincerely have lamented their 
 existence. 
 
 " To err is human, to forgive divine." 
 
 To my old and long tried friend Mr. Le Keux, I am particularly obliged 
 and indebted for the labour and skill he has exercised on the plates com- 
 mitted to his care. I also render willing thanks to the artists who have 
 executed the other plates in the volume, as I am convinced that each 
 has done his best, and endeavoured to deserve the fame that waits on 
 merit. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Anxious, as I ever have been, to deserve the confidence and conciliate the 
 favourable opinion of my readers, I feel more than commonly so on the 
 present occasion : for I am aware that where sanguine expectations have 
 been raised, disappointment too frequently follows. Of Fonthill Abbey a 
 feverish curiosity has been excited — the public eye and ear have been stimu- 
 lated to excess — panegyric and enthusiastic animadversion have been dis- 
 seminated through the country — several eloquent writers for the periodical 
 press visited the Abbey in the autumn of 1822, for the express purpose of 
 administering to and still further provoking that curiosity \ Marvellous 
 
 1 The present age is signalized and distinguished by the amazing number and variety of its 
 periodical publications. These are circulated not only over the whole kingdom, but some of 
 them are to be found in every portion of the civilized globe. Their influence must therefore 
 be very great : and from the fluency of style and freedom of criticism by which they are now 
 generally distinguished, they have produced, and must continue to produce, very powerful 
 effects. Almost every one of the monthly, weekly, and daily magazines and papers contained 
 something about Fonthill, whereby its notoriety was augmented, and public curiosity was stimu- 
 lated. The daily press of London, and there is no other daily press in England, has its seasons, — - 
 its tides and ebbs, — its periods of business and of holiday ; but the time of holiday, or ebb, is a 
 time of difficulty, if not of labour. Such was the summer and autumn of 1822, when neither 
 war nor political contention engrossed the public thought or the columns of the journals. The 
 business of parliament was over — all Europe was at peace — and the overstocked hive of human 
 population, London, began to send forth its swarms of fashionables, idlers, &c. to the shores of - 
 the sea, and to popular watering places. Fonthill soon attracted the swarm, and was filled 
 to overflow, by the buzzing tribe. The press, that generally leads the public, deems it 
 prudent sometimes to follow: and did so on the present occasion. It cannot be considered 
 irrelevant or inappropriate to exemplify these remarks by adverting to some of the principal 
 journals which contained original essays on Fonthill. First in the list, I believe, was " The 
 Literary Gazette " the acute and intelligent editor of which, eager to amuse and inform his 
 readers, visited Fonthill, and devoted several columns in five papers of August and September to 
 the subject. Next followed " The London 3Iuseum," in eight weekly sheets of which are com- 
 ments and criticisms on the Abbey and its contents, with remarks on several distinguished places 
 in its vicinity. Most of these are evidently written by the lively and versatile pen of the learned 
 author of several volumes on bibliography and bibliomania; and who, by his writings on the 
 latter subject, has contributed more to increase than to cure the disease. This is not uncommon 
 
1G 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTIIILL ABBEY. 
 
 tales of the place, and of its intellectual owner have been reiterated by the 
 babbling tongue of rumour, and by the seducing pen of the essayist. Among 
 such competitors the humble historian and scrupulous topographer has but 
 little chance of obtaining applause, or even securing a patient hearing. His 
 dress is too plain and homely, his action and tones too simple and unimpres- 
 sive to be recognised amidst the gay, the volatile, the glittering throng. With 
 this conviction in my mind, I have moved with caution and solicitude ; for 
 though I felt confident in the generous and liberal interpretation of friends, 
 I was equally confident that envy and enmity were watching with lynx-like 
 and basilisk-like eye to detect error, and to pounce on their victim. 
 
 By the advice of an eloquent and discriminating correspondent and friend, 
 and whose counsel, as founded on the principles of good sense and good 
 taste, must be useful, I have endeavoured to confine the following narrative 
 
 nor surprising; for Buclian's " Domestic Medicine," and other popular treatises, have created 
 many disorders of an imaginary nature. Following these two literary papers just named, and 
 chiefly made up from them, appeared several paragraphs in other daily and weekly journals. In 
 five succeeding numbers of " The Guardian" was a series of essays by its eloquent editor, who 
 has since devoted his powerful talents to " The Quarterly Magazine." In " The Times" 
 " New Times," " Morning Chronicle," " Morning Post" and " Morning Herald," were several 
 original articles, written expressly for the respective papers, and by literary gentlemen connected 
 with each. These essays, though evidently penned on the " spur of the moment," and for the 
 pages of the ephemeral press, manifest varied and highly cultivated minds. " The Gentleman's 
 Magazine," particularly devoted to topography and biography, contained some papers on the 
 architecture and heraldical embellishments of the Abbey ; one on the first subject, by the skilful 
 architect attached to Winchester Cathedral, and some on the latter by the scientific Lancaster 
 Herald. Though many other magazines contained miscellaneous paragraphs and memoirs on 
 Fonthill, I believe that only one, " The London," was distinguished by an original article. The 
 essay, in that popular and well written magazine, was truly so; as all the essays by the same 
 writer are. Mr. Ilazlitt has long been known in the literary world as an independent and 
 intrepid author; and he displayed these qualities in an eminent degree in the essay alluded to. A 
 passage from his paper will exemplify this remark : — " The difficult, the unattainable, the 
 exclusive, are to be found here in profusion, in perfection ; all else is wanting, or is brought in 
 merely as a foil or as a stop-gap. In this respect the collection is as satisfactory as it is unique. 
 The specimens exhibited are the best, the most highly finished, the most costly and curious of 
 that kind of ostentatious magnificence which is calculated to gratify the sense of property in the 
 owner, and to excite the wondering curiosity of the stranger, who is permitted to see or (as a 
 choice privilege and favour) even to touch baubles so dazzling, and of such exquisite nicety of 
 execution ; and which, if broken or defaced, it would be next to impossible to replace." 
 
t 
 
 PREFACE. 17 
 
 and notes to the subject of Fonthill Abbey and its immediate connections. I 
 have intentionally avoided topographical accounts of the adjoining villages, 
 with descriptions of churches, &c. These, with descents of manors, tomb- 
 stone inscriptions, and lists of incumbents, are the common materials of local 
 history; and when properly and skilfully elucidated are useful for reference, 
 and even readable by many persons. To the general student, and to such 
 readers as are likely to admire the beauties and sublimities of nature and the 
 higher works of art, such matter however is usually regarded as vapid and 
 insipid. Hoping to obviate this inference here, and with a view of adapt- 
 ing my sentiments and language to the subject, and to the expectations 
 of the refined class of readers, I have attempted a more florid style and 
 tone than usually belong to topography. Admiring, as I do enthusiastically, 
 the picturesque of scenery, and the charms of refined art, I endeavour to 
 express my feelings strongly and appropriately, in the hopes of awakening a 
 corresponding feeling and excitement in the person who honours me with 
 perusal. If this be effected, my end is answered, and my most ardent wishes 
 gratified ; but if it be not, the failure must be ascribed to the want of power 
 rather than the want of will. 
 
 As many of the purchasers of this volume may not be acquainted with 
 my other literary works, and may be deterred from looking at them from 
 prejudices against the dullness of antiquarian publications generally, I 
 trust it will not be deemed impertinent or improper to state that although 
 my historical and descriptive essays must necessarily contain some techni- 
 cality of language, and cannot possess the interest and pathos of poetry, or of 
 the well written novel, yet I have endeavoured to adapt the style and matter 
 of those essays to almost every class of readers. In the histories of the 
 Castles and Antienl Mansions of the country (see Architectural Antiquities, 
 vol. ii.) will be found many anecdotes and facts illustrative of the manners 
 and customs of our ancestors ; and the splendid and truly interesting 
 Cathedrals of our island furnish abundant materials for illustrating the 
 progress of the arts and sciences, the history of architecture and sculpture, 
 and the influence of monastic rites and customs. Biographical anecdotes of 
 eminent and illustrious personages are necessarily connected with the subject. 
 
18 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 These are themes of no common or trivial nature, and can scarcely be said 
 to be uninteresting or unimportant to any person. If an author properly 
 appreciates them, and has talents to do justice to their varied characteristics, 
 his writings, accompanied with scientific and picturesque illustrations, cannot 
 fail of making lasting impressions on the feelings, fancy, and judgment of 
 the reader. 
 
 As a record of obligation and thanks it is now my duty to notice the 
 names of gentlemen who have contributed to the present volume, and thereby 
 conferred favours on the author. But for repeated acts of polite attention, 
 kindness, and approbation of my other literary works from Mr. Beckford, 
 this volume had never been commenced ; and to merit a continuation of the 
 same friendly condescensions has been an object of constant solicitude during 
 its tedious progress. His recommendations to the Chevalier Franchi, who 
 enhanced the fascinations of Fonthill by continued personal courtesy and 
 politeness j and to Mr. Beltz, Lancaster Herald, have entailed on me 
 obligations which can never be forgotten whilst memory lastsj To the latter 
 gentleman I am indebted for all the heraldical and genealogical materials of 
 the volume ; and this debt is very considerable in amount and value. The , 
 late Abbe Macquin was peculiarly solicitous about the prosperity of the 
 present work ; and I shall not readily forget the attentions and the enthusiasm 
 he evinced in conducting me and my affectionate partner through the Abbey 
 in the year 1817 ~. Under the influence of a bright sun, with the furniture 
 and decorations fresh, vivid, and disposed with tasteful attention to effect, 
 the whole seemed more like a vision of fancy than a scene of reality : and 
 to be indulged and honoured with such a fascinating treat, at a time when 
 personages of the highest rank had been denied access, tended to enhance 
 
 1 After penning this paragraph I read, in " the London Museum" of July 2G, with sorrowful 
 emotion, an account of his death, with notices of some of his literary works. By this memoir 
 it appears that he possessed varied and useful talents ; that though educated and professionally 
 devoted to a church long noted for intolerance and bigotry, he was perfectly exempt from those 
 unchristian qualities ; that he encountered many troubles and vicissitudes in the eventful French 
 Revolution : and that he was at once a topographer, herald, artist, poet, and, " the noblest work 
 of God," an honest man. Mr. Beckford saw and appreciated his worth, and treated him as a 
 companion and a friend. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 19 
 
 the obligation and increase the illusion in a tenfold degree. The event, the 
 time, the associations of reality and romance, of nature and art, can neither 
 be forgotten nor described. 
 
 It would afford me much gratification to express thankfulness to other per- 
 sons, from whom I had a right to expect friendly and useful cooperation; 
 but, as I cannot praise, I forbear to censure. 
 
 Rivalry in literature, as well as in the arts and in trade, is useful to the 
 public; for it excites emulation and competition. I have encountered my 
 share, and am prepared to meet more; though I have suffered, and must 
 continue to suffer in the conflict. It will, however, be my ambition to con- 
 tinue to deserve as long as I continue to seek public approbation. It will 
 also afford me much consolation in the evening of life to reflect that the 
 spirit of competition thus roused has tended to give employment and energy 
 to many artists and artisans, conferred honors on the meritorious and honest, 
 but reduced those of opposite character to just disgrace. The candid, open 
 rival I not only willingly compete with, but even applaud; for I wish to fulfil 
 that maxim in its fullest sense, of " Doing to others as I Avould they should 
 do unto me." 
 
 The reader who expects to meet with a Catalogue Raisonne, or list of the 
 numerous works of art, fancy, and ingenuity belonging to Fonthill Abbey, 
 and which in its time of publicity constituted part of its attraction and inte- 
 rest, will be disappointed ; for I have purposely avoided entering on such 
 an extensive and multifarious subject. They have been enumerated, and 
 many of them characterized, in Mr. Christie's Sale Catalogue; and to copy 
 the pages of that, or attempt to rival it, Avould neither be consistent with my 
 feelings or be in unison with the general tenor of the ensuing pages. To 
 Mr. Christie I am personally obliged, and if any sincere commendation of 
 mine could either confer a favour on him, or afford him a moment's pleasure, 
 it would give, me equal pleasure to offer it : but his general urbanity, learning, 
 and refined taste are well known to almost every person in this country who, 
 like him, possess those estimable qualifications. 
 
20 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF fONTHILL ABBE V. 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 TO 
 
 JOHN BROADLEY, ESQ. F. S. A. ETC. 
 
 OF SOUTH ELLA, YORKSHIRE. 
 
 You, my dear sir, are well acquainted with all the literary works of the 
 author who now addresses you — know their general merits and defects, and 
 are also familiar with the sentiments, situation, and circumstances of the 
 humble individual who produced them. In his fortunes and misfortunes — 
 pleasures and mortifications, you have manifested a friendly and generous 
 sympathy. To no one, therefore, can he declare his opinions and avow his 
 feelings more confidentially and freely than to yourself. Your friendship has 
 been tried and proved; your patronage has been honourable to your head 
 and heart : and it is anxiously hoped that the author has merited, and will 
 continue to deserve it. Attached to the pleasures, to the luxuries of litera- 
 ture, you have stored your library with many of its choicest flowers : for you 
 are well aware that these continue to preserve their delightful tints and 
 fragrance in all seasons and in all ages. The eye and mind can perpetually 
 turn to, and derive repeated enjoyments from the finer works of the pen and 
 pencil, whilst corporeal pleasures are evanescent, and less within the control 
 of the will. At a time when the chief amusements of many country gentlemen 
 are in the chase, and the gun, feats of bodily activity, sottish indulgence, or the 
 vulgar and degrading imitation of coachmen and boxers, you have fortunately 
 and rationally sought amusement, and at the same time obtained pleasure 
 and information, from the immortal productions of the best authors and 
 artists. These, my esteemed friend, are the greatest benefactors of mankind ; 
 for they at once create an appetite for intellectual food and supply the table. 
 Their viands never satiate, but on the contrary acquire increasing zest and 
 
ADDRESS TO JOHN BROADLEY, ESQ. 
 
 21 
 
 improving- nutritiveness by repetition and indulgence. " The Pleasures of 
 Memory/' " The Pleasures of Imagination/' and " The Pleasures of Hope" 
 have been themes for three interesting English poems: and it cannot be 
 doubted that the respective poets received, as they have also communicated, 
 much intellectual pleasure in producing and reflecting on their respective pro- 
 ductions. " The Pleasures of Taste " would afford an admirable subject for the 
 harmonious and accomplished author of the poem first named : for he possesses 
 an intimate knowledge of elegant literature and the fine arts, which may be 
 regarded as equally the parents and the offspring of taste. The cultivation and 
 possession of this refined faculty, this great attribute of moral and intellectual 
 excellence, advances man in the scale of humanity, and exalts him above his 
 fellow mortals. Every gradation of beauty, every variety of form, colour, and 
 proportion is duly estimated and appreciated by him : he cultivates the best 
 sources of pleasure for his own mental gratification, and imparts a corres- 
 ponding feeling to his associates. A man of taste is, therefore, one of the 
 greatest ornaments to society ; having studied beauty and harmony, he 
 perceives their highly commanding and fascinating powers, and consequently 
 is averse to every thing vulgar, ugly, and discordant. True taste is the 
 attribute of sensibility, of genius, and of wisdom : it hallows and adorns 
 every thing it touches; it endows its possessor with a new and peculiar 
 sense, or rather gives an additional power to all the other senses. If it were 
 more cultivated among the higher classes of men, who by wealth and rank 
 have so much influence on the fashions, manners, and morals of society, 
 we should not so frequently be offended by inappropriate and common-place 
 designs in our mansions, churches, and public buildings : we should find that 
 genius and talent would be called into exercise, and rewarded ; and that the 
 fine arts of England would soon rival, if not surpass, the over praised produc- 
 tions of antient Greece and Italy. A laudable and enthusiastic ambition to 
 excel will necessarily grow out of liberal and discriminating patronage : the 
 examples of a Bedford, Devonshire, Stafford, Lansdowne, Essex, Grosvenor, 
 Bridgewater, Spencer, Leicester, Long, Beckford, Hope, and others, who 
 love and appreciate art, must improve the public taste, benefit the country, 
 and reflect immortal honour on their respective names. Nothing will tend 
 
 D 
 
22 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 more effectually to accomplish these desirable purposes, than the publication 
 of such works as have lately been produced by the Duke of Bedford, and 
 are preparing by the Earls of Bridgewater and Essex. Publications like 
 these give energy and excitement to the author and artist, — bring them into 
 intimate union and rivalry, and render the talents of the one illustrative of 
 the other. Until the former studies and understands the fine arts, and the 
 latter cultivates literature, they will fail to accomplish their high and com- 
 manding destinations. 
 
 Whate'er of Nature's pregnant stores, 
 Whate'er of mimic Art's reflected forms, 
 With love of admiration thus inflamed 
 The powers of fancy, her delighted sons 
 To three illustrious orders have referr'd; 
 Three sister graces, whom the painter's hand, 
 The poet's tongue confesses; the sublime, 
 The wonderful, the fair. 
 
 Akensidcs Pleasures of Imagination. 
 
 Reflecting on the spacious, novel, and extraordinary building of Fonthill and 
 its splendid contents; remembering the intellectual society and studies of the 
 founder; bearing also in mind the contents of your valuable library, and the 
 associations connected with it, induced me to address this volume to you, 
 and occasioned the remarks already made. It was my intention, at the com- 
 mencement, to state how much I have been obliged and gratified by your pos- 
 session of the copies of " The Architectural Antiquities" and u The Cathedral 
 Antiquities? with proofs, etchings, and the original drawings : in the purchase 
 of these unique works you have conferred an honour and favour on the 
 author, and manifested a liberality of patronage which he reflects on with 
 pleasure and acknowledges with gratitude. Monarchs and nobles in other 
 ages and other countries might have coveted such collections, and have con- 
 ferred and derived distinction in attaining them. In the present country and 
 age it has been the enviable lot of a private gentleman to possess these works, 
 and thereby to impress a lasting sense of obligation on 
 
 July 10, 1823. THE AUTHOR. 
 
FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 ENGLISH MANSIONS: DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF FONTHILL: — NATURAL AND ARTI- 
 FICIAL CHARACTER OF THE PLACE AND ADJACENT COUNTRY : — THE OLD HOUSE, 
 
 PARK, AND SCENERY: LORD NELSON'S VISIT TO THE ABBEY : — ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 GROUNDS, ETC. WITHIN THE INCLOSURE. 
 
 The mansions and parks of many of the English nobility and gentry are 
 proper objects of curiosity and interest to the inquisitive traveller. Embel- 
 lished and preserved as they are with laudable pride by their respective 
 possessors, they become truly noble and imposing features of the country. 
 Contrasted with the barren heath, the sterile moor, the monotonous plain, 
 and the rugged mountain, they are replete with sweetness, beauty, and 
 loveliness. They delight the eye and fascinate the senses. To the man of 
 taste and man of the world they afford varied sources of pleasing and 
 interesting reflections : to the middle and lower classes of society they 
 become monitors and friends; for they afford them employment, support, 
 and protection. Formerly they were often possessed by the haughty and 
 tyrannical baron : now they are generally the abode of benevolence, urbanity, 
 hospitality, and elegance. The country mansion usually displays the most 
 distinguished architectural excellence ; whilst its interior is adorned with the 
 
24 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 choicest works of art and literature. In the pleasure grounds and parks are 
 often seen some of the most beautiful and picturesque scenery of the island. 
 True English comfort and English luxury are the characteristics of the 
 Englishman's country seat : and nothing has tended more to adorn and 
 enrich Great Britain than the distribution of these over its surface. From 
 the Land's End in the west to the northern borders of Northumberland, they 
 are not only numerous, but fine in feature and beneficial in effect. The 
 notice of a few will serve to verify these remarks, and at the same time lead 
 the mind to a due estimate of the seat which furnished the theme of the 
 present volume. Passing the palaces of Windsor, Hampton Court, Kew, 
 and Kensington, we may regard Blenheim as the first mansion of the country. 
 It was the generous gift of our nation to reward and honour military talent 
 and worth : and it cannot but excite the deepest regret that worth and talent 
 are not hereditary. At Blenheim art and nature are exhibited on a grand 
 scale : the house, the bridge, the extended park, the broad and irregular 
 lake, and its forests of wood are picturesque, imposing, and sublime. Castle 
 Howard, Chatsworth, Holkham, Burleigh, and Longleat are all great and 
 noble : but each is distinguished from the others by its local features, peculiar 
 beauties, and individual style of architecture. Sloiue is justly noted for its 
 extensive pleasure grounds, with the numerous temples, bridges, columns, 
 and arches that adorn it; whilst Trentham Hall, Tabley, and Cassiobury 
 are remarkable for their protection and display of works of English art, as 
 well as for other beauties and excellences. The Leasowes, Hagley, Pierce 
 field, Hafod, Houghton, and Slraivberry Hill have been honoured and 
 praised by their respective essayists and historians. Woburn Abbey, War- 
 wick Castle, Arundel Castle, Petivorth, and Helvoir Castle are all highly 
 interesting, for their respective buildings and contents, as well as for the 
 local scenery ; and, like most of those already named, are accessible to 
 the public. Salisbury has long been famed for the splendid and interesting- 
 seats in its vicinity. At Longford Castle is a very fine collection of pictures, 
 also a singular antient work of art, a steel chair, covered with a profusion of 
 historical figures and groups in relief. Wilton House is enriched also with 
 many curious and valuable paintings, and likewise a museum of antient 
 
FONTHILL, OLD HOUSE. 25 
 
 Greek and Roman sculpture. Longleat, already named, is a magnificent 
 edifice, seated in a noble park, and is also adorned with several valuable 
 pictures. In its vicinity is Stourhead, long- distinguished and much admired 
 for its romantic and beautiful pleasure grounds, bold terraces, and treasures 
 of art and literature contained within its spacious rooms. This seat demands 
 a more particular tribute of applause from my pen, as containing a choice 
 and valuable topographical library, and also many of the finer works of our 
 native artists. At Wardoiq Castle, in the same part of Wiltshire, is a fine 
 mansion, the ruins of an antient castle, and a collection of pictures : but the 
 late mansion of Fonthill, built by Alderman Beckford, and occupied for many 
 years by his son, the present William Beckford, Esq. had long been regarded 
 as the most attractive and splendid seat in the west of England. It was 
 a handsome, uniform edifice, consisting of a centre of four stories, and two 
 wings of two stories, connected by corridors, built of fine stone, and adorned 
 with a bold portico, resting on a rustic basement, with two sweeping flights 
 of steps : its apartments were numerous, and splendidly furnished. They 
 displayed the riches and luxury of the east ; and on particular occasions 
 were superbly brilliant and dazzling. Whilst its walls were adorned with 
 the most costly works of art, its sideboards and cabinets presented a 
 gorgeous combination of gold, silver, precious metals, and precious stones, 
 arranged and worked by the most tasteful and skilful artists and artisans. 
 Added to these splendours, these dazzling objects, apparently augmented 
 and multiplied by large and costly mirrors, was a vast, choice, and valuable 
 library. This was dispersed in different rooms, and thus afforded the 
 resident visitor endless and invaluable sources of amusement and instruction. 
 Some idea may be formed of the extent, &c. of the house by the measure- 
 ment of its great entrance hall, in the basement story, which was eighty-five 
 feet ten inches in length, by thirty-eight feet six inches in breadth. Its roof 
 was vaulted, and supported by large stone piers. One apartment was 
 fitted up in the Turkish style, with large mirrors, ottomans, &c. whilst others 
 were enriched with fine sculptured marble chimney-pieces, painted ceilings, 
 and every thing luxurious. Splendid, however, as it was, and presenting as 
 
26 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 \ 
 
 it did such fascinations, it was placed in a low, damp, and unhealthy 
 situation, on the margin of a broad lake, and at the base of a hill covered 
 with woods. Dissatisfied with this situation, its proprietor doomed it to 
 fall, and be dispersed, with nearly all its contents. The materials of the 
 house alone was sold for ten thousand pounds. One wing is left standing. 
 Fonthill at that time, as well as last year, was thronged with visitors. 
 (See Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxxi. p. 853.) 
 
 The park surrounding this house was diversified in surface and adorned by 
 groves of fine old wood ; whilst the lowest valley was occupied by a broad 
 lake. On the east bank of this was a romantic but richly cultivated pleasure 
 ground, with deep caves in the rocks, ornamental baths, grottoes, &c. Every 
 thing around this mansion, and within its walls, manifested taste and luxury 
 not twenty years back : now the scene is changed, as by the wand of enchant- 
 ment ; for on the site of the mansion we see the sheep nibbling the wild grass 
 — instead of the choicest plants and flowers in the pleasure grounds, reared 
 and guarded by art and labour, we meet with the entangling briar and rank 
 weed. What was softness, smoothness, and beauty, is now abruptness, 
 roughness, and deformity. Such is the picture of Fonthill House that ivas. 
 It will now be my duty to portray Fonthill that is. The former is passed 
 away, and would have been scarcely known but for the useful and per- 
 petuating services of the pen and pencil. By the aid of these valuable 
 implements we shall be enabled to transmit to distant countries and to remote 
 ages the features and characteristics of 
 
 Fonthill Abbey. This mansion continued to be enveloped in mystery, 
 and to be a theme of conjecture for many years, until the summer of 1822, 
 when its gates and doors were opened to the public, and crowds of people 
 from all parts of the island and from distant countries flocked to examine its 
 features and investigate its contents. The house, lawns, groves, and glades, 
 which had formerly been shut out from the gaze of strangers, were now 
 thronged by multitudes of wondering and admiring visitors. In consequence 
 of extraordinary depreciation of West Indian property and produce, whence 
 Mr. Beckford had derived the greater part of his riches, and having expended 
 
COMMENCEMENT OP THE ABBEY. 27 
 
 » 
 
 immense sums of money in building Fonthill Abbey, he was induced to offer 
 a considerable part of its valuable contents to sale in that year. A catalogue 
 was made out, and the whole confided to the disposal of Mr. Christie. 
 
 An extraordinary and unprecedented curiosity had been excited, and 
 which can only be accounted for from the many marvellous stories circulated 
 respecting the place — the amazing talents and faculties of its founder — the 
 conspicuous and original aspect of the towers, &c. from distant parts, and 
 the resolute determination of the proprietor in denying access to all inquirers 
 and applicants: princes, dukes, and other nobles having vainly solicited 
 admission within the walls, excited both wonder and curiosity; for whatever 
 is difficult to attain, and rare in quality, is sought for and coveted with 
 increased avidity. Determined to produce an edifice uncommon in design, 
 and adorn it with splendour; knowing and properly appreciating the insa- 
 tiable curiosity of the English, and that no common means would restrain 
 it from breaking in upon domestic privacy, and encroaching on the regular 
 occupation of artificers and workmen, Mr. Beckford commenced his works 
 by raising a high wall around a tract of land above six miles in extent. 
 This was guarded by projecting railing on the top, in the manner of c/tevaux 
 de /rise, and thus constituted a sort of fortified barrier. Large and strong 
 gates, or rather double gates, were provided in this wall, at the different 
 roads of entrance to the interior. At these gates were stationed persons 
 who had strict and rigid orders not to admit a stranger. Thus provided 
 and protected, and after many other preparations had been made, the 
 foundation of the present building was laid in the year 1795. A vast 
 number of mechanics and labourers were employed to advance the works 
 with rapidity. The neighbouring villages were thronged with inhabitants, 
 and a new village, or hamlet, was built to accommodate some of the new 
 settlers. All around was activity and energy: whilst the growing works 
 of the edifice, as the scaffolding and walls were raised above the surrounding 
 trees, excited the curiosity and speculations of the passing traveller, as well 
 as the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. It was generally inferred that some- 
 thing wonderful was in progress; for as the inclosed grounds were carefully 
 guarded against the admission of strangers, these naturally became the more 
 
28 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OP FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 inquisitive, and were the more vague, extravagant, and marvellous in their 
 inferences and reports. To enhance this surprise, and afford new scope for 
 this spirit of speculation, a novel scene was presented in the winter of 
 1800: during the dark and inclement season of November and December in 
 that year, it is related that nearly five hundred men were successively 
 employed night and day to expedite the works : and in the darksome and 
 dreary nights of those months, they prosecuted their labours by torch and 
 lamp light. The prospect of an illuminated edifice, as seen from a distance, 
 with flitting lights and busy workmen, must have produced a singular and 
 mysterious effect. This event was " harvest time" to the men employed; 
 for if they worked hard they were amply repaid : and it is an unanswerable 
 maxim that " reward sweetens labour." 
 
 The cause of this most extraordinary exertion and activity was a visit of 
 Lord Nelson, with Sir William, Lady Hamilton, &c. to Fonthill. The * Hero 
 of the Nile," as he was then called, and Lady Hamilton, had excited great 
 notoriety : the one by his courage, naval skill, and conquests, and the other 
 by her personal attractions and abilities. Mr. Beckford having invited them, 
 with several other friends, to his splendid seat, first received and then 
 treated them in an extraordinary manner; for the accomplished author of 
 Vathek had determined to exemplify by practical illustration some of the 
 theories of that original romance. If he had not five wings to his palace, or 
 " five other palaces, for the particular gratification of each of the senses," he 
 had concentrated within his own walls, and around his mansion, the most 
 delightful blandishments of art, the fascinations of talent, and the choicest 
 luxuries for the palate: besides the most rare and delicious viands, fruits, 
 and wines, with odoriferous plants, flowers, and essences, some of the first 
 vocal and instrumental performers were engaged, a military band was pro- 
 vided, the Fonthill volunteers were prepared and disciplined, the house was 
 fitted up with increased splendour, and on the 20th of December, 1800, a 
 large cavalcade was introduced to the mansion. In passing through Salis- 
 bury Lord Nelson was escorted into and out of that city by the yeoman 
 cavalry, and was presented with the freedom of Sarum by the Mayor and 
 Corporation in their council house assembled. The festivities at Fonthill 
 
LORD NELSON'S VISIT TO FONTHILL. 29 
 
 continued for some days, and the company consisted of persons of distin- 
 guished talents and qualifications. The abbey, or monastic fete, on the 
 evening of the twenty-third, was the most remarkable period of this gala. 
 A procession of carriages, horses, soldiers, &c. moved from the old house to 
 the abbey in the evening. Flambeaux, torches, and many thousand lamps 
 were distributed on the sides of the road among the woods ; whilst bands of 
 music and files of soldiers were stationed in different places to greet and 
 charm the company as they passed. Every thing, indeed, was provided to steal 
 upon the senses, to dazzle the eye, and to bewilder the fancy. After passing 
 through a long, winding, umbrageous avenue — after hearing the sounds of 
 distant, near, and varied instruments, with their reverberations among the 
 woods and dells, and contemplating the vivid and solemn effects of bright 
 flitting lights and deep shadows, the company was conducted to the abbey, 
 where a new, impressive, and mystical scene, or succession of scenes, were 
 presented. For an account of this I cannot do better than quote a letter, 
 written at the time : — " After entering a groined gothic hall, through a 
 double line of soldiers, the parties were received in the great saloon, called 
 the cardinal's parlour, furnished with rich tapestries, long curtains of purple 
 damask before the arched windows, ebony tables and chairs studded with 
 ivory, of various but antique fashion ; the whole room in the noblest style of 
 monastic ornament, and illuminated by lights on silver sconces. At the 
 moment of entrance they sat down at a long table, occupying nearly the whole 
 length of the room (fifty-three feet), to a superb dinner, served in one long line 
 of enormous silver dishes, in the substantial costume of the antient abbeys, 
 unmixed with the refinements of modern cookery. The table and sideboard 
 glittered with piles of plate, and a profusion of lights, not to mention a 
 blazing Christmas fire of cedar, and the cones of pine which united to increase 
 the splendour and to improve the coup-cVa>il of the room. It is needless to 
 say that the highest satisfaction and good humour prevailed, mingled with 
 sentiments of admiration at the grandeur and originality of the entertain- 
 ment. Dinner being ended, the company moved up stairs to the other 
 finished apartments of the abbey. The staircase was lighted by certain 
 mysterious living figures, at different intervals, dressed in hooded gowns, 
 
 E 
 
30 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OP FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 and standing with large wax torches in their hands. A magnificent room, 
 hung with yellow damask, and decorated with cabinets of the most precious 
 japan, received the assembly. It was impossible not to be struck, among 
 other objects, with its credences (or antique buffets), exhibiting much trea- 
 sure of wrought plate, cups, vases, and ewers of solid gold. It was from 
 this room that they passed into the library, fitted up with the same appro- 
 priate taste. The library opens by a large gothic screen into the gallery, 
 which when finished will be more than two hundred and seventy feet long. 
 About half this length is now fitted up and furnished in the most impressive 
 monastic style. A superb shrine, with a beautiful statue of St. Anthony in 
 marble and alabaster, the work of Rossi, placed upon it, with reliquaries 
 studded with brilliants of immense value, the whole illuminated with a grand 
 display of wax lights, on candlesticks and candelabras of massive silver, gilt, 
 exhibited a scene at once strikingly splendid and awfully magnificent. The 
 long series of lights on either side of the room, resting on stands of ebony, 
 enriched with gold, and those on the shrine all multiplied and reflected in the 
 great oriel opposite from its spacious squares of plate glass, while the whole 
 reflection narrowed into an endless perspective as it receded from the eye, 
 produced a singular and magic effect. 
 
 " As the company entered the gallery a solemn music struck the ear from 
 some invisible quarter, as if from behind the screen of scarlet curtains which 
 backed the shrine, or from its canopy above, and suggested ideas of a 
 religious service ; ideas which, associated as they were with so many appro- 
 priate objects addressed to the eye, recalled the grand chapel scenes and 
 ceremonies of our antient Catholic times. After the scenic representation a 
 collation w as presented in the library, consisting of various sorts of confec- 
 tionary, served in gold baskets, with spiced wines, &c. whilst rows of chairs 
 were placed in the great room beyond, which had first received the company 
 above stairs. A large vacant space was left in front of the seats. The 
 assembly no sooner occupied them than Lady Hamilton appeared in the 
 character of Agrippina, bearing the ashes of Germanicus in a golden urn, 
 and as presenting herself before the Roman people with the design of 
 exciting them to revenge the death of her husband; who, after having been 
 
LORD NELSON'S VISIT. 
 
 31 
 
 declared joint emperor by Tiberius, fell a victim to his envy, and is supposed 
 to have been poisoned by his order at the head of the forces which he was 
 leading against the rebellious Armenians. Lady Hamilton displayed with 
 truth and energy every gesture, attitude, and expression of countenance 
 which could be conceived in Agrippina herself, best calculated to have moved 
 the passions of the Romans in behalf of their favourite general. The action 
 of her head, of her hands and arms in the various position of the urn, in her 
 manner of presenting it before the Romans, or of holding it up to the gods 
 in the act of supplication, was most classically graceful : every change of 
 dress, principally of the head, to suit the different situations in which she 
 successively presented herself, was performed instantaneously, with the most 
 perfect ease, and without retiring, or scarcely turning aside a moment from 
 the spectators. In the last scene of this beautiful piece of pantomime, she 
 appeared with a young lady of the company, who was to personate her 
 daughter: her action in this part was so perfectly just and natural, and so 
 pathetically addressed to the spectators, as to draw tears from several of 
 the company. It may be questioned whether this scene, without theatrical 
 assistance of other characters and appropriate circumstances, could possibly 
 be represented with more effect. The company, delighted and charmed, 
 broke up and departed, at eleven o'clock, to sup at the mansion house. 
 
 " On leaving this strange nocturnal scene of vast buildings and extensive 
 forest, now rendered dimly and partially visible by the declining lights of 
 lamps and torches, and the twinkling of a few scattered stars in a clouded 
 sky, the company seemed, as soon as they had passed the sacred boundary of 
 the great wall, as if waking from a dream, or just freed from the influence of 
 some magic spell '." 
 
 If the Abbey of Fonthill was susceptible of such effects in an early stage 
 of its erection, it must now be greatly enhanced in capability and conse- 
 quence ; for it is at least four times larger than it was at the time of that 
 fete. Before I proceed to describe the present fabric, it will be expedient to 
 make a few remarks on its situation and surrounding scenery. 
 
 • Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxxi. p. 297, &c. This account was probably written by 
 Mr. Tresharu, It. A. 
 
 4 
 
32 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OP FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 The site of the abbey is a lofty terrace, having an abrupt descent to the 
 south, a continued but irregular surface to the east and west, and terminating 
 each way with a high knoll and steep ridge. Northward the ground slopes 
 more gently ; but from the natural height of situation, and the altitude of the 
 edifice, it is seen from a considerable distance in every direction. Its towers 
 also command very extensive and diversified views : to the south are seen the 
 woods and buildings of Wardour Castle, terminated by a long bare ridge of 
 the plain, or downs : southwestward the eye ranges over the rugged sandy 
 knoll of Donhead; beyond is the town of Shaftesbury, and an extensive 
 tract of Dorsetshire. Immediately to the west are descried the irregular 
 grounds of East and West Knoyle, also the town of Mere, backed by the 
 fine woods of Stourhead. A little to the northward the eye embraces an 
 extensive range of Somersetshire, with the vast woods about Longleat. 
 Directly to the north is seen the borough town of Hindon, with extensive 
 but flat tracts of down country : contrasted to which, looking eastward, the 
 eye dwells with delight on a broad fertile valley, abounding with woods, 
 enlivened with seats and villages, and enriched with the manufacturing town 
 of Wilton, and the interesting city of Salisbury. Such are the general 
 objects and features surrounding, but at some distance from, the Abbey. 
 Immediately within the domain, and within the walled inclosure, there is 
 much diversified, picturesque, beautiful, and romantic scenery — an alterna- 
 tion of hill and dale, of terrace and valley, of wood and lawn, of rugged 
 wildness and dressed parterres, with a sort of mountain lake, are the distin- 
 guishing features of the place. As variety is ever pleasing to the eye and 
 mind, both must be gratified here : for the various inequalities of the ground 
 have been rendered more intricate and mazy by the disposition of plantations 
 and multiplicity of intersecting and winding drives. 
 
 To particularize all the features and characteristics of the varied grounds 
 and scenery of this domain would require a very extended essay; and 
 however extensive and apposite in language, it would probably fail in doing 
 justice to the subject or to the writer's feelings. Descriptive language is 
 rarely satisfactory to the reader. A Milton, a Scott, a Byron, a Radcliffe, 
 and a Woolstonecroft have rendered it impressive and interesting : but these 
 
ROADS OF APPROACH. 33 
 
 admired authors have generally adorned their scenery with the flowers of 
 rhetoric, and have made it fascinating by the personages connected with it, 
 and by the varied lights and shades of fancy. To notice the numerous roads, 
 paths, ridges, dells, knolls, woods, and lawns, within the inclosed area of the 
 Fonthill grounds, would certainly serve to extend the pages of this volume, 
 and would also afford ample scope for the exercise of description: but fear- 
 ing it would be tedious and prolix to the reader, I decline attempting it. 
 
 In addition to what has been already said respecting the scenery it may be 
 remarked generally, that great diversity of outline and inequality of surface, 
 long terraces, steep ridges, conical knolls or hills, with winding vales and 
 narrow glens, are its natural and distinguishing features : whilst a profusion 
 of woods, resembling forests, tend to enrich and diversify these features. 
 
 There are two Roads of approach to the Abbey, each dissimilar to the 
 other, and each remarkable for its romantic and picturesque character : that 
 from the north-east, or from the town of Hindon, winds round the side and 
 gradually ascends the slope of a hill. This eminence, of an amphitheatrical 
 form, is covered with woods of varied character and age, and forms a solemn 
 background to several cottages, which are dispersed on its side. These, with 
 some very grand old elm and ash trees, and a winding road, present a 
 variety and succession of romantic and picturesque scenes which cannot fail 
 to interest and gratify the eye of the artist, and remind him alternately of 
 Poussin and Ruysdael, of Salvator and Wilson, of Gainsborough and 
 Turner. A wild and rather mountainous character pervades this approach 
 to the Abbey ; whilst true rusticity and active husbandry mark the appear- 
 ance and manners of the inhabitants. The eye does not detect any of the 
 gay and polished appendages of splendour : even the gates of entrance to the 
 grounds and the lodge, or rather cottage of the keeper, are plain and common. 
 After passing these the road is very steep and rugged, overhung and skirted 
 by a forest of large, old, and picturesque trees j some shooting their thin 
 steins towards the firmament in straight, perpendicular, and tapering forms; 
 whilst others are seen spreading their curved and twisted branches in thou- 
 sands of fantastic shapes. At the distance of about a quarter of a mile from 
 the gates just noticed, the visitor emerges from this umbrageous road, and 
 
34 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 comes almost close upon the building. This point has been already noticed. 
 (See p. 2, and Plate IV.) 
 
 The other road of approach from the old park, and after passing the 
 village inn, is very dissimilar to that just described. It is about a mile in 
 length, and is carried over very undulating grounds, and through a romantic 
 wood, which, in places, seems almost impervious to the eye and to the sun. 
 In a dell, about midway between the first entrance to this wood and the 
 mansion, is a second gate similar to that mentioned at the other approach. 
 Hence to the Abbey is a gentle regular ascent through woods, and joining 
 the former road near the east end of the building. 
 
 Previous to commencing an examination and account of the Abbey itself, 
 I apprehend that some readers will expect further notices of the grounds 
 and scenery. From a distance, in every direction, the whole appears an 
 eminence covered with woods : but by traversing the various rides within 
 these woods, we find a few small open spaces, with numerous dells and 
 valleys. About a mile west of the Abbey is the highest point of ground, 
 called JBeacon Hill, or Cliffe, on which is the foundation of a triangular 
 tower, intended to have been raised to a considerable height, and which then 
 would have formed a conspicuous object from distant parts of Dorsetshire, 
 Somersetshire, and Wiltshire. To the south and west of this is a very steep 
 ridge, covered with forest trees, and near the base of the hill is a small lawn, 
 surrounded by Alpine shrubs and firs, and adorned with a Norway cottage. 
 Here the solitary hermit might retreat from the busy world, with all its 
 cares, and its jealousies, and its charms, to meditate on the past, the present, 
 and the future. It seems the poet's and painter's solitude ; but the solitude 
 of cheerfulness, not of gloom. To the north-west of Beacon Hill, and after 
 crossing a narrow forest road, is a winding drive through Riddle Moor- 
 woods, about two miles in length, to a bold commanding promontory, called 
 Knoyle-corner : near this are some moss-houses, and different avenues cut 
 through the woods. One of these forms a grand natural cursus, and conducts 
 the stranger to the east along the Great Terrace, skirted by a belt of planta- 
 tions to the north, and by a long narrow valley to the south. The inclosed 
 Abbey-grounds rise gradually from this valley, covered with woods, in which 
 
AMERICAN PLANTATIONS. 35 
 
 we perceive alternate masses of oak, beech, pine, &c. From amidst these 
 the turrets, towers, and pinnacles of the Abbey are seen to rise, at once 
 crowning the eminence, and presenting from different points of view, and 
 under the ever changing effects of light and shade, a succession of beautiful 
 and interesting pictures. Intersecting and beneath one part of this terrace 
 is the public road from Hindon to Fonthill, &c. The drive here descends 
 to the bottom, and passes by three or four regular landshuts (as called in 
 Wiltshire) or natural terraces, rising one above the other 2 . Near this spot 
 are the kitchen gardens, with extensive hot and green houses, filled with the 
 choicest and most luxurious fruits and flowers. 
 
 Returning to the Abbey-grounds we have to notice one of the most 
 attractive and, to many visiters, the most interesting places within their 
 precincts : this is the American plantations, near the bottom of a hill, 
 directly south of the Abbey, and on the bank of Bittern-lake. All visiters 
 must be delighted with this spot in fine weather ; for here grows, in apparent 
 native wildness, almost every kind of the American flowering shrub and 
 tree. The magnolia, azalia, rhododendron-ponticum, coccinea-aurantina, 
 coccinea-major-flammea, rosa-carolinensis, calicanthus-floridus, angelica, ro- 
 binia-latifolia, with different species of andromeda, abound here ; and, in 
 the floAvering season, perfume the air with their spicy effluvia : 
 
 " While groves of Eden, vanish'd now so long, 
 Live in description, and look green in song." 
 
 The luxuriance of the shrubs and trees in this part of the grounds, the 
 wildness of some spots contrasted with the smoothness and softness of 
 others, the shape and undefined borders of the lake, all conspire to render 
 it interesting to every person; but more peculiarly so to the artist and 
 
 * Some visionary antiquaries have fancied these landshuts to be artificial, and to have been 
 formed by our ancestors in times of warfare; but this irrational theory, as well as that of attri- 
 buting the small circular hollows in the granites of Cornwall, &c. to the Druids, as basins to hold 
 the blood of slaughtered victims, is scarcely deserving of philosophical comment or argument. 
 Having carefully and sceptically examined both these subjects, I am persuaded they are refer- 
 able to natural causes only; and therefore satisfactorily and rationally to be accounted for. 
 
36 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 botanist. A profusion of English and foreign heaths are planted on the 
 sides of the paths. In a deep hollow, apparently the crater of a volcano, is 
 a Lake which, though of small extent, is a fine feature of the grounds, 
 whether viewed from the Abbey, from various stations among the woods, or 
 from different parts of its banks. The latter are skirted and fringed with 
 woods, whose pendent branches hang over, are reflected in, and kiss the 
 rippled wave. Flocks of wild ducks, cootes, &c. with the long necked 
 heron, abound here in all seasons, and serve at once to diversify and give 
 interest to the scene 3 . In a narrow dell, at the southern extremity of this 
 lake, is a large wheel with attached hydraulic machines for forcing water 
 up the hill to supply the house. 
 
 3 A print of the Abbey from this lake is engraved for No. X. of Havell's " Views of Seats;" 
 in which work are Views and Accounts of Longleat, Corsham House, and Stourhead, in this 
 county. 
 
37 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL PARTS OP THE BUILDING, WITH REFERENCE TO THE 
 
 ACCOMPANYING PRINTS : VIZ. GENERAL REMARKS : THE HALL : THE OCTAGON : 
 
 EDWARD THE THIRD'S GALLERY: ORATORY: THE LANCASTER ROOMS: 
 
 ST. MICHAEL'S GALLERY : THE DRAWING ROOMS : CABINET ROOMS, ETC. 
 
 " Towers and battlements it sees, 
 Bosom'd high in tufted trees." MILTON. 
 
 The accompanying prints will furnish the stranger with general ideas of the 
 arrangement, extent, style, and effects of the edifice called Fonthill Abbey. 
 To the persons who have examined it, who have admired, or have disap- 
 proved it, either in the whole or in parts, these representations will serve to 
 revive pleasurable sensations, or afford materials for comment and censure. 
 That a building of such magnitude, erected by a person of vast wealth and 
 talents, and seen under such various prepossessions of partiality and pre- 
 judice, should be the subject of opposing and contradictory criticism is not 
 surprising: it is more remarkable that it has been so generally panegyrized. 
 Had the redoubtable " knight errant" who opposed all " architectural inno- 
 vation" 1 seen the building, he would have buckled on his armour, rested his 
 
 1 The late Mr. John Carter, an enthusiastic admirer of the antient architecture of England, 
 continued a series of papers, for many years, in the " Gentleman's Magazine," under this title: 
 in which he severely animadverted on and reprobated all new " gothic" works that were not 
 built in rigid conformity to old specimens. Though I have always admired his enthusiasm and 
 
 F 
 
38 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 lance, and spurred his charger to the desperate rencontre : he would have 
 thrust at every weak point — and aimed some deadly blows at the architect : 
 for he would have detected many parts that were not faithfully copied from 
 famed standard examples. Such neglects were the " dragons " which ex- 
 cited his vengeance ; and the architect of Fonthill Abbey was consequently 
 often assailed by .him. 
 
 Accustomed as I have been for many years to examine minutely and 
 critically the cathedrals and finest churches of the country — to analyze their 
 many parts and beauties — investigate their principles of construction and 
 endless varieties of form, detail, and effect, I could easily write a volume of 
 comment and criticism on the building now under notice : but however well 
 such a volume might be written, however plausible the tone of argument, and 
 sound the opinions, I am doubtful of its utility, and am not at all inclined to 
 undertake the task. It is true that errors and bad taste in every department 
 of art are proper subjects for literary animadversion ; and that a public 
 edifice, as well as pictures and statues, submitted to public exhibition, or a 
 published book, is and ought to be amenable to the canons of criticism ; but 
 I cannot forget, or be insensible of, the sound axiom of Pope, that 
 
 " Ten censure wrong for one who writes (or designs) amiss." 
 
 It is easy to cavil, it is the easiest of all species of writing, — as of all flippant 
 conversation or talk, it is very easy to find fault : but it is difficult to adminis- 
 ter just and discriminating praise. It is also an arduous and delicate task 
 to appreciate all the varieties and grades of merit which belong to a novel 
 work of art. Every novelty not only occasions comment, but almost invari- 
 ably provokes censure ; for envy and jealousy have too much ascendancy in 
 
 devotion to the subject, I cannot coincide in his opinions. Had the architects of the reigns of 
 Henry the Third and of Edward the First, or those of Henry VI. and VII. been influenced by 
 this principle, we never should have been indulged and delighted with that infinite variety, those 
 numerous beauties and rarities of antient architecture which now tend so much to gratify every 
 lover of the subject, and which afford such distinguishing and interesting ornaments to the 
 country. 
 
REMARKS ON THE BUILDING. 
 
 39 
 
 the human breast. Without, therefore, animadverting on the faults or 
 incongruities of the building of Fonthill, and without pointing out its devia- 
 tions from genuine examples, it will be most accordant to my feelings, and 
 in unison with my general maxims, to describe it " as it is." 
 
 From the annexed plan and views, from what has been already said, and 
 what remains to be noticed, it is evident that Fonthill Abbey is an unique 
 building 2 ; that it is large and lofty, of varied forms, styles, and character; 
 that many of its parts are designed more for effect than mere domestic 
 utility ; and that externally and internally it presents a succession of scenes 
 which cannot fail to produce powerful impressions on the imagination. It 
 may be easily supposed that the author of Vathek, with a vivid fancy, a mind 
 stored with information from extensive travel, and more extensive reading, 
 and with a vast fortune, would not be satisfied with any thing of common- 
 place or even usual character. He would require novelty, grandeur, com- 
 plexity, and even sublimity; and it may be safely asserted, that no style 
 or class of architecture is so well adapted to effect these purposes as the 
 gothic, or ecclesiastical. This affords a boundless scope to fancy, is suscep- 
 tible of endless forms and combinations, is calculated to be either beautiful 
 or romantic, elegant or sublime. The ecclesiastical architects of the middle 
 ages knew its capabilities, and frequently employed them in furtherance of 
 these views. A reference to the many splendid cathedrals and monastic 
 churches on the continent and in England, will verify these remarks. With 
 multitudes of columns and arches, pinnacles and buttresses, crypts below, 
 
 2 Gilpin, whose many volumes on " Picturesque Beauty," &c. are replete with eloquent 
 writing and sound criticism, has the following strange note in his " Observations on the Western 
 Part of England," written about 1778, and published in 1798, " Since this was written," i. c. a 
 few lines about Fonthill, " I have been informed that Fonthill hath been much improved; par- 
 ticularly that a cathedral hath been built of the full dimensions of a genuine one. As Mr. VVyatt 
 was the architect, it must be a noble edifice; and, if it be properly stationed, it must be a grand 
 decoration." Never, perhaps, was a stranger jumble of ideas and language put in a smaller 
 compass ; and I can only account for its appearance by supposing that the compositor inserted 
 it after the proof sheet had been returned by the author. In the course of my literary labours I 
 have suffered by the improvements and corrections, as called, of an insolent printer in this way. 
 
40 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 and long galleries above, tombs of monarchs, knights, and prelates of high 
 historic renown, and with painted windows 
 
 £( Casting a dim religious light," 
 
 that mind must be dull, phlegmatic, and vapid indeed that can wander 
 through them unmoved, or not be roused to some degree of admiration and 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 Plates II. III. IV. and V. serve to display the external disposition and 
 forms of the building ; but these, like miniatures, are only indications or 
 hints to the mind, through the medium of the eye. The architect and artist 
 reads and understands them, as a musician extracts harmony from lines and 
 notes ; and the person who has viewed the building, from the same points, 
 is immediately reminded of the impressions and associations made on the 
 spot. Hence the utility and value of faithful engravings or drawings of 
 interesting buildings and scenes. 
 
 " Crowning a gradual hill the mansion rose 
 In antient English grandeur : Turrets, spires, 
 And windows, climbing high from base to roof 
 In wide and radiant rows, bespoke its birth 
 Coeval with those rich cathedral fanes 
 (Gothic ill named) where harmony results 
 From disunited parts ; and shapes minute, 
 At once distinct and blended, boldly form 
 One vast majestic whole." 
 
 Blasorts English Garden. 
 
 Fonthill Abbey may be said to consist of five great portions or members, 
 each of which contains several subdivisions: 1. the hall: — 2. the central 
 tower :— 3. the north wing: — 4. the eastern portion : — and 5. the south wing. 
 The entrance hall, or grand vestibule, is a large and lofty apartment : it is 
 entered by a spacious door-way, with a pointed arch, and to which are 
 attached a pair of tall folding doors, with a small door inserted. These 
 
GREAT HALL. 41 
 
 doors are thirty feet high, divided by ribs or mouldings, studded with nails, 
 and supported by ponderous of hinges. The hall measures sixty-eight feet 
 long, by twenty-eight feet wide, and seventy-eight in height. The annexed 
 print (Plate VI.) shews its principal decorations and style. Three tall 
 windows, on the south side, with stained glass by Eginton, serve to give 
 light to the interior, and a small window, with stained glass, is inserted near 
 the top of the gable. " The coup-d'-ceil of the hall," says the Literary 
 Gazette, " is indescribably fine." The intelligent writer in the Gentleman's 
 Magazine, already referred to, says, " The lofty western portal, whether 
 viewed from without or from the floor of the hall, may with some propriety 
 be considered disproportionately high, but view it from the floor of the 
 octagon, and it will be found that any diminution of its height would destroy 
 one of the finest effects produced in this stately edifice. It will also be 
 acknowledged that the ease with which the ponderous doors are said to turn 
 on the hinges is not the only merit to be ascribed to them." They seem, 
 indeed, " The gates of monarchs," and are 
 
 " Arch'd so high that giants may jet through, 
 And keep their impious turbans on." 
 
 The references in the ground plan have been already noticed; and the 
 numerous armorial decorations on the cornice and on the timber roof in this 
 apartment are specified in the following table, which refer to the several 
 heiresses from whom Mr. Beckford derives the privilege of quartering them. 
 
TABLE I. 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL QUARTERINGS OF WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. IN THE GREAT HALL. 
 
 (15) 
 
 Osbert tie Crespon, Stew-=j=AIbreda, daughter and coheir 
 ard of Normandy. of Ralph, Earl of Yveky. 
 
 (11) (12) (14) I (20) (21) 
 
 Roger de BEL-=j=Adelina, sister William Fitz- Malcolm =pMargaret, WALTHEOF,=pElfleda, daughter Ralph de Mes-=pLucy, daughter 
 
 (26) (27) 
 Ralph de MESCHiNES,=pMargarel, sister and heir of Hugh 
 Earl of Chester. Lupus, Earl of Chester. 
 
 .<«) 1??). L - — : r^i . . (28) 
 
 and heir of osbert, Earl Canmore, 
 
 Hugh, Earl of of Hereford. King of 
 
 Mellent. Scotland. 
 (13) 
 
 heiress of Earl of Nor- 
 the Saxon thumberland. 
 Kings. 
 
 and coheir of Al- chines, Earl of 
 bred, Earl of Chester. 
 Northumberland . 
 
 and heir of Al- 
 gar, Earl of 
 Leicester. 
 
 (25) 
 
 Roger de Bellomont, Ralph de Gwadyr, Earl=pEmina, daughter and heir David, King=pMaud, daughter and coheir of Wal- Ralph de Gernons, 
 Earl of Leicester. of the East Angles. | of William Fitzosbert. of Scotland. theof, Earl of Northumberland. Earl of Chester. 
 
 I i 1 I . (24) r 1 
 
 Robert de Bellomont, Earl of=j=Itta, daughter and heir of Ralph de Gwadyr. Henry, Earl of Huntingdon. Hugh de Kevelioc, Earl of Chester. 
 Leicester. 
 
 I — 1 (16) . (17) (18) _ I ,(19) 
 
 Robert de Bellomont,=j=Parnel, daughter and coheir of Rowland, Lord of=j=Ellen, sister and heir of David, Earl of Hunt-=pMaud, daughter and at 
 
 Earl of Leicester. 
 
 (10) 
 
 Hugh de Grantesmenil. 
 
 Galloway. 
 
 William Morville. 
 
 ingdon, Scot. 
 
 length coheir of Hugh. 
 Earl of Chester. 
 
 Saber de Quincy, Earl=j=Margaret, daughter and coheir of 
 
 of Winchester. 
 
 Robert, Earl of Leicester. 
 
 Alan, Lord of=j=Margaret, daughter and at length heir 
 Galloway. of David, Earl of Huntingdon. 
 
 Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, d. 1264.=pHelena, daughter and coheir of Alan, Lord of Galloway. 
 
 (9) . | ; — 1 . (31) (32) 
 
 Alexander Comyn, Earl— Elizabeth de Quincy, daughter and co- Archibald Douglas, Lord=pMargaret, daughter and coheir 
 of Buchan.d. 1289. 
 (5) (9 
 Sir Leonard Leslie =pCatherine Muir, heiress Alexander Comyn, 
 1273. of Taces in Fife. Earl of Bucbau. 
 
 i ' W I . . . J 
 
 Sir Norman Leslie. Hugh Ross, Earl=j=Margaret, daughter of Alexander and niece and William de Douglas, 
 
 U=j=H 
 
 heir of Roger, Earl of Winchester. Douglas, d. 1240. of Sir John Craufubd. 
 
 Sir Andrew Douglas, 1248. 
 
 of Ross, 1323. 
 
 Sir Andrew=j=Mary, daughter and co- William Ross,: 
 Leslie, 1320. heir of Sir Alexander Earl of Ross, 
 Abernethy. 1370. 
 
 coheir of John Comyn, Earl of Buchan. 
 
 (29) 
 
 1296. 
 
 (40) 
 
 Thomas Littleton, juxta 
 
 (33) 
 
 Bradford, com. Wiits. 
 
 (39) l 
 
 Jsabel, daughter and Sir James Douglas, =f=Mary, daughter and heir Roger — .=FJane Lit- 
 heir of John, Earl of of Loudoun, 1306. 
 Caithness. 
 
 Walter Leslie, Earl of Ross, 1379.=^=Euphaine. daughter and coheir 
 
 of William, Earl of Ross. 
 
 (4) 
 
 of Sir William Doug- 
 las of Liddell. 
 
 (30) 
 
 Sir John Douglas, of 
 Liddell, d. 1350. 
 
 tletou. 
 
 Roger - 
 
 (38) 
 
 Sir David Hamilton, of Cadzow,=j=Margaret, coheir to her neice Euphame, Sir James Douglas, of Dal- Thomas ATronD,=pEditha, daugh 
 
 d. 1373. 
 
 J 
 
 Countess of Ross 
 
 Sir David Hamilton, of Cadzow, 
 d. about 1395. 
 
 Sir John Hamil 
 
 I 
 
 KEITH, d. 1420. 
 
 (37) 
 
 juxta Bradford . ~| ~ ter and heir 
 
 James Douglas, Lord Dalkeith, Thomas Hai l, of Bradford,=pAlice, daughter of Thomas and sister and 
 d. about 1446. co. Wilts. heir of Peter Atford. 
 
 ilton, of Cad/.ow, 1398. James Douglas, Lord Dalkeith, d. 1457. Thomas Hall, of Bradford. 
 
 ' (43) (44) . _ | (41) 
 
 James Hamilton, Lord James Douglas, Earl Thomas RoGERs,=j=Cecilia, daughter and heir Nicholas Hall, of=pMargaret, daughter and heir of 
 
 Hamilton, d. 1460. of Morton, 1458. of Bradford 
 
 James Hamilton, 2d Lord John Douglas, 2d Earl 
 
 Hamilton, d. 1479. of Morton. 
 
 (3) I I 
 
 James Hamilton, Earl James Douglas, 3d Earl 
 
 of Arran, d. 1530. of Morton. 
 
 James Hamilton, Duke of=pMargaret, eldest daughter and co- 
 Chatelherault, d. 1575. | heir of James, Earl of Morton. 
 
 (35) 
 
 William Besill. 
 
 Bradford 
 
 Claud Hamilton, Lord 
 Paisley, d. 1621. 
 
 William Rogers, of 
 Bradford. 
 
 Anthony Rogers, of 
 Bradford. 
 
 Anthony Rogers, of 
 Bradford. 
 
 (36) 
 
 . Esq- J 
 
 (42) 
 
 William Besill. 
 
 Thomas Hall, of=pAlicia, daughter and heir of 
 Bradford, Esq. Bowyer, of Wilton, co.Wilts. 
 
 William Hall, of 
 Bradford, Esq. 
 
 Thomas Hall, of 
 Bradford, Esq. 
 
 John Coward, of West=j=Katherine, daughter and coheir 
 . Pennard, com. Som. of Thomas Leigh, of Wells. 
 
 I 1 
 
 James Hamilton, Earl of Abercorn, 1618. 
 
 Sir George Hamilton, d. 1679. 
 James Hamilton, d. 1673. 
 
 Thomas Coward, of Wells, 1623. 
 William Coward, of Wells, d. 1666. 
 
 Dorothy, daughter and heir=j=Sir John Hall, of 
 of Anthony Rogers. Bradford, Kt. 
 
 John Hall, of Bradford, Esq. 1623. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hall, of Bradford, Kt. d. 1663. 
 
 William Coward, Esq. Serjeant at Law, and M. P.=j=Bridget, daughter of Sir Thomas, and sister and sole heir 
 for Wells, d. 1705. of John Hall, of Bradford, Esq. d. 1682. 
 
 I . . C 34 ) . . I ,. 
 
 James Hamilton, 6th Earl of=?=Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Colonel William Coward, 
 
 of Abercorn, d. 1734. Reading, Bart. d. 1754. M. P. for Wells, d. 1716. 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 (2) 
 
 Peter Beckford, Esq.=j=Bathshua, daughter and coheir 
 d. 1735. I of Julines Herinc, Esq. 
 
 Hon. George Hamilton,=pBridget, daughter and heir of William 
 d.1775. Coward, Esq, d. 1775. 
 
 William Beckford. Esq. d. !770.=pMaria, daughter and coheir of Hon. George Hamilton, d. 1798. 
 
 (i) T 
 
 William Beckford, Esq. 
 1823. 
 
SALOON : EDWARD THE THIRD'S CALLER V. 
 
 43 
 
 Ascending by a flight of twenty-two steps, guarded by a stone ballustrade on 
 each side, we approach through a small but lofty vestibule, the octangular 
 apartment, saloon, or louvre, beneath the central tower : this presents a 
 magnificent and imposing scene, or rather series of scenes, and is on a scale 
 and in harmony with the spacious entrance hall. Standing in the centre, and 
 looking up to the north, east, south, and west, the stranger will perceive a 
 succession and variety of objects and effects, which cannot fail of pleasing, 
 surprising, and delighting. One of these scenes is portrayed in PI. VI. Eight 
 piers, composed of clustered demicolumns, with eight tall narrow arches, of 
 eighty feet in height, constitute the first story, or lower division. Four of 
 these arches, to the east, west, north, and south, respectively communicate to 
 the dining-room, the hall, Edward's gallery, and St. Michael's gallery. The 
 four other spaces, between the piers, have corresponding arches, with recesses 
 in the wall, occupied by tall windows above, of bright stained glass, and 
 scarlet curtains of ample folds beneath : above the arches is an open gallery, 
 with a perforated stone balustrade. This gallery is approached by the great 
 circular staircase at the north-west angle, and communicates to four small 
 sitting-rooms, over which are corresponding bed-rooms. This division of the 
 tower is called the nunneries, because the nuns choir, in some female convents, 
 was a gallery placed above the public congregation. The triforium or gallery 
 between the roof of the ailes and clere story is often, but without any meaning, 
 called the nunneries s . Springing from the capitals of eight lofty columnar 
 shafts, at the angles of the octagon, is a series of diverging groins, or ribs, 
 which support a lanthorn, and another groined roof. Four sides of this 
 octagonal room are shown in PI. VII. 
 
 North of the octagonal saloon, as shewn in the plan, is a long narrow room, 
 divided into three compartments, and respectively called the Gallery of 
 Edward III. marked d. in the plan : the vaulted corridor, e. and the sanc- 
 tuary, or oratory, f. The first, or Edward's gallery, is so named from a 
 series of splendid armorial emblazonments, which mark the numerous descents 
 of Mr. Beckford and Lady Margaret Gordon from that monarch. In the 
 subjoined Table these descents and connections are displayed. 
 
 3 See Glossary in vol. ii. of Pugin's " Specimens of Gothic Architecture." 
 
44 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 TABLE II. 
 
 DESCENT OF WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. AND OF THE LADY MARGARET GORDON, HIS WIFE, FROM KING 
 EDWARD THE THIRD, FOUNDER OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER. 
 
 Edward III. King of England, died 1 377 =p PmnpPA of Hainault, Qneen of England, d. 1369. 
 
 John Plantagenet, of Gaunt, Duke of Lan-=j=Catherine, daughter of Sir Payne Roet, relict of Sir 
 caster, King of Castile and Leon, d. 1399. Otho de Swinford, d. 1403. 
 
 John de Beaufort, Marquis of Dorset and=j=Margaret Holland, daughter of Thomas and sister 
 Earl of Somerset, d. 1410. and coheir of Edmond, Earls of Kent, d. 1440. 
 
 James I. King of Scotland, d. 1436.^=Joan de Beaufort, daughter of John, Marquis of 
 
 Dorset, d. 1446. 
 
 James II. King of Scot-=j=Mary of Gueldres, daughter of George Gordon, 2d Earl=j=Jaue Stuart, daughter of King 
 
 land, d. 1460. 
 
 Arnolph, II. Duke of Gueldres, 
 d. 1466. 
 
 James Hamilton, 2d Lord=j=Mary Stuart, eldest daughter of 
 Hamilton, d. 1479. King James II. d. 1463. 
 
 James Hamilton, Earl of=pJanet Beaton, or Bethune, dangh- 
 Arran, d. 1530. ter of Sir David Beaton. 
 
 ?arl=j=Ja 
 
 of Huntly, d. 1507. Jamesl. 
 
 Alexauder Gordon, 3d=j=Janet Stewart, daughter of John, 
 Earl of Huntly, d. 1523 
 
 Earl of Athol. 
 
 John Gordon, Lord Gor-=j=Jane, natural daughter of James 
 don, d. 1517. IV. King of Scotland. 
 
 James Hamilton, Earl of=pMargaret Douglas, eldest daugh- 
 Arran and Duke of Cha- ter and coheir of James, 3d Earl 
 telherault, d. 1575. of Morton. 
 
 George Gordon, 4th Earl=j=Elizabeth Keith, daughter of 
 
 of Huntly, slain 1562. 
 
 Robert, Lord Keitii. 
 
 Claud Hamilton, Lord: 
 Paisley, d. 1621. 
 
 Margaret Seton, daughter of 
 George, 6th Lord Seton. 
 
 George Gordon, 5th Earl=j=Anne Hamilton, daughter of 
 of Huntly, d. 1576. James, Earl of Arran and Duke 
 of Chatelherault. 
 
 James Hamilton, 1st Earl=j=Marian Boyd, daughter of Tho- 
 of Abercorn, d. 161B. mas, Lord Boyd. 
 
 George Gordon, 1st Mar-=j=Henrietta Stewart, daughter of 
 quis of Huntly, d. 1636. Esme, Duke of Lenox. 
 
 Sir George Hamilton, 4th=j=Mary Butler, daughter of Tho- 
 son, d. 1679. mas, Viscount Thurles. 
 
 George Gordon, 2d Mar-=f=Aniie Campbell, daughter of 
 quis of Huntly, d. 1649. I Archibald, 7th Earl of Argyll. 
 
 James Hamilton, eldest=j=Elizabeth Colepeper, daughter of Charles Gordon, Earl of=?=Elizabeth Lyon, daughter of 
 
 son and heir apparent, d. 
 1673. 
 
 John, Lord Colepeper. 
 
 Aboyne. 
 
 John, Earl of Kinghorn. 
 
 Sir James Hamilton, ()th=j=Elizabeth Reading, daughter and 
 Earlof Abercorn, d. 1734. heir of Sir Robert Reading. 
 
 Charles Gordon, 2d Earl=j=Elizabelh Lyon, daughter of 
 
 of Aboyne, d. 1705 
 
 r 
 
 George Hamilton, 2d sur-=j=Bridget Coward, daughter and John Gordon, 3d Earl of= 
 
 viving son of James, 6th 
 Earlof Abercorn, d. 1775. 
 
 heir of William Coward, Esq. 
 
 Aboyne, d. 1732. 
 
 Patrick, Earl of Stratbmore. 
 
 =Grace Lor.khart, daughter of 
 George Lockhart, of Caruwath. 
 
 William Beckford, of=j=Maria Hamilton, daughter and 
 Fonthill Gilford, Esq. d. coheir of the Hon. George Ha- 
 1770. milton. 
 
 Charles Gordon, 4th EarL^Margaret Stewart, daughter of 
 of Aboyne, d. 1794. Alexander, 7th Earl of Gallo- 
 I way. 
 
 William Beckford, of Fonthill-=Margaret Gordon, daughter of 
 Gift'ord, Esq. 182S. Charles, Earl of Aboyne. 
 
EDWARD THE THIRD'S GALLERY. 45 
 
 A full length portrait of Edward the Third, copied from one at Windsor, 
 and seventy-two emblazoned shields round the frieze, of knights companions 
 of the most noble order of the garter, and from whom Mr. JBeckford and his 
 lady are lineally descended, are parts of the adornments of this splendid 
 gallery. In the recesses of the eastern wall are six bookcases, and in the 
 centre a fine alabaster chimney-piece ; opposite to, and corresponding with 
 which are seven pointed windows, with stained glass. A flowered red 
 damask is hung against the walls ; purple and scarlet cloth adorn the win- 
 dows and recesses, whilst the ceiling is ornamented with numerous pannels 
 and mouldings, intersecting each other in rich and picturesque confusion. On 
 each side of the fire-place is a cabinet, carved in imitation of the style of 
 the Elizabethan age, in which singularity if not beauty of design is as con- 
 spicuous as extreme labour and excellence of execution. A series of black 
 tables and candelabras is ranged on the side of the room, between the 
 windows, whilst an interesting and costly Mosaic Table formed of the most 
 precious agates and marbles, is shewn in the centre. 
 
 The Corridor, e. or approach to the oratory, is a continuation of the 
 Edward Gallery, and is designed to produce a solemn and gloomy effect. 
 The ceiling is arched over, and, with the sides, covered with numerous 
 gilt and painted ribs and pannels. Three perforated bronze doors, on each 
 side, communicate with mysterious recesses, somewhat resembling monastic 
 confessionals. A doorway from the eastern recess leads to the Lancaster 
 staircase tower, g. which forms one approach to an upper gallery, and leads 
 to bedrooms in the tower above. Around the frieze of the corridor are 
 thirty-eight emblazoned shields, marking Mr. Beckford's and his late Con- 
 sort's descents from King Edward I. through the house of Butler, as exem- 
 plified in the following genealogical table. 
 
 + This splendid table consists of a large slab, nine feet by four feet six inches, placed on a 
 carved oak stand, or frame of four uprights, with as many feet. The slab, called " pietre cotn- 
 messe," is ornamented with an oval compartment in the centre, of mammillated oriental onyx, 
 surrounded by specimens of rare and beautiful jaspers and breccia, " and with a broad border of 
 bold arabesque, of various costly and uncommon marbles, and edged with variegated marble." 
 This slab formerly belonged to the Borghese Palace in Rome. 
 
 G 
 
TABLE 111. 
 
 SHEWING THE DESCENT OF WILLIAM EECKFORD, ESQ. AND OF LADY MARGARET GORDON, HIS WIFE, 
 THROUGH THE ILLUSTRIOUS HOUSE OF BUTLER, AND BY AN EQUAL NUMEER OF GENERATIONS, FROM 
 KING EDWARD THE FIRST. 
 
 Edward I. Kiug of England, J. 1307.=pELEANOR of Castile, dau. of Ferdinand III. King 
 
 of Castile and Leon, d. 1290. 
 
 Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford=y=Elizabetb Plantagenet, 7tli dau. of King Edward I. 
 and Essex. and Queen Eleanor, d. 1316. 
 
 James Butler, Earl of Ormond, d. 1337.=r=Eleauor de Bohun, 2d dau. of Humphrey, Earl of He- 
 reford, by the Princess Elizabeth. 
 
 James Butler, second Earl of Orinond,=pElizabeth Darcy, dau. of John, Lord Darcy, Lord 
 d. 1382. Justice of Ireland. 
 
 James Butler, third Earl of Ormond,=j=Anne Welles, dau. of John, Lord Welles, 
 d. 1405. 
 
 4th 
 
 Sir Richard Butler,=j=Catherine O'Reilly, dau. of 
 
 2d son. 
 
 Gildas, Lord of the county 
 of Cavan. 
 
 d. 1464. 
 
 Moelrony O'Carroll. 
 
 d. 1487. 
 
 8th Earl of Ormond, 
 created Earl of Osso- 
 ry, d. 1539. 
 
 Gerald, 8th Earl of Kildare. 
 
 I hen 
 Kil 
 
 John Butler, of Kil-=j=Catherine Mac Carthy, dau. 
 
 cash, Esq. 3d son, 
 d. 1570. 
 
 of Connac 
 Reagh. 
 
 Mac Carthy 
 
 Sir Walter Butler,: 
 11th Earl of Ormond, 
 d. 1632. 
 
 Thomas Butler, Vis-: 
 count Thurles, d. 
 1619. 
 
 =HeIena Butler, dau. of Ed- 
 mund, Viscount Mouutgar- 
 ret, d. 1631. 
 
 ^Elizabeth Poyntz, dau. of 
 Sir John Poyntz, of Acton, 
 com. Glouc. 
 
 Sir George Hamil-=pMary Butler, dau. of Tho- 
 
 ton, 4th son of James 
 1st Earl of Abercom, 
 d. 1679. 
 
 mas, Viscount Thurles, and 
 sister of James, Duke of 
 Ormond. 
 
 James Hamilton, d ==Elizabeth Colepeper.dau. of 
 1673. John, Lord Colepeper. 
 
 James Hamilton, 6th=j=Elizabeth Reading, dau. and 
 Earl of Abercorn, d. heir of Sir Robert Read- 
 1734. ing, Bart. 
 
 George Hamilton, d.=j=Bridget Coward, dan. and 
 1775. heir of William Coward, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 William Beckford,=pMaria Hamilton, dan. and 
 
 Esq. d. 1770. 
 
 coheir of the Hon. George 
 Hamilton, d. 1798. 
 
 James Butler, 
 Earl of Ormond. 
 
 =Jane Beauchamp, dau. of 
 William, Lord Aberga- 
 venny. 
 
 Sir Edmund Butler,=pCatherine O'Carroll, dau. of 
 
 Thomas Butler, 6tb=j=Anne Hanckford, dan. of 
 
 Earl of Ormond, heir 
 to his brother, the 
 5th Earl. 
 
 Sir Richard Hanckford, Kt. 
 
 Sir James ButIer,=pSabina Cavanagh, dau. of 
 
 Donell Reogh M' Mur- 
 rough Cavanagh, Prince of 
 his Sept. 
 
 Sir Pierce Butler,=j=Margaret Fitzgerald, dau. of 
 
 Sir William Bullen,=j=Margaret Butler, dan. and 
 
 Knight of the Balh, 
 d. 1505. 
 
 coheir of Thomas, Earl of 
 Ormond. 
 
 Thomas Bullcn, Earl=j=Elizabeth Howard, dau. of 
 of Wiltshire and Or- Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, 
 mond. 
 
 James Butler, 9lh=fJoan Fitzgerald, dau. and 
 Earl of Ormond. j heir of James, 11th Earl of 
 iildare. 
 
 QueenAnneBul- 
 i.en, Consort of K. 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 Queen of En- 
 gland. 
 
 N.B. It is a some- 
 what curious fact, 
 that Queen Eliza- 
 beth had not any an- 
 cestors (except her 
 royal father and mo- 
 ther) who are not 
 also ancestors to the 
 present Earl of A- 
 boyne, and, conse- 
 quently to his sister 
 the late Lady Marga- 
 ret Beckl'ord ; they 
 descending, through 
 Stanley and Bran- 
 don, from KingHen- 
 ry VII. and Eliza- 
 beth of York, and, 
 as here shewn, from 
 Mary, the sister of 
 Queen Anne Bullen. 
 
 Mary Bullen, dau.= 
 and coheir of Thomas 
 Earl of Ormond. 
 
 r 
 
 AVilliam Carey, Esquire of 
 the Body to King Henry 
 VII I. 
 
 Henry Carey, Lord=pAnne Morgan, dau. of Sir 
 Hunsdon, d. 1396. Thomas Morgan. 
 
 Robert Carey, Earl=j=Eliz. Trevanion, dau. of Sir 
 
 of Momnotith,d.l639. 
 
 Sir Thomas Whar-= 
 ton, son and heir ap- 
 parent of Philip, Lord 
 Wharton, d. 1622. 
 
 Hugh Trevanion. 
 
 Philadelphia Carey, dau. of 
 Robert, Earl of Monmouth. 
 
 PhilipWharton,Lord=j=Jane Goodwin, dau. and heir 
 Wharton, d. 1695. of Arthur Goodwin, Esq. 
 
 Sir George Lock-=pPltiladelpliia Wharton, dau. 
 hart, of Carnwath. | of Philip, Lord Wharton. 
 
 George Lockhart, of=j=EuphemiaMontgomery,dau. 
 Carnwath, Esq. d. of Alexander, Earl of Egliu- 
 1732. toun. 
 
 John Gordon, 3d Earl=j=Grace Lockhart, dau. of 
 of Aboyne, d. 1732. George Lockhart, Esq. 
 
 i 
 
 Charles Gordon, 4th=j=Margaret Stewart, dau. of 
 
 Earl of Aboyne, d 
 1794 
 
 Alexander, Earl 
 way. 
 
 of Gallo- 
 
 William Be'ckford, Esq. 1823.=Margaret Gordon, dau. of Charles, 4th Earl of Aboyne, d. 1786. 
 
SANCTUARY AND ORATORY. 
 
 47 
 
 North of the corridor is a square apartment called the Sanctuary, with a 
 flat ceiling, having several divisions of fan groining, with gilt pendants. 
 This room is peculiarly beautiful and impressive : it prepares the eye and 
 mind to approach and appreciate the Oratory (f.) at the northern extremity 
 of the gallery. This is formed of five sides of an octagon, with gilt columns 
 at the angles, from which spring a succession of fan-shaped ribs, with a 
 circular compartment in the centre. A richly chased golden lamp is sus- 
 pended from this. At the east end rises an altar, spread with a Persian 
 carpet of figured silk ; on which stands a marble statue of St. Anthony of 
 Padua, executed by Rossi with admirable taste and unaffected simplicity. 
 On each side of the altar are placed lofty candelabras, supporting tapers of 
 extraordinary size ; whilst two small lancet windows, filled with stained 
 glass, admit a little glimmering many coloured light. The union of beauty 
 and solemnity, of softness, repose, and harmony, which pervade this part of 
 the building, cannot be adequately described ; nor can it scarcely be imagined 
 by those visitors who have seen it only in its days of bustle and gaiety. When 
 dimly illumined by the rays of its own simply elegant lamp, which 
 
 " through the room 
 Teach light to counterfeit a gloom;'' 
 
 and by the admission of variegated gleams from the small windows, alternately 
 throwing vivid touches of brightness and deep shadow on the projections 
 and recesses of the statue, and the gilt mouldings ; — when the windows of the 
 adjoining gallery are shrouded by their crimson, purple, and gold draperies, 
 and the soft solemn organ sends its mellow tones through the echoing galle- 
 ries, whilst the odours of eastern perfumes contribute their fragrance to 
 feast another sense, it is more easy to fancy than to depict the seraphic 
 influence of such a scene. 
 
 Ascending by the Lancaster tower at g, or the larger staircase at e, 
 the stranger is conducted to a floor over the Edward gallery, consisting 
 of a stale bedroom, a gallery crowded with curious enamels, and pictures 
 
48 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 by early masters, and a tribune. The first is a square apartment, having a 
 handsome oriental alabaster chimney-piece, a large oriel window, facing the 
 west, and an ebony bedstead and furniture, part of which belonged to King 
 Henry the Seventh. Around the richly carved frieze are the royal badges 
 of the red rose and portcullis, in allusion to Mr. Beckford and his late 
 Consort, the Lady Margaret Gordon's " almost innumerable descents" from 
 the House of Lancaster ; some of the most remarkable of which are exempli- 
 fied in the two following Tables. 
 
TABLE IV. 
 
 SHEWING SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL DESCENTS OF WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. FROM THE HOl'SE OF 
 
 LANCASTER. 
 
 Edmond Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster,=j=BLANCH of Artois, niece of St. Louis, King 
 sou of King Henry III. d. 1296. of France. 
 
 Henry Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster, d. 1345. 
 
 Joan Plantagenet, 3d dau. 
 married John, Lord Mow- 
 bray. 
 
 John, Lord Mowbray. 
 
 Richard Fitzalan, == Eleanor Plantage-=f=John de Beau- Mary Plantagenet, Maud Plantagenet 
 Earl of Arundel. 
 
 net, 4th daughter. 
 
 Henry, Lord Beaumont. 
 
 5th dau. mar. Hen- 
 ry, Lord Percy. 
 
 2d dau. mar. Wil- 
 liam de Burgh, Earl 
 of Ulster. 
 
 Henry Percy, 
 Karl of Nor- 
 thumberland. 
 
 Thomas Mow- 
 bray, Duke of 
 Norfolk. 
 
 Isabel Mow- 
 bray, married 
 James, Lord 
 Berkeley. 
 
 Maurice, Lord 
 Berkeley. 
 
 Eleanor Mow- 
 bray .mar.John, 
 Lord Wells. 
 
 Thomas Hol-=pAlice Mary Fitzalau, John, Lord 
 land, Earl of Fitz- wife of John, Beaumont. 
 Kent. alau. Lord Strange. 
 
 Anne Wells, 
 married James 
 Butler, Earl of Dorset. 
 Ormond. 
 
 . , I 
 Richard But 
 ler. 
 
 John de Beau-=j=Margaret 
 
 fort, Marquis of 
 
 Holland. 
 
 James I.=j=Joan de 
 
 Lionel of An-= 
 twerp, Duke 
 of Clarence, 
 son of K. Ed- 
 ward III. 
 
 Elizabeth de 
 Burgh, dau. 
 and heir. 
 
 Edmund Mor-==Philippa Plan 
 
 timer, Earl of 
 March, 
 
 tagenet, Coun- 
 tess of Ulster. 
 
 Henry , Lord 
 Beaumont. 
 
 Henry Percy.=pElizabeth Morti- 
 mer. 
 
 King of 
 Scotland. 
 
 Beau- 
 fort. 
 
 Anakaret 
 Strange, mar. 
 Richard, 
 Lord Talbot. 
 
 John, 
 
 Viscount 
 
 Beaumont. 
 
 John, Lord=pElizabeth Pcrcv. 
 Clifford. 
 
 Thomas, Lord 
 Berkeley. 
 
 Edmond But- 
 ler. 
 
 James Butler. 
 
 Pierce Butler, 
 Earl of Or- 
 mond. 
 
 James Doug-=j=Joan Stuart, James II. Alice Tal- 
 
 las, Earl of 
 Morton 
 
 Princess of King of bot, wife 
 Scotland. Scotland. of Thomas 
 Barre. 
 
 Joan Beau- 
 mont, mar. 
 John, Lord 
 Lovell. 
 
 Philip Went-: 
 
 worth, 
 
 ;Mary 
 Clif- 
 ford. 
 
 Janet Douglas, John Doug- Mary Stuart, 
 mar. Patrick las, Earl of Princess of 
 Hepburn, Earl Morton. Scotland, 
 
 of Botbwell. 
 
 mar. James, 
 Lord Hamil- 
 ton. 
 
 Joan Barre, 
 mar. Willi- 
 am Catesby. 
 
 Janet Hepburn, James Doug- James Hamil- 
 mar. George, las, Earl of ton, Earl of 
 
 Lord Seton. 
 
 Morton. 
 
 Arran. 
 
 Henry 
 
 Went'i 
 
 twortli. 
 
 Fridiswide John Sey-=j=Margaret 
 
 Lovell, mar. 
 Edward 
 Norreys. 
 
 Jane Berkeley, James Butler, George, Lord Margaret=pJames Hamil- John Cates- Henry Nor 
 
 married Nicho- 
 las Poyntz. 
 
 Nicholas 
 Poyntz. 
 
 John 
 
 Poyntz 
 
 Earl of Or- 
 mond. 
 
 John Butler. 
 
 Walter Butler, 
 Earl of Or- 
 mond. 
 
 Seton. 
 
 George, Lord 
 Seton. 
 
 Douglas. 
 
 ton, Earl of 
 Arran, Duke 
 of Chatelhe- 
 rault. 
 
 by. 
 
 reys. 
 
 Went- 
 worth. 
 
 Edward Sey- 
 mour, Duke 
 of Somerset. 
 
 Margaret Se-==Claud Hamilton, 
 Lord Paisley. 
 
 Elizabeth=j=Thomas Butler, 
 Poyntz Viscount Thur- 
 les. i — 
 
 James Hamilton, 
 Earl of Abercorn. 
 
 Thomas Cates- 
 by. 
 
 Robert Catesby. 
 
 Hugh Catesby. 
 
 Mary Norreys, Edward Sey- 
 inarried Arthur mour. 
 Champer- 
 nowne. 
 
 Elizabeth Cham-=^=Sir 
 
 pemowne. 
 
 Id ward 
 Seymour. 
 
 Maria But-=pGcorge Hamilton, 
 ler. 
 
 James Hamilton. 
 James Hamilton, Earl of Abercorn. 
 
 Sir Edward Sey- 
 mour. 
 
 I . 
 
 Sir Thomas=j=Catherine 
 Hall. Seymour. 
 
 Amice Catesby, mar. 
 William Hastings. 
 
 William Hastings. William Coward.=pBridgct Hall. 
 
 I . . . I ' 
 
 Mary Hastings. =y=William Coward. 
 
 George Hamilton.=^=Bridgct Coward. 
 William Beckford.=f=Maria Hamilton. 
 William Beckford. 
 
TABLE V. 
 
 SHEWING SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL DESCENTS OF LADY MARGARET BECKFORD, FROM THE 
 
 HOUSE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 Edmond Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster, son of K. Henry III. <1. 1296.==Blanch of Artois, niece of St. Louis. 
 
 I 
 
 Henry Plautagenet, Earl of Lancaster. 
 
 Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Lancaster, 
 only son of Earl Henry, d. 1361. 
 
 Mauil Plantagenet of Lancaster, mar. William 
 de Burgh, Earl of Ulster. 
 
 Maud of Lancaster, eldest dau. and 
 coheir, mar. William V. Duke of Ba- 
 varia, and died without issue. 
 
 Blanch of Lancaster, sole heiress, mar. 
 John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 
 4th son of K. Edward III. 
 
 Elizabeth de Burgh, dau. and heir, 
 mar. Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Cla- 
 rence, 3d son of Edward III. 
 
 Henry IV. King of England, Philippa of Lancaster, con- Elizabeth of Lancaster, mar. Philippa Plantagenet, Coun- 
 whose issue became extinct, sort of John I. King of Por- John Holland, Duke of Exe- tess of Ulster, mar. Edmund 
 tngal. ter. Mortimer, Earl of March. 
 
 I ' I 
 
 Constance Holland.mar. John, 
 son of Reginald Grey, Lord 
 Grey de Ruthin, d. 1438. 
 
 Edmond de Grey, Earl of 
 Kent, Lord Treasurer of En- 
 gland, d. 1439. 
 
 Roger Mortimer, Earl of 
 March and Ulster. 
 
 Elizabeth Mortimer, married 
 Henry, Lord Percy, called 
 Hotspur. | 
 
 Anne Mortimer, married Elizabeth de Percy, 
 Richard Plantagenet, mar. John Lord Clif- 
 Earl of Cambridge. ford. I 
 
 Henry de Percy, 
 Earl of Northum- 
 berland, d. 1455. 
 
 Elizabeth de Grey, 
 mar. Robert, Lord 
 Greystock. 
 
 Elizabeth de Grey- 
 stock, dau. and heir, 
 mar. Thomas, Lord 
 Dacres. 
 
 William, Lord Da- 
 cres, of Gillesland, 
 d. 1564. 
 
 Anne Dacres, mar. 
 Henry Clifford, 
 Earl of Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 Frances Clifford, 
 mar. Philip, Lord 
 Wharton. 
 
 Sir Thomas W r har- 
 ton. 
 
 Anne de Grey, mar. Richard Planta- 
 John, Lord Grey de genet, Duke of 
 Wilton. York. 
 
 Edmond de Grev, 
 Lord Grey de Wil- 
 ton. I 
 
 William de Grey, 
 Lord Grey de Wil- 
 ton. 
 
 Arthur de Grey, 
 Lord Grey de Wil- 
 ton. 
 
 Elizabeth de Grey, 
 mar. Sir Francis 
 Goodwin. 
 
 J , - 
 Arthur Goodwin. 
 
 Edward IV. 
 King of En- 
 gland. 
 
 Thomas, Lord 
 Clifford. 
 
 John, Lord 
 Clifford. 
 
 Elizabeth of 
 York.mar.HtN- 
 ry VII. King of 
 England. 
 
 Mary Tudor, con- 
 sort of Lewis XII. 
 King of France : 
 2dly, of Charles 
 Brandon, Duke of 
 Suffolk. 
 
 Eleanor Brandon == 
 
 Henry de Percy, 
 Earl ofNorthum- 
 berland, d.1461. 
 
 Henry de Percy, 
 Earl of Northum- 
 berland, d. 1189. 
 
 Catherine de Percy, 
 married Edmond de 
 Grey, Earl of Kent. 
 
 Elizabeth de Anne de Grey, 
 
 Grey, mar. mar. John, Lord 
 
 Robert, Lord Grey de Wilton. 
 Greystock. 
 
 Henry, Lord 
 Clifford. 
 
 Henry de Percy, 
 Earl of Northum- 
 berland, d. 1527. 
 
 Henry Clif-=pMargaret Percy, 
 ford, Earl of 
 Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 Elizabeth de 
 Greystock, 
 mar.Thomas, 
 LordDacres. 
 
 William, Lord 
 Dacres. 
 
 Edmund de 
 Grey, Lord 
 Grey de Wilton. 
 
 William de 
 Grey, Lord 
 Grey de Wil- 
 ton. 
 
 Henry Clifford, Earl=j=Anue Dacres. 
 of Cumberland, 
 d. 1569. 
 
 Philip, Lord=j=Jane Goodwin. 
 Wharton. 
 
 Philadelphia Whar- 
 ton, mar. Sir George 
 Lockbart. 
 
 I .. 
 
 George Lockbart, of 
 Carnwath. 
 
 Grace Lockhart.mar. 
 John Gordon, 3d Earl 
 of Aboyne. 
 
 Charles Gordon, 4th 
 Earl of Aboyne. 
 
 Margaret Gor- 
 don. 
 
 =William Beck- 
 ford. 
 
 Margaret Clifford, mar. Henry 
 Stanley, Earl of Derby. 
 
 William Stanley, Earl of 
 Derby. 
 
 I 
 
 James Stanley, Earl of 
 Derby. 
 
 Emily Sophia Stanley, married 
 John Murray, Marquis of 
 Atbol. 
 
 Charles Murray, Earl of Dun- 
 more. 
 
 Anne Murray, mar. John Coch- 
 rane, Earl of Dundonald. 
 
 Catherine Cochrane, mar. Alex- 
 ander Stewart, Earl of Gallo- 
 way. 
 
 Frances Clifford, mar. 
 Philip, Lord Wharton. 
 
 Sir Thomas Wharton. 
 
 Arthur de Grey, 
 Lord Grey de 
 Wilton. 
 
 Elizabeth de Grey, mar. 
 Sir Francis Goodwin. 
 
 Arthur Goodwin. 
 
 Philip, Lord Wharton.=j=Jaue Goodwin 
 
 Philadelphia Wharton, 
 mar. Sir George Lock- 
 hart. 
 
 George Lockbart, of 
 Carnwath. 
 
 Grace Lockbart, mar. 
 John George Gordon, 
 Earl of Aboyne. 
 
 Susannah Eophemia Beckford, Dacbess of Hamilton. 
 
 Margaret Stewart.=j=Charles Gordon, Earl of Aboyne. 
 William Beckford =pMargaret Gordon. 
 
 Susannah Eupheniia Beckford, Duchess of Hamilton. 
 
DINING ROOM : BARONIAL HALL. 
 
 51 
 
 From the state bed-room a narrow gallery, with four recessed windows on 
 the western side, and china closets opposite, communicates to a small room 
 called the Tribune, which is filled with pictures, cabinets, &c. and opens by 
 a very picturesquely enriched balcony into the great octagon. 
 
 At the bottom of the square stairs, e. is a low and somewhat gloomy 
 apartment, c, surrounded with oak shelves, and filled with an immense and 
 valuable collection of porcelain, chiefly oriental. A small doorway commu- 
 nicates to a long narrow passage, o. on the north side of the new building. 
 On the left is a room n. with a large bay window ; and to the right is an 
 opening to the dining-room, h. ; which, with the rooms i. and k., are lighted 
 by the lower parts of three very large and lofty windows. Though the 
 rooms h. and i. are furnished and fitted up pro tempore, they are in an 
 unfinished state ; as, indeed, is the whole of this wing. The chief part of 
 the basement floor is occupied by a truly monastic looking kitchen ; and its 
 numerous appendages are such as would have suited a lordly abbot in the 
 most hospitable days of our antient ecclesiastical establishments. Over the 
 middle or principal floor of this wing is another floor, which was to have 
 been finished and fitted up as a grand baronial hall, commemorative of the 
 obtention and confirmation of Magna Charta. The armorial achievements 
 of all the barons who responded to the observance of that Charter, by the 
 reluctant monarch, were intended to adorn this most noble apartment : for 
 it is a remarkable fact, that Mr. Beckford or his lady have deduced their 
 direct descent from all the barons of whom any issue are remaining, and 
 who are named by Matthew Paris, as assembled on that memorable 
 occasion. The history of the Magna Charta transaction has never been 
 fully developed; but it is hoped that the united researches of historians, 
 antiquaries, and heralds will afford ample and authentic materials for such 
 a work 5 . 
 
 s This portion of the Abbey is well calculated to shew what the splendid proprietor intended ; 
 or, at least, it manifests his ideas of magnitude and grandeur. In general we find the architect 
 restrained by his employer; who is either limited in means or in ideas. The architect of Font- 
 hill was entirely released from both these restraints; for I am persuaded that he had free and full 
 scope for the exercise of all his professional talents : and had these been as considerable as 
 
52 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 South of the octagon is a long apartment called St. Michael's Gallery, 
 because the proprietor intended to have its windows painted with the arms 
 
 frequently ascribed to him, and had he been impelled by laudable ambition — had he bestowed 
 but common industry on the subject — had he felt that enthusiasm which the occasion de- 
 manded, and acted with that inflexible perseverance which his munificent employer had a right 
 to expect, we should then indeed have seen an edifice of surpassing magnitude, beauty, and 
 grandeur; one calculated to prove the fallacy and folly of the common notion, that all excellence 
 and merit in the ecclesiastical species of architecture was extinguished with the dissolution of 
 monasteries. That we have seen many failures and puerilities, is true ; but the first obstacle to 
 the accomplishment of any thing great and excellent is expense; and the second arises from the 
 difficulty of finding an architect and patron equally well informed, equally zealous, and cordially 
 unanimous. Every incentive and every opportunity appear to have been afforded to the sur- 
 veyor of Fonthill Abbey; but he was either insensible to their call, or incapable of employing 
 them to great and eminent results. All admirers of this interesting class of architecture must 
 look with sorrow and pain on every defect in a building where there were such inducements, 
 and which presented such favourable opportunities. The present hall has been rebuilt, of nearly 
 double its first dimensions : and the central tower is the third that has been raised! Such things 
 ought not to have occurred : for the man of science and genius, if provided with means, can 
 as easily throw a granite or iron arch across a broad river, as a carpenter can put together a 
 series of posts and planks: he can also raise a tall and permanent spire, like that of Salisbury, 
 or a noble cupola, like that of St. Paul's, as readily as a bricklayer can put up a stack of 
 chimneys, or build a common wall. Had a Shakspeare or a Milton studied architecture, 
 and been favoured with such opportunities as were presented at Fonthill, we should have seen 
 what genius could effect in this useful and powerful art. 
 
 " These are imperial works, and worthy kings." 
 
 Had not Pericles met with a Phidias, he would neither have deserved nor attained the fame 
 that now embalms his memory ; nor would the name of Greece have sounded so harmoniously to 
 the classic ear; but the fortunate and cordial cooperation of wealth and talent can almost 
 
 *' Raise a mortal to the skies, 
 Or call an angel down." 
 
 It is on all occasions an ungracious as it is a painful task, to criticise the works of the dead; 
 but the dead cannot feel or suffer from censure, and the living must be benefited by liberal and 
 discriminating inquiry. I cannot help thinking it false delicacy and bad policy to pass over the 
 errors and defects of artists, because they have terminated their earthly career, and can " sin no 
 more." Authors are not thus privileged and protected; for their productions are subject to 
 endless animadversion. A Parthenon, a St. Peter's, and a St. Paul's are likewise public 
 
ST. MICHAEL GALLERY — PAINTED GLASS. 53 
 
 of the knights of that Order, from whom he traces descent. At the entrance 
 to this room, from the octagon, is a pair of folding doors, of oak, glazed 
 with plate glass, and ornamented with mullions and tracery. Near these 
 doors, on the west side, is a circular staircase, which communicates to a 
 suite of apartments over the gallery, and which Mr. Beckford occupied as a 
 private sitting-room, library, bed-room, and dressing room. The St. Michael 
 gallery has five pointed arched windows on the west side, three oriels on the 
 east, two of which are over fire-places, and one of larger dimensions at the 
 south end. Its roof is vaulted, and adorned with fan-shaped tracery, which 
 spring from angel-brackets. Each of the angels holds an emblazoned 
 escocheon, whilst a series of several others are painted, by Sarney, on the 
 frieze. These are charged with the arms of Mervyn, Hamilton, Seymour, 
 Zouche, Rohan, Hall, Coward, Latimer, &c. The windows of this apartment 
 are richly decorated with painted glass, by Eginton, of arms and historical 
 figures, the latter of which are copied from pictures by Hamilton. The very 
 beautiful window nearest the south end of this gallery is filled with painted 
 
 property, and therefore appropriate subjects for public criticism. These, like the writings of 
 Homer, Milton, and Shakspeare, increase in estimation and value in proportion to the intensity of 
 investigation employed on them. Modern architecture also, if excellent, must be better known and 
 appreciated by animadversion. If, as in the instance before us, an artist has accpiired untenable 
 fame, it cannot last. In consecpience of some designs he made for Downing College, Cambridge, 
 in the year 1804, Mr. Hope, who proves his ample qualifications for criticising such works, 
 wrote and published the following remarks: " Neither elevations nor sections display a single 
 instance of fancy, a single spark of genius, to make up for their many faults. Every thing alike 
 in them is trite, common-place, nay, often vulgar. The pile has so little a character of its own, 
 that the style of the gateway soars not above that of a common park entrance, and the rest of the 
 building might, but for the niches within the portico and the heavy tower over it, be mistaken for 
 a gentleman's country residence. The decorations are such as we sec every day, but behold 
 every time not with a renewed pleasure, but with a growing satiety and disgust. The portico is 
 that, not of the ltoman Pantheon, but of the Pantheon in Oxford Street; and however much 
 credit I am willing to give the architect of that temple of pleasure for the inside thereof, though 
 borrowed from the very different kind of temple consecrated by the Emperor Justinian to Divine 
 Wisdom, yet I much doubt that a man of taste would ever epiote its outside portico among the fine 
 architectural productions of our time : why then should the same architect, so many years after, 
 not satisfied w ith repeating its obsolete form in a chapel on the road to Ilighgate, again replicate 
 the same in a most important addition to one of the first Universities in Great Britain 1" 
 
 II 
 
54 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTIIILL ABBEY. 
 
 glass, in five compartments, representing- figures of Venerable Bede and 
 Roger Bacon ; also three escocheons of arms richly emblazoned : that at the 
 top contains the arms of Mr. Beckford quartering Hamilton and Arran, and 
 impaling six quarterings, viz. L Gordon-Aboyne : 2. Gordon: 3. Badenoch: 
 4. Seton: 5. Fraser: G. as 1st. The two shields of arms below the figures 
 are charged with the Catesby quarterings 6 , viz. on the dexter side are the 
 arms of Sir William Catesby, quartering, 1 . Catesby : 2. Cranford : 3. Mount- 
 ford : 4. Braundeston, and with an escocheon of pretence. Surmounting the 
 shield is the Catesby crest. The coat of arms on the sinister side is that of 
 John Catesby, of Althorpe and Hinton, Esq. with six quarterings, and sur- 
 mounted by a crest as above. (See Plate IX.) 
 
 A corresponding east window is also adorned with painted glass, by 
 Eo-inton, in which are figures of St. Etheldreda and St. Columba, also three 
 emblazoned escocheons: viz. 1st. with six quarterings of Mr. Beckford, 
 i.e. 1. Beckford: 2. Hamilton quartering Arran : 3. Coward: 4. Hall: 5. 
 Rogers, and G. Besill : 2d and 3d Catesby. 
 
 The south oriel, at the extremity of the gallery, is adorned in some of the 
 upper compartments with four figures, from paintings by Hamilton, of so 
 many fathers of the church, viz. St. Jerome, St. Athanasius, St. Ambrose, 
 and St. Augustine. Four other panes are enriched with emblazoned shields, 
 of the four paternal connections of Mr. Beckford: 1. the achievement of 
 Mr. Beckford's late uncle, Francis Beckford, of Basing, county of Hants, 
 Esq. 2. Francis Love Beckford, son and heir of the above : 3. Mr. Beck- 
 ford's aunt, Elizabeth, Countess of Effingham: and 4. Peter Beckford, of 
 Stapleton, county of Dorset, Esq. cousin german to Mr. Beckford. 
 
 The annexed view, PI. X. represents the southern oriel, with its painted 
 glass at top, large panes of plate glass below, through which is seen a pleas- 
 
 6 " Tlie family of Catesby is of high antiquity, in Northamptonshire; and from which 
 Mr. Beckford is lineally descended ; his great great grandfather, William Hastings, of Hinton, 
 Esq. having been the son of William Hastings, by Amy, daughter of Hugh Catesby, of Hinton, 
 Esq." Gentleman's Magazine, 1822, p. 203. See an interesting Pedigree, with Biographical 
 Memoirs of the Catesbys, in Baker's very valuable and authentic " History of Northamptonshire," 
 vol. i. p. 2 13, clc. 
 
SOUTH ORIEL : RELIQUARY. 
 
 55 
 
 ing prospect of the distant country, one of the small or east windows, with a 
 fire place beneath, and part of the groining : also chairs, stools, table, can- 
 delabras, draperies, amber cabinet, and an antient Reliquary in the window. 
 The latter is an article of too much curiosity, antiquity, and rarity to be 
 passed with a slight notice only. In Mr. Christie's Catalogue it is described 
 as a " Greek shrine of metal, for containing relics, brought by St. Louis from 
 Palestine, and had been deposited at St. Denys, whence it was taken during 
 the French Revolution." Such is part of the history of this rare work of 
 antique art, which so nearly corresponds with a reliquary engraved for and 
 described in the second volume of K Vetusta Monumenta" of the Society 
 of Antiquaries, that many persons might regard it as the same article. 
 That was in the possession of Mr. Astle, in 1789, and is said to have 
 belonged to Malmsbury Abbey. The design, workmanship, and embellish- 
 ments on the surface of the Fonthill relic are curious and interesting, as 
 illustrative of the history of the arts. Figures representing the Deity, the 
 crucified Saviour, Apostles, with emblems of the Evangelists, and other 
 ornaments, also columns, arches, &c. are engraved in and relieved on the 
 surface. The heads, in metal, are in bold relief, whilst the draperies are 
 enamelled with blue and green colours. 
 
 In the large central oriel on the east side of the gallery are the armorial 
 bearings of James II. King of Scotland, and of his consort Queen Mary of 
 Gueldres. " The lustre of the descent of this queen can scarcely be 
 credited but by the patient genealogist, who has investigated the lines of her 
 ancestry. Daughter of Arnolph II. Duke of Gueldres and Juliers, by 
 Catharine of Cleves, the daughter of Mary of Burgundy, she reckoned 
 amongst her lineal progenitors the Emperors of the East, the Czars of 
 Muscovy, and the sovereigns of almost every imperial and royal house in 
 Europe 7 ." 
 
 The following table alludes to and explains the direct paternal and mater- 
 nal descent of Mr. Beckford's daughter, the Duchess of Hamilton, from the 
 royal house of Scotland. 
 
 7 Gentleman's Magazine, 1822, vol. i. p. 204. 
 
TABLE VI. 
 
 DESCENT OF HER GRACE 
 
 SUSAN-EUPHEMIA, DUCHESS OF HAMILTON AND BRANDON, 
 
 ONLY SURVIVING DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. THROUGH VARIOUS LINES, BOTH PATERNALLY 
 AND MATERNALLY, FROM JAMES LORD HAMILTON AND THE PRINCESS MARY STUART. 
 
 JAMES II.=MARY OF GUELDRES, 
 King of Scotland, tl. 1460. Queen of Scotland, d. 1466. 
 
 1 
 
 James Hamiltok^Mabv Stuart, 
 2d Lord Hamilton, d. 1479. | Princess of Scotland. 
 
 James Hamilton, Karl of Arran, d. 1530. 
 
 I 
 
 Elizabeth Hamilton, married Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox. 
 
 Jane Ham il Ion, married 
 Alexander Conyngham, 
 5th Earl of Glencairn. 
 
 William Oonyngham, 
 6th Earl of Glencairn. 
 
 James Hamilton, Duke of Cha- 
 telherault, Regent of Scotland: 
 declared, in 154.3, next heir to 
 the crovvn,failing issue of Queen 
 Mary, d. 1575. 
 
 James Conyngham, 
 7 th Earl of Glen- 
 
 ! 
 
 John Hamilton, 
 Marquis of Ha- 
 milton, d. 1606. 
 
 John Stuart, Earl 
 of Lennox, d. 
 1526. 
 
 John Stuart, Lord 
 D'Aubigny , 
 1560. 
 
 I 
 
 George Gordon, Earl=j=Anne Ha- 
 of Huntly, d. 1576. I milton. 
 
 Esme Stnart, 
 Duke of Len- 
 nox, d. 1583. 
 
 Elizabeth Stuart, married 
 Sir Hugh Campbell, of 
 Loudoun. 
 
 Sir Matthew Campbell, 
 of Loudoun, d. about 
 1572. 
 
 Claud Hamil- 
 ton, Lord Pais- 
 ley, d. 1621. 
 
 Marian Campbell, 
 married Thomas, 
 5th Lord Boyd. 
 
 Anne Cony ngham^=James Hamilton, Mar- 
 quis of Hamilton, Earl 
 of Cambridge, d.1624. 
 
 James Hamilton, Duke- 
 of Hamilton, d. 1619. 
 
 George Gordon,=pHenrietta Stuart. 
 Marquis of Huntly, 
 d. 1636. 
 
 I 
 
 Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, mar- 
 ried William Douglas, Earl of 
 Selkirk, who took the name of 
 Hamilton, and was created Duke 
 of Hamilton. 
 
 James Hamilton, Duke 
 of Hamilton and Bran- 
 don, d. 1711. 
 
 James Hamilton, Duke 
 of Hamilton and Bran- 
 don. 
 
 Susan Hamil- 
 ton, married 
 John Cochrane, 
 Earl of Dun - 
 donald. 
 
 John Cochrane, 
 Earl of Dundonald. 
 
 Catherine Cochrane, 
 married Alex. Stew- 
 art, 7th Earl of Gal- 
 loway. 
 
 Archibald Hamilton.; 
 Duke of Hamilton and 
 Brandon, d. 1819. 
 
 Harriet 
 Stewart. 
 
 George Gordon, Marquis 
 of Huntly, d. 1649. 
 
 Charles Gordon, Earl of 
 Aboyne.d. 1680. 
 
 Charles Gordon, 2nd 
 Earl of Ahoyne, d. 
 1705. 
 
 John Gordon, 3d 
 Earl of Aboyne, 
 d. 1732. 
 
 Margaiet-p 
 Stewart. 
 
 Charles Gordon, 4th 
 Earl of Aboyne, 
 d. 1794. 
 
 James Hamilton, =j=Mariau.Boyd. 
 Earl of Abercorn, 
 d. 1618. 
 
 Sir George Hamilton, 
 d. 1679. 
 
 Margaret Gordon,=pWiet.iam Beckeord, 
 d. 1786. of Fouthill, Esquire. 
 
 1 ~~1 
 
 Alfxandeii Hamieton^Susan-Eitjiemia Beckeord, 
 Duke of Hamilton and Duchess of Hamilton and 
 
 Brandon. Brandon. 
 
 James Hamilton, 
 d. 1673. 
 
 James Hamilton, 
 Earl of Abercorn, 
 d. 1734. 
 
 George Hamilton, 
 d. 1775. 
 
 Maria Hamilton, daugh- 
 ter and coheir of the Hon. 
 GeorgeHamilton, married 
 William Beckford, of 
 Fonthill, Esquire : she 
 died 1798. 
 
WOLSEY CHAIRS : ORIENTAL CUP. 
 
 57 
 
 In the St. Michael Gallery are six carious and interesting ebony chairs, 
 which formerly belonged to the magnificent and haughty Wolsey, and were 
 part of the splendid furniture of Esher Palace. They are shewn in PI. X. 
 
 A bottle, or coffee-pot, of pale sea green oriental china, shewn in the title 
 page, Plate XI. is placed in this room. It may be regarded as a valuable 
 curiosity, from being " the earliest known specimen of porcelain introduced 
 from China into Europe, as it refers to a period earlier than the circumnavi- 
 gation of the Cape of Good Hope by the Portuguese." The cup is orna- 
 mented with sunk quatrefoil compartments, having flowers in relief ; whilst 
 its base, rim, spout, and handle are formed of enchased silver, with enamelled 
 ornaments and shields, and charged with inscriptions in old French and in 
 antique characters. These shields and inscriptions allude to the house of 
 Anjou and Joan of Arragon, Queen of Naples, to whom this curious work 
 evidently appears to have belonged. 
 
 In another niche in the title page, is the representation of a vessel or cup, 
 " formed of a large block of Sardonyx, hollowed out, and the surface in- 
 crusted with vine leaves of good design and sharp execution. A pair of 
 satyrs' heads are sculptured as handles to the vase; the bottom is externally 
 carved with foliage, and affords reason for believing that this rare and very 
 curious article must have been executed by a Greek artist of Asia Minor." 
 (Christie's Catalogue, p. 41.) 
 
 Branching from the west side of the St. Michael Gallery is a suite of apart- 
 ments called the yellow drawing-rooms, marked q. and r. in the plan : and a 
 cabinet-room, or boudoir, s. with a small vestibule. The drawing-rooms 
 receive their appellation from being hung with yellow silk damask. On the 
 west side are three windows in three sides of an octagon; whilst the south 
 side is lighted by three windows in the eastern, and two in the western 
 room. The other sides are fitted up with oak bookcases, and the ceiling 
 is ornamented with a profusion of tracery. (See Plan, fig. 4.) 
 
 The cabinet -room, marked s., is a beautiful little apartment, hung with 
 green silk, and having a ceiling covered with elaborate fan-shaped tracery. 
 (See fig. 1. in the Plan.) An octangular staircase at the south-west angle 
 (at x.) communicates to apartments both above and below the drawing-rooms. 
 
58 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OP FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 On the ground-floor is the old dining-room, or the brown parlour, thus 
 termed from the colour of its oak waiuscoting. This spacious apartment is 
 lighted by eight pointed windows. Five of these range within the southern 
 cloister ; and the other three form the lower story df the western oriel. The 
 tops of these windows are filled with stained glass, exhibiting portraits of 
 twelve English monarch s from William the Conqueror to Richard the Second ; 
 and of the following distinguished personages : Robert Earl of Gloucester, 
 natural son of Henry the First ; Sir Hugh Bardolph ; John Lord Montacute ; 
 Sir Hugh Hastings; Robert Fitz Hamon; Laurence Hastings, Earl of Pem- 
 broke ; Sir Reginald Bray ; Arthur Prince trf Wales, son of Henry the 
 Seventh • Sir Hugh Marville ; Sir William Tracy ; Gilbert de Clare, Earl of 
 Gloucester, Clare and Hartford; Thomas le Despencer, Earl of Gloucester; 
 Sir Brian Stapleton ; Sir John Harsick ; Aubrey de Vere, second Earl of 
 Oxford, &c. These figures were executed by the late Mr. Eginton, after 
 drawings by W. Hamilton, Esq. R. A. Several of the windows in the 
 Abbey were executed under the direction of Mr. Win, Raphael Eginton, of 
 Birmingham. 
 
 Such are the principal rooms, features, grounds, &c. of Fon thill Abbey; 
 and these I have endeavoured to characterize in forcible, but at the same 
 time, I hope, appropriate language 8 . 
 
 The descriptions might have been extended several pages further, but I 
 forbear to enter into more minute detail, fearful of making the narrative 
 prolix and tedious. It would otherwise be easy to render the history and 
 descent of the demesne much more correct than hitherto published ; furnish 
 digressive anecdotes of some of its lords ; an original memoir of the intrepid 
 
 8 Though the whole volume has been long in progress, the literary part of it has been hastily, 
 spontaneously, and feelingly written. The greater part of it indeed has been penned after nine 
 o'clock at night, and after days of varied, active, and distracting occupation. I mention this in 
 the hopes of obtaining some indulgence for any errors or omissions which the fastidious reader 
 may discover. 
 
I 
 
 CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS : — LIBRARY. 59 
 
 and patriotic lord mayor; descant on the numerous works of art and 
 vertu with which the Abbey is enriched and adorned ; and intersperse the 
 narrative with marvellous stories respecting- the building, its enlightened 
 founder, and its once so highly favoured architect. On all these subjects I 
 have, of course, heard much, and have noted down many memorandums 
 respecting them ; but am inclined to think that however favourably such details 
 might be received by the candid part of the public, they would not be equally 
 appreciated by those who are too apt to regard such matters w ith a jaun- 
 diced and envious eye. 
 
 The splendid Library of Fonthill Abbey is of too much importance in the 
 history of the mansion to be passed without some comment : although it 
 will be impossible to do justice to its peculiar character in the present 
 volume. In Clarke's " Repertorium Bibliographic um," 8vo. 1819, some of 
 its choicest rarities are specified. Among these are the following, " An 
 extensive Series of Spanish and Portuguese Chronicles," u Some of the 
 rarest Facetice, History, Poetry, &c. in all languages, and in the most beau- 
 tiful condition." Among the MSS. are many inestimable volumes u formerly 
 in the possession of Shah-Aulum; they exhibit an undoubted assemblage of 
 portraits of illustrious persons, representations of ceremonies, and perspec- 
 tive views." In works of travels this collection may be said to stand almost 
 unrivalled : but however curious and valuable in this or other branches of 
 literature, the most interesting part of its contents are the manuscript anno- 
 tations with which almost every volume is enriched. The collector of the 
 Fonthill library is not only an incessant reader, but a thinker and a writer. 
 The few publications he has hitherto given to the world evince no common 
 portion of literary talent ; nor will the two following short poems, from his 
 pen, be read with indifference by those who have hearts to appreciate their 
 power and pathos. 
 
GO 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 Like the low murmur of the secret stream 
 
 Which through dark alders winds its shaded way, 
 
 My suppliant voice is heard : — Ah ! do not deem 
 That on vain toys I throw my hours away. 
 
 In the recesses of the forest vale, 
 
 On the wild mountain, — on the verdant sod, 
 
 Where the fresh breezes of the morn prevail, 
 I wander lonely, communing with God. 
 
 When the faint sickness of a wounded heart 
 
 Creeps in cold shudderings through my sinking frame, 
 
 I turn to thee, — that holy peace impart 
 
 Which soothes the invokers of thy awful name. 
 
 O all-pervading Spirit ! — sacred beam ! 
 
 Parent of life and light! — Eternal Power ! 
 Grant me through obvious clouds one transient gleam 
 
 Of thy bright essence in my dying hour ! 
 
 THE LAST DAY. 
 
 "Dies irce, Dies ilia!'' 
 
 Hark! heard ye not that deep, appalling sound? 
 Tremble ! — for lo the vex'd, the affrighted ground 
 Heaves strong in dread convulsion — streams of fire 
 Burst from the vengeful sky — a voice of ire 
 Proclaims, ' Ye guilty, wait your final doom : 
 No more the silent refuge of the tomb 
 
 Shall screen your crimes, your frailties. Conscience reigns, 
 Earth needs no other sceptre; — what remains 
 Beyond her fated limits, dare not tell ; — 
 Eternal Justice!— Judgment! — Heaven ! — Hell!' 
 
SUCCINCT MEMOIR OF THE FAMILIES OF BECKFORD AND HERING : WITH GENEALO- 
 GICAL TABLES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE SAME. 
 
 The family of Beckford appears to have been established in Gloucester- 
 shire at an early period of our history. Whether it derived its patronymic 
 from, or gave name to, the parish of Beckford, or Beceford, in that county, 
 where the manor had been, according- to Domesday book, terra Regis in the 
 time of the Confessor 1 ; or whether it was of Norman origin, and therefore 
 of more recent introduction, has not been clearly ascertained. The latter 
 conjecture might find support in the supposed allusion to the name in the 
 family crest, " a heron's head, holding a fish in the beak" — quasi Bec Fort: 
 whilst the former would suggest a meaning entirely different; the word Uece, 
 pronounced Beke, signifying, in the Danish and other northern dialects, a 
 brook or stream. 
 
 As to the manor of Beckford, it appears to have been, in the reign of 
 Henry I. part of the possessions of Ravelle, chamberlain of Normandy, and 
 to have been granted by him to the Abbey of St. Martin and St. Barbara 
 (St. Barbe en Auge) in that province. Being amongst the alien priories, 
 Beckford was, on their suppression by Henry VI. bestowed on Eton College, 
 and, subsequently, by Edward IV. on Fotheringhay 2 . 
 
 ' See Rudders's and Atkins's Histories of Gloucestershire, in loco. 
 2 Tanner's Xotitia;. 
 
 I 
 
62 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 With respect to the family, we find Robert de Beckesford granting to the 
 Abbey of Gloucester, between 1102 and 1134, certain tithes at Heycote 3 ; 
 and Reginald de Bekeford soon afterwards endowing the Hospitallers of 
 St. John with lands at Butiatune 4 . 
 
 The next mention of the name is anno 14 Rich. II.; when Thomas, the son 
 of Alexander de Beckford, occurs in the entail of considerable lands in 
 Batsford, then called Beceshore, the parish adjoining to Beckford 5 . 
 
 Sir William Beckford appears amongst the principal adherents of Richard 
 III. who attended him to Bosworth Field 6 , and probably shared there the fate 
 of his sovereign; as the public records of the succeeding dynasty are silent 
 upon the subject of his attainder. 
 
 The consequence of the family, thus eclipsed by the fortunes of war, was 
 destined to be revived under the same powerful agency. The conquest of 
 Jamaica, in 1656, afforded a brilliant opening to enterprise and talent: and, 
 among the many gallant persons who availed themselves of it, was Colonel 
 Peter Beckford, who, by singular address and ability in the conduct of 
 military and civil affairs, soon became the most distinguished of the new 
 colonists. He raised himself, during the reign of the restored monarch 
 Charles IL, to the high station of President of the Council; obtained several 
 important grants ; and was, at length, by William III. appointed Lieutenant 
 Governor and Commander in Chief of the Island. He died in 1710, 
 possessed of an immense extent of property. 
 
 Peter Beckford, Esq. his eldest son and heir, filled the office of Speaker 
 of the Assembly; and died, in 1735, leaving by Bathshua his wife, daughter 
 and coheir of Julines Hering, Esq. a Colonel in the Army, a numerous 
 progeny. Peter Beckford, Esq. his eldest son and heir, dying in 1737 
 unmarried, the inheritance devolved upon his next brother 
 
 William Beckford, Esq. This distinguished person, who acquired the 
 estate of Fonthill, was twice Lord Mayor and one of the representatives in 
 Parliament for the city of London. He married Maria, daughter and at 
 
 3 Monast. Angl. 1 edit. vol. i. 116. 
 5 Atkyns in loco. 
 
 4 Mon. Angl. vol. ii. 529. 
 6 Hail. MSS. No. 542, 34. 
 
MEMOIR OF THE FAMILY OF BECKFORD. 
 
 63 
 
 length coheir of the Hon. George Hamilton, M. P. for Wells, second 
 surviving son of James the sixth Earl of Abercorn; and died in 1770, leaving 
 his only son and heir, the present 
 
 William Beckford, Esq. who, by the Lady Margaret Gordon, his wife, 
 only daughter of Charles the fourth Earl of Aboyne, has had issue two 
 daughters : — 1. Margaret-Maria-Elizabeth, who married Major-General James 
 Orde, and died in 1818, leaving two daughters: — 2. Susannah-Euphemia, 
 who married her cousin, Alexander, Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, and 
 has a son, William- Alexander-Anthony- Archibald, Marquis of Douglas and 
 Clydesdale, and a daughter, Lady Susan Hamilton. 
 
 The Anns of Hering appearing in different parts of the edifice, it may be 
 interesting to offer some brief genealogical notices of this family, the repre- 
 sentation of which is divided between the present Baroness Holland (as 
 great-grand-daughter and heir-general of Florentius Vassal, Esquire, by 
 Anne-Maria Hering, his wife, the daughter and at length coheir of Julines 
 Hering, Esquire) and Mr. Beckford, in right of his grandmother on the 
 paternal side, Bathshua Hering, the other coheir, who was the wife of Peter 
 Beckford, Esquire. 
 
 The antient and knightly family of Hering, or Harang, was of consider- 
 able note, and enjoyed large possessions in Dorsetshire; giving its name, as 
 an adjunct, to several extensive manors in that county, which, so early as 
 the reign of Henry VI., devolved to female coheirs, who intermarried with 
 the families of De la Lynde, Russell, and Williams. 
 
 About the period of the extinction of the surname in Dorsetshire, the 
 public records contain memorials of several generations of the family now 
 under consideration, established at Owsley Minor, in the county of Warwick, 
 and afterwards at Coventry, where the chief municipal offices were held by 
 individuals of the name during two centuries. Julines Hering, the son of 
 Richard Hering, by Margaret Carrington (the said Richard having been 
 the son of William Hering, by Alice Pickering), intermarried w ith Agnes, 
 the daughter and coheir of John Tallante, who held lands of the crow n in 
 capite which, upon his death in the IVth of Elizabeth, descended to his 
 
64 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF FONTHILL ABBEY. 
 
 grandsons and coheirs, John Hering, son of his daughter Agnes, and Michael 
 Sandbrooke, son of Sanchia his other daughter. Julines Hering, son of the 
 said John Hering, intermarried with Christian, the daughter and coheir of 
 John Gellibrand (of a very antient family in Lancashire) by Elizabeth Oxen- 
 bridge, descended from that distinguished house, whose chiefs were lords 
 of Hurstborne Priors, in Hants, and filled offices of great trust under several 
 reigns. Nathaniel Hering, the issue of that marriage, took to his first wife 
 Elizabeth, the only daughter of Caleb Cockcroft, of London, Esquire, by 
 Elizabeth, his wife, the daughter of Daniel Oxenbridge, of Daventry, in 
 Northamptonshire, and also of London, Esquire. This Elizabeth Oxenbridge 
 was, secondly, the wife of Oliver St. John, Lord Chief Justice of the Common 
 Pleas under Cromwell; and, thirdly, of Sir Humphry Sydenham, of Combe 
 St. Nicholas, in Somersetshire. 
 
 The subjoined Table (VII.) will illustrate the family of Hering subsequently 
 to this period: but we cannot, after a cursory review of the ancestry of 
 Elizabeth Oxenbridge, refrain from adverting to the rare combination, which 
 the several ascending lines present, of some of the most illustrious descents 
 in the kingdom. She was the grand-daughter, on the maternal side, of 
 Thomas Harby, of Adston, in Northamptonshire, Esquire, by Catherine, 
 his wife, the daughter of Clement Throckmorton, of Haseley, com. Warwick, 
 Esquire, by Katherine Nevil, daughter of Sir Edward Nevil, and grand- 
 daughter of George Lord Abergavenny, the grandson of Ralph Nevil, Earl 
 of Westmorland, by Joan de Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt. Clement 
 Throckmorton reckoned amongst his ancestors the Lords Vaux of Harroden, 
 Fitzhugh, Willoughby d'Eresby, Grey of Rotherfield, Marmyon, Montacute, 
 &c. : and Katherine Nevil, being lineally descended from Constance Plan- 
 tagenet, daughter of Edmond of Langley, Duke of York, by Isabel of 
 Castile, was directly allied to the blood royal, and to the most distinguished 
 of our antient nobility. 
 
 The following Tables will serve to exemplify the preceding memoirs, and 
 also point out some further descents and connexions of Mr. Beckford. 
 
TABLE VI r. 
 
 SHEWING THE MATERNAL CONNEXIONS OF THE LATE WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. 
 
 1st Wife 2d Wife 
 
 Elizabeth^Nathaniel Hf.ring, Esq. descended from an ancient family of that name established during many genera-=RosE Mus- 
 Cockcroft. lions in the county of Warwick. B. 1610. D. 1678. Bur. in the church of St. Clement Danes, London. champ. 
 
 Julines Hering, Esq.: 
 a colonel in the army, 
 settled iu Jamaica 
 soon after the con- 
 quest of the island hy 
 Oliver Cromwell : d. 
 there March 19, 
 1689-90. 
 
 =Anne,— mar. 'idly, Rich- 
 ard Scott, son of Colonel 
 Thomas Scott, who mar. 
 Grace, daughter of Sir 
 Thomas Mauleverer, of 
 Allerlon Mauleverer, in 
 co. York, Bt. D. 1726. 
 
 1st Husband 
 George Fitzjames, of= 
 Clatford.Com. Wilts, 
 Esq. cupbearer to 
 King James II. Died 
 May 9, 1693, aged 
 42, and was buried 
 at Fitield in that 
 county. 
 
 2d Husband 
 
 =Ann Hering, d. without sur-=Edmund Percival, 
 viving issue, Sept. 9, 1746, of HeybridgeHall, 
 aged 86, and was buried at in the county of 
 Fifield, having bequeathed Essex, Esq. D. 
 her estate at fleybridge to 1712. 
 her nephew Julines Hering. 
 
 Oliver Hering, 
 b. in Loudon, 
 Feb. 15, 1619- 
 50, mar. Eliza- 
 beth Hughes. 
 
 T 
 
 Nathaniel He- 
 ring, Esq. only 
 son and heir, 
 b. 1685, died 
 1716, bur. in 
 CanterburyCa- 
 thedral, mar. 
 Hannah Lew- 
 is. 
 
 1st Husband 
 Florentius Vas-: 
 sal, of Jamaica, 
 Esq. son of John 
 Vassal, and 
 grandson of Sa- 
 muel Vassal, 
 Esq. M. P. for 
 London, temp. 
 Car. I. D. 1710. 
 
 =Anne- = 
 Maria, 
 sister 
 and co- 
 heir of 
 Natha- 
 niel 
 He- 
 ring, 
 Ksq. 
 
 2d Hasb. 
 =Richard 
 Mill, of 
 Jamaica, 
 Esq. D. 
 in 1739. 
 3d Hus. 
 Anthony 
 Hodges, 
 Esq. 
 
 Peter BF.CK-=j=Bathshua, 
 
 ford, Esq. 
 Speaker of the 
 Assembly of 
 the Island of 
 Jamaica. Born 
 1673. Died 
 1735. 
 
 sister and 
 coheir of 
 Nathaniel 
 Hering, 
 Esq. Mar. 
 1726. D. 
 1750. 
 
 George 
 
 Fitz- 
 
 jaims, 
 
 only 
 
 issue. 
 
 Died 
 
 Aug. 6, 
 
 1698, 
 
 aged T . 
 
 Julines Hering, of Clat- 
 ford and of Heybridge 
 Hall aforesaid, Clerk, 
 M. A. eldest son and 
 principal devisee under 
 the will of his aunt Ann 
 Percival. Born at Wis- 
 bech, August 20, 1692. 
 Died at Heybridge Hall 
 August 20, 1775, un- 
 married. 
 
 Julines 
 Hering, 
 only is- 
 sue. D. 
 a minor, 
 and uu- 
 mar. 
 
 Florentius; 
 Vassal, 
 Esq. only 
 son and 
 heir. Died 
 1777. 
 
 Mary, daugh- 
 ter of John 
 Foster, Esq. a 
 colonel in the 
 army. 
 
 I 
 
 Ithamar 
 
 Vassal, 
 
 mar. 
 
 Rose 
 
 Fuller, 
 
 Esq. D. 
 
 without 
 
 issue 
 
 1738. 
 
 Bathshua 
 Vassal, 
 mar.Wil- 
 liamMav, 
 Clerk, " 
 and left 
 
 John Pen-==Bonella, 
 
 Daniel Hering, 
 of Bath, Esq. 
 a col. in the ar- 
 my. B.atPres- 
 cot, July 23, 
 1693. D. with- 
 out surviving 
 issue Nov. 20, 
 1777. Bur. at 
 Newton, near 
 Bath, mar. Ca- 
 therine Man- 
 waring. 
 
 Oliver Hering, 
 Esq. Born in 
 London, July 
 28,1694. D.in 
 Jamaica, June 
 1, 1741, mar. 
 Anna-Maria, 
 dau. of Edw. 
 Morris, and re- 
 lict of Antho- 
 ny Storer, Esq. 
 D. in London 
 in Dec. 1739. 
 
 y 
 
 nant, of 
 Penrhyn 
 in the 
 county of 
 Carnar- 
 von, Esq. 
 D. 1782. 
 
 dau. of 
 Anthony 
 Hodges, 
 Esq. by 
 Anne- 
 Maria 
 Hering. 
 D. 1762. 
 
 William = 
 
 BtCKFOR D, 
 
 of Fonthill, 
 Esq. Lord 
 Mayor and 
 M.P. for the 
 City of Lon- 
 don. Died 
 1770. 
 
 Richard; 
 Vassal, 
 of Jama- 
 ica, Esq. 
 only son 
 andheir. 
 Died in 
 London, 
 April27, 
 1795. 
 
 :Mary, dau. 
 of Thomas 
 Clarke, of 
 New York, 
 Esq. Mar. 
 2dly, Sir 
 GilbertAft- 
 leck, Bart. 
 
 Hon. John: 
 Barring- 
 ton, a gen. 
 in the ar- 
 my, second 
 sonof John 
 Vise. Bar- 
 ringlon. 
 Died iu 
 1764. 
 
 Eliza- 
 beth 
 Vas- 
 sal. 
 
 Maria Ha- 
 milton, 
 daughter and 
 coheir of the 
 Hon. George 
 Hamilton, 
 M. P. for 
 Wells. Diej 
 1798. 
 
 Nathaniel 
 Hering, 
 Esq. eld- 
 est son 
 and heir. 
 B. in Mar. 
 1722. D. 
 in Dec. 
 I764with- 
 out issue. 
 
 Julines He-: 
 ring, of Hey- 
 bridge Hall, 
 and of Ja- 
 maica, Esq. 
 second son. 
 Born May 
 15, 1732. 
 
 Mary.dan. 
 of John lu- 
 glis Esq. 
 
 Richard 
 Pennant, 
 Lord 
 Pen- 
 rhyn. 
 Died 
 without 
 issue, 
 1808. 
 
 William ■ 
 Bfckfor n, 
 of Fonthill, 
 Esq. M. P. 
 for Wells, 
 and after- 
 wards for 
 Hindoo. 
 1823. 
 
 Marga- 
 ret Gor- 
 don, dau. 
 ol'Charles, 
 llh Earl of 
 Aboyne. 
 Died in 
 1786. 
 
 Natbaniel- 
 Vaughan 
 Hering 
 and Ju- 
 lines, died 
 infants. 
 Julines 
 Hering, 
 Esq, a ma- 
 jor in the 
 army. B. 
 Aug. 26, 
 1767. 
 
 Oliver t 
 Hering, 
 of Lin- 
 coln's 
 Inn, 
 Esq. 
 barris- 
 ter at 
 law. B. 
 in Nov. 
 1768. 
 
 sMary 
 Murray, 
 2d dau. 
 and co- 
 heir of 
 Willi- 
 am Boss, 
 Esq.. 
 married 
 April 20, 
 1793. 
 
 Nathaniel 
 Hering, 
 d. an in- 
 fant. 
 Cathe- 
 rine lie- 
 ring, born 
 August 
 28, 1762, 
 mar. John 
 ( lordoD, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 T 
 
 Hon. and= 
 Rev.John 
 Lumley- 
 Savile, 
 preben- 
 dary of 
 York, etc. 
 brother of 
 George- 
 Augustas 
 liarl of 
 Scarbo- 
 rough. 
 
 \nna- 
 M aria 
 He- 
 ring, 
 horn 
 Mar. 
 1, 
 
 1766, 
 mar. 
 Nov. 
 
 5, 
 
 1785. 
 
 Mai v- 
 Helen 
 He- 
 ring, 
 born 
 July 
 16, 
 1772. 
 Elea- 
 nor 
 He- 
 ring, 
 born 
 Jan. 6, 
 1777. 
 
 Sir Godfrev^Elizaheth. 
 
 Webster, of 
 Battle Ab- 
 bey, in the 
 county of 
 Sussex, Bt. 
 
 Vassal, 
 onlychild 
 and heir. 
 Living, 
 1823. 
 
 =Henry- 
 Richard 
 Fox- 
 Vassal, 
 Lord 
 Hol- 
 land. 
 1823. 
 
 William 
 Barring- 
 ton, 3d 
 Vis- 
 count 
 Barring- 
 ton, died 
 without 
 issue, 
 1801. 
 
 . I 
 Richard 
 Barring- 
 ton, 1th 
 Vis- 
 count 
 Barring- 
 ton died 
 without 
 issue, 
 1813. 
 
 George : 
 Barring- 
 toil, fifth 
 Vis- 
 count 
 Barring- 
 ton, liv- 
 ingl823. 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 daughter 
 of Robert 
 Adair, 
 Esq. by 
 Caroline 
 kippcl, 
 daughter 
 of Wil- 
 liam, liarl 
 of Albe- 
 marle. 
 
 SllSANSA- 
 Eu I' HI MIA 
 Bl CKFOB I), 
 only surviv- 
 ing dau. 
 married to 
 Alexander 
 DukeofHa- 
 milton and 
 Brandon. 
 1823. 
 
 Charles- George Rohert 
 
 GreyGor- Gordon, Gordon, 
 
 don, bom b. 1790. b. 1791. 
 1787. 
 
 OcMge-Au- 
 gustusLum- 
 lev, b.1786. 
 John Lam- 
 ley, b. 1788. 
 
 Anna-Ma- 
 ria Lam- 
 ley, bom 
 1791. 
 Louisa- 
 Frances 
 Lantlev, 
 born 1791. 
 
 Sir Godfrey- Vassal= 
 Webster, of Battle 
 Abbey aforesaid, 
 Bart. 
 
 Charlotte, 
 
 daughter 
 of Robert 
 Adamson, 
 Esq. 
 
 Charles-Stephen 
 Fox-Vassal, 
 horn 1802. 
 
 Henry- Edward 
 Fox-Vassal. 
 
 Mary-Eliza- 
 beth Fox- 
 Vassal, horn 
 1806. 
 
 Georgiana-Anne 
 Fox-vassal, 
 
 born 1809, died 
 1819. 
 
 William-keppel 
 Barrington, born 
 1793; and other 
 issue. 
 
TABLE VITI. SHEWING THE IMMEDIATE AND COLLJH 
 
 Bridget, first wife of Peter Beckford, Esq. d. 1691cj=Peter Beckford, Esq. a colonel in the army, president of the council, lie 
 
 Peter Beckford, Esq. Speaker of the House=j=BATiisnu a, daughter and coheir of Julines 
 of Assembly of the island of Jamaica, d. 1735. Hering, Esq. a colonel in the army, d. 1750. 
 
 Charles p 
 d. an in P 
 
 Peter 
 Beck- 
 ford, 
 Esq. 
 died 
 1737, 
 with- 
 out 
 issue. 
 
 William i 
 Beckford, 
 of FonthiH, 
 Esq. Lord 
 Mayor of 
 London, and 
 M. P. for 
 that city, 
 d.1770. 
 
 Maria* daughter Richard Nathaniel Julines 
 and coheir of the Beckford, Beckford, Beckford 
 Hon. George Ha- Esq.M.P. Esq. died of Staple 
 for Bris- 
 tol, died 
 17.56, un- 
 niar. 
 
 milton, M. P. for 
 Wells, d. 1798. 
 
 1739, 
 married. 
 
 ton, Dor- 
 set, Esq. 
 M. P. for 
 Salisbury, 
 d. 1765. 
 
 1st Wife 
 :Elizabeth, Albinia 
 daughter and dau. of 
 heir of Solo- Pere- 
 mon Ashley 
 of Ledgers 
 Ashby 
 
 Northamp- 
 ton, Ksq. 
 d. 1762. 
 
 grine 
 Bertie, 
 Duke of 
 Ancas- 
 ter and 
 Keste- 
 ven, d. 
 1754. 
 
 =Francis = 
 Beckford, 
 of Basing, 
 Hants. 
 Esq. died 
 1768. 
 
 2d Wife 
 
 Susannah, Anne,eldestdau. Thomas Georg 
 
 daughter and of Peter Beck- Beck- Beck 
 
 heir of Rich- ford, Esq. mar. ford, a 
 
 ard Love, of George Ellis, twin 
 
 Basing, Esq. Esq. chief jus- with 
 
 tice of Jamaica, Rich- 
 
 d. 1745. ard.d. 
 
 young. 
 
 ford 
 young 
 
 William : 
 Bf.ckfor d, 
 of FonthiH 
 Abbey, Esq. 
 M. P. for 
 Wells, and 
 afterwards 
 for Hindon. 
 1823. 
 
 =>Iarcaret, 
 only daugh- 
 ter of Charles 
 Gordon, 4th 
 Earl of 
 Aboyne, d. 
 1786. 
 
 Peter ■ 
 Beck- 
 ford, 
 of Sta- 
 pleton, 
 Esq. 
 M. P. 
 for 
 Mor- 
 peth, 
 died 
 1811. 
 
 =Louisa, 
 
 dau. of 
 
 George 
 
 Pitt, 
 
 Lord 
 
 Rivers, 
 
 d.1791. 
 
 Thomas 
 Beck- 
 ford, 
 Esq. d. 
 1781, 
 unmar. 
 
 Francis-: 
 Love 
 Beck- 
 ford, of 
 Basing, 
 Esq. 
 living 
 1823. 
 
 =pJohanna, 
 daughter 
 and co- 
 heir of 
 John 
 Leigh, of 
 North- 
 court, 
 Isle of 
 Wight, 
 Esq. 
 
 Charlotte, 
 mar. John 
 Charles 
 Middle- 
 ton, of 
 Wey- 
 bridge, 
 Surrey, 
 Esq. 
 
 | 1 
 George= 
 Ellis.of 
 Jamai- 
 ca, Esq. 
 d 1754. 
 
 Susanna- 
 Charlotte, 
 daughter 
 of Samuel 
 Long, 
 Esq. mar. 
 2dly, Sir 
 David 
 Lindsey, 
 Bt. 
 
 2 
 
 John ; 
 Ellis, 
 Esq. 2d 
 son, d. 
 1782. 
 
 Margaret- 
 Maria-Eli- 
 zaheth, 
 mar. Ma- 
 jor-Gen. 
 James 
 Orde, d. 
 1818. 
 
 Susannah- 
 Euphemia, 
 married 
 Alexander 
 Duke of 
 Hamilton 
 and Bran- 
 don. 1823. 
 
 William-Horace 
 Beckford, of Sta- 
 pleton, Esq. heir 
 presumptive to 
 the Barony of 
 Rivers of Sude- 
 ley Castle, 1823, 
 married Frances, 
 only daughter of 
 Francis Hale 
 Rigby, of Mist- 
 ley Hall, Essex, 
 Esq. 
 
 I. 
 
 Harriet, 
 married 
 Henry 
 Seymer, 
 of Han- 
 ford, 
 Dorset, 
 Esq. 
 
 _ I I.I I I II, 
 
 1. Francis-Love Beck- 
 ford, b. 1789. 
 
 2. William Beckford, 
 b. 1790, mar. 1822, 
 Maria - Eliz. Bram- 
 stone-Stane, and has 
 issue, Maria-Harriet. 
 
 3. John-Leigh Beck- 
 ford, cap. R. N. b. 
 1791. 
 
 4. Carleton Beckford, 
 b. 1794. 
 
 5. Charles-Douglas 
 Beckford, Clerk, b. 
 1797. 
 
 6. Thomas-HenryBeck- 
 ford, died young. 
 
 Harriet, only daughter, 
 mar. Andrew Arce- 
 deckne, and has is- 
 
 :Elizabeth, 
 daughter 
 of John 
 Palmer, 
 Esq. Chief 
 Justice of 
 Jamaica, 
 d. 1782. 
 
 William* 
 
 Beckford 
 
 Ellis, 
 
 Esq. 3d 
 
 sou, died 
 
 about 
 
 1781. 
 
 George 
 Ellis.of 
 Sun- 
 ning 
 Hill, 
 Berks, 
 Esq. d. 
 1815. 
 s. p. 
 mar. 
 Anne, 
 daugh- 
 ter of 
 Admi- 
 ral Sir 
 Peter 
 Par- 
 ker, 
 Bart. 
 
 Susanna 
 
 Robert- 
 
 m 
 
 Jackson, 
 
 Julines 
 
 tin 
 
 relict of 
 
 Ellis, 
 
 1 Bat 
 
 William 
 
 4th son, 
 
 tin 
 
 Adden- 
 
 d. un- 
 
 0,1 
 
 brooke. 
 
 mar. 
 
 itjE 
 
 IIs'l 
 
 
 Bath- 
 
 !,& 
 
 
 shua 
 
 [D, 
 
 
 Hering 
 
 nu- 
 
 
 Ellis, d. 
 
 ll. 
 
 
 unmar. 
 
 Sl.i 
 
 John Ellis, 
 of Hurling- 
 hani, Mid- 
 dlesex, 
 Esq. mar. 
 Antonetta, 
 daughter of 
 Sir P. Par- 
 ker, Bt. 
 
 1 
 
 Marga- 
 
 1 
 
 Siis;in- 
 
 William- 
 
 1 
 
 Susan, 
 
 George 
 
 ret-Ju- 
 
 Jemi- 
 
 Alexan- 
 
 born 
 
 Beck- 
 
 liana- 
 
 ma- 
 
 der- A n- 
 
 1814. 
 
 ford. 
 
 Maria, 
 
 Frau- 
 
 thony- 
 
 
 Horace 
 
 born 
 
 ces, 
 
 Archi- 
 
 
 Beck- 
 
 1814. 
 
 born 
 1816. 
 
 bald Ha- 
 milton, 
 Marquis 
 of Doug- 
 las and 
 Clydes- 
 dale, b. 
 1811. 
 
 
 ford. 
 
 2 
 
 Charles - Rose 
 Ellis, of Clare- 
 mont, Surrey, 
 Esq. M. P. for 
 Seaford, mar. 
 Elizabeth-Ca- 
 therine Caro- 
 line, dan. and 
 heir of John- 
 Aug. Lord 
 Hervey, son of 
 Fred. Aug. 4th 
 Earl of Bristol, 
 d. 1803. 
 
 Williain- 
 Beck ford- 
 Ellis, d. 
 unmar. 
 
 Robert 
 Ellis. 
 
 Ann, d. 
 1782. 
 
 William Courte- 
 nay, Esq. M. P. 
 for Exeter, b. 
 1777, mar. Har- 
 riet Leslie, only 
 dau. of Sir Lucas 
 Pepys, Bt. by 
 Jane-Elizabeth, 
 Countess of 
 Rothes. 
 
 Thomas- Pe- 
 regrine 
 Courtenay, 
 Esq. Secre- 
 tary to the 
 Board of 
 Controul, 
 and M. P. 
 for Totnes, 
 b. 1782, mar. 
 Anne, 4th 
 dau. and co- 
 heir of Ma- 
 yow-Wyn- 
 ell Mayow, 
 Esq. 
 
 E .kih 
 oi if 11 
 51 Is 
 H» i 
 In llaje 
 t\(Ju(< 
 C lolle 
 b 
 
 Fiances. 
 Harriett. 
 
 John Ellis, 
 b. 1788. 
 Charles- 
 Parker 
 Ellis, b. 
 1794. 
 
 Eliza-Mar- 
 garet An- 
 tonetta, b. 
 1791. 
 
 Caroline, b. 
 
 1793, mar. 
 
 Joseph- 
 
 PoleCarew, 
 
 of Anthony 
 
 Cornwall, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 Antonetta, 
 b. 1803. 
 
 Charles-Augus- 
 tus Ellis, Lord 
 Howard de 
 Walden, born 
 1799. 
 Augustus- 
 Frederick El- 
 lis, b. 1800. 
 Eliza-Georg*.- 
 Caroline, b. 
 1802. 
 
 William-Reginald Courte- 
 nay, b. 1807. 
 Henry-Hugh Courtenav,b. 
 1811. 
 
 Charles-Leslie Courtenay, 
 b. 1816. 
 Harriet, b. 1809. 
 
 Thomas-Pe 
 nay 
 Reginald 
 
 Ceorge-He 
 b 
 
 Francis Cor 
 
 Anne-Ma; i,b. 
 Elizabeth-1 ,»| 
 Mary u 
 
ERAL PATERNAL CONNEXIONS OF WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. 
 
 iant governor and commander in chief of the island of Jamaica, d. 17lO.=Anne Ballard, second wife of Peter Beckford, Esq. mar. 169?, d. 1696. 
 
 ckford, 
 ., 1677. 
 
 Priscilla, 
 b. 1675. 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 b. 1678. 
 
 Mary Tolderby,= 
 (1st Wife). 
 
 ^Thomas Beckford, of the island=Mary, daughter and sole heir of 
 of Jamaica, Esq. d. 1731. Thomas Ballard, Esq. (2d Wife). 
 
 Phillis and 
 Bathshna 
 Beckford, 
 i. unmar. 
 
 Thomas Howard,: 
 2d Earl ofEfling- 
 ham, Dep. Earl 
 Marshal of Eng- 
 land, d. 1763. 
 
 : Elizabeth, 2d =Sir George How- Ballard Beckford,: 
 
 surviving dau. of ard, K. B. Field of Jamaica, Esq. 
 
 Peter Beckford, Marshal, &c. d. died there, 1760. 
 Esq. d. 1791. 1796. 
 
 Richard 
 Howard, 
 4th and 
 last Earl 
 of Elling- 
 ham, d. 
 18l6,s.p. 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 eldestdau. 
 mar. Hen- 
 ry Regi- 
 nald 
 Courte- 
 nay, Lord 
 Bishop of 
 Exeter, d. 
 1815. 
 
 Anne, 
 2d dau. 
 mar. 
 Christ. 
 Carleton, 
 Esq. ne- 
 phew of 
 Guy Lord 
 Dorches- 
 ter. He 
 died in 
 1787, s r. 
 
 Maria, 3d 
 dau. mar. 
 Guy 
 
 Carleton, 
 Lord Dor- 
 chester, 
 K.B. who 
 died Nov. 
 10, 1808. 
 
 Frances- 
 Hering, 
 b. 1755, 
 died un- 
 married. 
 
 Ballard 
 Beckford, 
 of Jamai- 
 ca, Esq. 
 only son, 
 d. 1764. 
 
 ^Frances, 
 dau. of 
 John 
 Buck- 
 ner.Esq. 
 
 Mary, sole daugh- 
 ter and heir, mar. 
 James Johnstone, 
 Esq. 
 
 I [ 
 Catherine, 
 mar. Edw. 
 Berens, 
 Clerk, 
 Vicar of 
 Shriven- 
 bam, 
 Berks, 
 b. 1781. 
 
 Anne, b. 
 1784. 
 
 Frances- 
 Char- 
 lotte, 
 married 
 Edw. 
 Bouve- 
 rie, 
 Clerk, 
 nephew 
 of Jacob, 
 Earl of 
 Radnor. 
 
 Guy and 
 Thomas 
 Carle- 
 ton, d. 
 
 s. P. 
 
 Chris- 
 
 Maria 
 
 George 
 
 Frances, 
 
 topher 
 
 mar. 
 
 Carle- 
 
 married 
 
 Carle- 
 
 Wil- 
 
 ton, a 
 
 John 
 
 ton, 
 
 liam- 
 
 Lieut. - 
 
 Orde 
 
 Esq. 
 
 Orde- 
 
 Co|. 
 
 Clerk, 
 
 died 
 
 Pow- 
 
 slain at 
 
 and died 
 
 1806, 
 
 lett, 
 
 Ber- 
 
 in 1812, 
 
 mar. 
 
 Lord 
 
 gen op- 
 
 leaving 6 
 
 Pris- 
 
 Bol- 
 
 Zoom, 
 
 children. 
 
 cilla, 
 
 ton. 
 
 1814. 
 
 
 dau. of 
 Wil- 
 liam 
 Bel- 
 ford, 
 Esq. 
 
 mar. 
 Henri- 
 etta, 
 dau. of 
 Edward 
 King, 
 of.Ask- 
 ham 
 Hall, 
 Esq. 
 
 Anne, daughter of Thomas Beckford,=j=Mary-Elizabeth, Charles Beckford, 
 
 daughter of Ro- b. 1712. 
 
 bert Pollnitz, 
 Byndlosse, of 
 Jamaica, Esq. 
 
 John Clark, Esq. of Jamaica, Esq 
 Gov. of New York. 2d son, d. 1746. 
 
 Thomas- 
 Ballard, 
 d. young, 
 1747. s. 
 
 Philip, 
 died 
 with- 
 out is- 
 sue. 
 
 Matthew, 
 d. without 
 issue. 
 
 Jane-Mary, 
 eldest 
 daughter, 
 mar. Tho- 
 mas Hay, 
 Esq. Secre- s. p. 
 tary of the (1st hus- 
 islandofja- band), 
 maica, d. 
 1754. s. p. 
 
 John = 
 Palmer, 
 of Jama- 
 ica, E 
 d. 17 
 
 3 
 
 -Mary-Ballard,: 
 daughter and 
 at length sole 
 heir of Tho- 
 mas Beck- 
 ford, Esq. d. 
 1797. 
 
 ;Edward Long, 
 of Aldermaston 
 House, Berks, 
 Esq. Judge of 
 the Vice Admi- 
 ralty Court of 
 Jamaica. (2d 
 husband). 
 
 Charles, 
 Dudley, 
 Richard, 
 married 
 Frances- 
 Louisa, 
 daughter 
 and co- 
 heir of 
 Euse- 
 biusHor- 
 ton, of 
 Cation, 
 Esq. 
 
 Edwanl Beeston 
 Long, Esq. born 
 1763, mar. Mary, 
 dau. and heir of 
 John Thomlin- 
 son, Esq. M. P. 
 for Steyning. 
 
 J 
 
 I. I 1 
 
 'ine Courte- 
 1810. 
 irtenay, b. 
 
 Courtena\ , 
 4. 
 
 lay, b. 1816. 
 ,b. 1807. 
 ard,b.l808. 
 1811. 
 
 Arthur-Henry 
 Carleton, Lord 
 Dorchester, b. 
 1805. 
 
 Guy Carle- 
 ton, and 
 other issue. 
 
 Robert 
 
 Ballard 
 
 Long, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 Lieut. - 
 
 Gen. in 
 
 the 
 
 armv. 
 
 1823. 
 
 Charles Beck- 
 ford Long, of 
 Woolhamp- 
 ton, Berks, 
 Esq. b. 1771, 
 mar. Fanny 
 Monro, dau. 
 and heir of 
 Lucius Tuck- 
 er, Esq. 
 
 Catharine, 
 
 married 
 
 Richard 
 
 Dawkins, 
 
 Esq. 
 
 Edward-Noel Long. 
 Henr\-Lawes Long. 
 Mary. 
 
 Charlotte, 
 
 mar. Sir 
 
 George 
 
 Pocock, 
 
 of Hart, 
 
 Durham, 
 
 Bart. 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 mar. Lord 
 Hetiry- 
 Tliomas- 
 Howard- 
 Molyneux 
 Howard, 
 Dep. Earl 
 Marshal of 
 England, 
 brotherto 
 the Duke 
 of Nor- 
 folk. 
 
 Charles- Ed- 
 ward Long, 
 b. 1796. 
 
 l'dvvard-jaines 
 Daw kins. 
 Juliana-Charlotte. 
 Emily. 
 Caroline. 
 
 I II II 
 George-Edward I'o- 
 
 cock. 
 Ed ward -Osborne 
 
 Pocock. 
 Mary-Anne-Sophia. 
 Charlotte-Catherine- 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Augustus. 
 
 Henry-Long 
 Howard, of 
 Creystock 
 Castle, Cum- 
 berland, Esq. 
 only son and 
 
 heir appa- 
 rent. 
 
 Jul 
 
 I [em ii : in. 
 
 Isabella. 
 
 Charlotte, 
 .1 uliaua. 
 
68 ILLUSTRATIONS OP FONTHILL ABBEY 
 
 TABLE IX. 
 
 DESCENT OF WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. FROM WILLIAM, LORD LATIMER. 
 
 William, Lord Latimer, of Corby, in tlie county of Northamp-=pAlice, daughter and coheir of Waller Ledet, of Braybrooke, in 
 toD, died anno 53 Edvv. I. the county of Northampton. 
 
 Sir John Latimer, ofDnntish, in the county of Dorset, Kt. 2d=pIoan, daughter and coheir of Sir William de Gouis, of Dun- 
 son of William, Lord Latimer, died anno 10 Edvv. III. tish, in the county of Dorset, Kt. 
 
 Sir Robert Latimer, of Duntish, aforesaid, Kt. son and heir of==Catherinp, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Hull, of Child- 
 Sir John Latimer, d. anno 55 Edw. III. Ockford, East Pulham, etc. co. Dorset, Kt. 
 
 Sir Robert Latimer, of Duntish and East Pulham aforesaid,=^=Margaret, daughter of Sir William Peche, Kt. 
 Kt. son and heir of Sir Robert Latimer. 
 
 John Latimer, of East Pulham, aforesaid, Esq. son and heir of=j=Margaret, daughter of Sir John Pipard, Kt. 
 Sir Robert Latimer. 
 
 Sir Nicholas Latimer, of Duntish, aforesaid, Kt. son and heir==Joan, daughter of Sir John Hody, Kt. 
 ol John Latimer, Esq. died without issue male, 1505. 
 
 John Greene, of Stotfould, in the county of Bedford, Esq.=j=Edith Latimer, one of the daughters and heirs of Sir Nicholas 
 
 Latimer, d. 1518. 
 
 John Mervyn, ol Fonthill, in the county of Wilts, Esq.=pElizabeih Greene, daughter and coheir of John Greene, Esq. 
 
 by Edith Latimer. 
 
 Thomas Hall, of Bradford, in the county of Wilts, Esq.n=Elizabeth, daughter of John Mervyn, Esq. and sister of Sir 
 
 ~ John Mervyn, of Fonthill, Kt. 
 
 Sir John Hall, of Bradford, aforesaid, Knight.=j=Dorothy, daughter and heir of Anthony Rogers, of Bradford, 
 Esq. 
 
 tin Jail, of J 
 
 John Hall, of Bradford, aforesaid, Esq. 16'23.=pElizabetb, daughter of Henry Brune, of Athelhampton, in the 
 
 county of Dorset, Esq. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hall, of Bradford, aforesaid, Knight, died 1665 =pCatherine, daughter of Sir Edward Seymour, of Bury Pome- 
 
 roy, in the county of Devon, Bart. 
 
 William Coward, Esq. Serjeant at Law, and Recorder and=f=Bridget, only daughter of Sir Thomas Hall, and sister and sole 
 M. P. for Wells, died 17(0. heir of John Hall, of Bradford, Esq. 
 
 William Coward, of Wells, Esq. a Colonel in the Army, and=pMary, daughter of William Hastings, of Hinton, in the county 
 M. P. for that city, died 1716. of Northampton, Esq. 
 
 George Hamilton, 2d surviving son of James, 6th Earl of=pBridget, daughter and sole heir of William Coward, Esq. 
 Abercorn, died 1775. 
 
 William Beckford, of Fonthill Gifl'ord, aforesaid, Esq. died=pMaria, daughter and coheir of the Honourable George Hamil- 
 1770. ton. 
 
 William Beckford, 
 of Fonthill, Esq. 1825. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS VOLUME, 
 
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 Prower, the Rev. Mervin. 
 Priestley and W eale, copies. 
 Poynder, James, Esq. 
 Phillips, Thomas, Esq. 
 Payne, Mr. 
 Penny aud Co. Messrs. 
 Page, S. F. Esq. Architect. 
 Patient, J. Esq. 
 Pretty, Edw. Esq. 
 Handle, Mr. 
 
 Rhodes, Henry, Esq. Architect. 
 
 Rogers, R. G. Esq. 
 
 Risdon, J. Esq. 
 
 Roffe, Mr. J. 
 
 Russell, J. Esq. 
 
 Rackett, the Rev. Thos. F. R. S. 
 and S. A. 
 
 Rodes, Edw. Esq. 
 
 Radclyffe, Mr. W. 
 
 Rusher, Mr. Bookseller. 
 
 Ditto, for Reading Literary In- 
 stitution. 
 
 Rodford, Mr. John. 
 
 Robinson and Ellis, Messrs. 
 2 copies. 
 
 Reed, G. Esq. 
 
 Rudge, E. Esq. F. S. A. 
 
 Ripley, George, Esq. 
 
 Russell, J. Esq. Architect. 
 
 Rickards, R. Esq. 
 
 Robinson, P. F. Esq. Architect. 
 
 Russel, Jas. M. D. 
 
 Rogers, John, Esq. 
 
 Ritchie, Mr. John . 
 
 Suffield, Dowager Lady. 
 
 Smirke, S. Esq. Architect. 
 
 St. Croix. 
 
 Skurray, the Rev. F. 
 Smith, Mr. Lepard. 
 Still, James, Esq. 
 Shaw, Mr. H. 
 Still, the Rev. John. 
 Shipster, R. Esq. 
 Smith, John, Esq. 
 Sutton, Robert, Esq. 
 Stoddart, Dr. 
 
 Stannard, Jos. Esq. Architect. 
 Smith, J. Esq. 
 Swayne, J. Esq. 
 Stenberg, T. Esq. 
 Samwell, T. S. W. Esq. 
 Sadler, Robert, Esq. 
 Shalders, Mr. 
 Turville, F. T. Esq. 
 Thomas, Rees G. Esq. 
 Taylor, G. L. Esq. Arch. F.S.A. 
 Thompson, T. C. Esq. 
 Thomson, Mr. J. 
 Trendall, Mr. 
 Taylor, Mr. 
 Taylor, John, Esq. 
 Tatham, T. J. Esq. 
 Townend, Win. Esq. 
 Trehorn, Edm. Esq. 
 Triphook, Mr. 3 copies. 
 Todd's, Messrs. 
 Uphain, Mr. 2 copies. 
 Underwood, Messrs. 2 copies. 
 Upham, Mr. J. 3 copies. 
 Valpy, A. J. Esq. 
 Varral, Mr. J. C. 
 Wyatt, L. Esq. Architect. 
 Wyatt, J. Esq. Architect. 
 Wyatt, H. J. Esq. 
 Willson, Mr. 
 Wathen, James, Esq. 
 Ward, James, Esq. 
 Ward, John, Esq. 
 Walmesley, Edward. 
 White, R. S. Esq. 
 Winstanlev, C. Esq. 
 White, Wm. Esq. 
 W inter, J. Esq. 
 Whitty, Mr. N. 3 copies. 
 Weeks, Lewis, Esq. 
 Watson, Captain W. L. 
 Wood, Rev. Mr. 
 Winkles, Mr. 
 Whitmarsh, F. W. Esq. 
 Whitmarsh, F. Esq. 
 West, Mr. 2 copies. 
 Wansey, Henry, Esq. F.S.A. 
 Webb, Frederick, Esq. F.S.A. 
 West, Thos. W. Esq. 2 copies. 
 Watson, Win. Esq. 
 Woolnoth, Mr. W. 
 Young, C. G. Esq. 
 
CattjeDral anD Architectural anttquttteg, 
 
 BY J. BRIXTON, F.S.A. 
 
 %* In consequence of the Fire which consumed the Premises and neurit/ all the Stock of Books, Prints, fyc. of 
 Mr. Taylor, in Holborn, last Winter, there are only a very FEW complete Copies of the following Works for 
 Sale. The Publishers cannot, indeed, supply odd Numbers, or complete Sets. The large paper will not be 
 vepr inted. 
 
 1. The HISTORY and ANTIQUITIES of SALISBURY CATHEDRAL contains 
 Thirty-one Engravings, by J. and H. Le Keux, &c. from Drawings by Mackenzie, 
 Baxter, and R. Cattermole, and Three Wood Cuts; also 1 14 Pages of Letter Press. — 
 Price 3/. 3s. Medium 4to. — 5/. 5s. Imperial 4to. — 11/. Royal Folio: and 8/. Crown Folio. 
 
 " Unfettered by the slavish adoption of any hypothesis, our Author's Antiquarian Researches are pursued with a 
 single eye to the attainment of truth ; no gratuitous assumptions are ever substituted for legitimate conclusions : his 
 expensive personal surveys, and laborious investigations, instead of being subservient to preconceived systems, are 
 directed to the more practical and useful purposes of rational inference and patient deduction. Mr. B. has been 
 uniformly distinguished for taste and liberality in his graphic embellishments: and we are persuaded that to him, 
 more than to any other individual, we are indebted for a rapidly progressive improvement in the pictorial delineations 
 of our Architectural Antiquities." — Gent. Mag. April, 1816. 
 
 2. The HISTORY, &c. of NORWICH CATHEDRAL consists of Twenty-four 
 Engravings, by the same Artists, One Wood Cut, and Ninety-four Pages of Letter 
 Press : — at 21. 10s. Medium 4to. : — 4/. 4s. Imperial 4to.: — 61. 6s. Crown Folio: — and til. tis. 
 Royal Folio. 
 
 3. The HISTORY, &c. of WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL consists of One Hun- 
 dred and Forty-two Pages of Letter Press, and Thirty Engravings, from Drawings by 
 Edw. Blore, &c. Same Prices as Salisbury. 
 
 4. The HISTORY, &c. of the METROPOLITICAL CHURCH of YORK is 
 illustrated by Thirty-four Engravings, from Drawings by E. Blore and F. Mackenzie. 
 Price 3/. 15*. Medium 4to. : — and 51, 5s. Imperial 4to. &c. Also a few Copies in Crown 
 and Royal folio. 
 
 5. The HISTORY, &c. of LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL is illustrated by Sixteen 
 Engravings, by the same Artists, from Drawings by F. Mackenzie, &c. Price 1/. 18s. 
 Medium 4to. : and 3/. 3*. Imperial 4to. 
 
 6. The HISTORY and ANTIQUITIES of OXFORD CATHEDRAL, illustrated 
 by Eleven Engravings of Views, Elevations, Sections, &c. of the Church, with Fifty Pages 
 of Letter-press. Price 1/. 6s. Medium 4to. : 21. 2s. Imperial 4to. : and 4/. 4s. Royal folio. 
 
 7. The HISTORY and ANTIQUITIES of CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL con- 
 sists of Twenty-six Engravings, with One Hundred and Fourteen Pages of Letter-press. 
 Prices and Sizes the same as Salisbury. 
 
 8. The ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES of GREAT BRITAIN, consisting 
 of 278 En gravings of Castles, Churches, Old Mansions, Crosses, &c. with Historical 
 and Descriptive Accounts of each Subject; 4 Vols. 4to. 21/. — Large Paper, 321. 
 
 " This is a truly splendid and interesting production: scientific enough to excite professional attention, and suffi- 
 ciently picturesque and diversified to afford an ample treat to the general reader. It does high credit to (he taste, 
 industry, and ingenuity of the indefatigable Author, and is a real honour to the country."— New Annual Register, 1815. 
 
 9. CHRONOLOGICAL and HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS of the AN TI- 
 EN T ARCHITECTURE of GREAT BRITAIN, to consist of Eighty Prints, with 
 ample Letter-press. It will be published in Ten Numbers, Nine of which are already 
 published; at 1 26*. per Number, .Medium -Ito. ; and ]/. Imperial 4to. 
 
 10. HISTORY, &c. of REDCL1FFE CHURCH, Bristol, with Twelve Engravings, 
 and a Memoir of Chatterton, &c— Royal 8vo. 16*. :— Imperial 4to.1/. 1 1*. 07/. The latter 
 classes with the Architectural Antiquities, &c. The Medium 4to. is out of Print. 
 
 11. HISTORY and ANTIQUITIES of BATH ABBEY CHURCH, (in the Press), 
 w ith Eight Engravings. Royal 8vo. 13s. : — Medium 4to. 1/. :— Imperial 4to. 1/. 10s. 
 
 London : Published by Longman and Co. Paternoster Row; Taylor, 52, High 
 Holborn; and J. Britton, 17, Burton Street. 
 
 *#* A more detailed Prospectus of the above Works may be had at any of the Booksellers. 
 
PUBLISHED THIS DAY, 
 
 NOS. I. II. AXD III. 
 CONTAINING SEVEN ENGRAVINGS EACH, 
 Price 5s. Medium 8vo. : — 8s. Imperial 8vo.: — and 14s. Medium 4to. with Proofs on India Paper, 
 
 ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 i&ubltc ButlMng£ of Jlon&on ; 
 
 ACCOMPANIED BY 
 
 HISTORICAL, DESCRIPTIVE, AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTS. 
 
 By J. BR1TTON, F. S. A. ETC. — and A. PUGIN, Architect. 
 
 PROSPECTUS. 
 
 This Publication will comprise a Series of Plans, Sections, Elevations, and Perspective Views of 
 the most interesting Edifices of the British Metropolis: viz. its principal Palaces, Churches, Chapels, 
 Theatres, Halls, Mansions, Squares, Streets, Bridges, Museums, &c. When these are faithfully de- 
 lineated, and brought into a compact and portable compass ; when they are examined in their true forms and 
 proportions, and their ornaments carefully drawn; when seen divested of extraneous objects, and the confusing 
 bustle of this much crowded and ever busy city, we shall find that many of them are works of merit and of 
 beauty. They have never yet been correctly and carefully engraved, and have consequently never been fairly 
 appreciated. It is from patriotic principles, as well as a love of Architecture, that the present Work is 
 undertaken by the Authors, who are ambitious of demonstrating to Foreigners and to English professional 
 Artists, as well as to the general Collector, that London contains many curious, fine, and even important 
 Edifices. If it does not afford specimens of the works of all the eminent Architects of England, we shall 
 find something to exemplify the peculiar characteristics of most of them. We shall meet with Buildings 
 executed from the designs of Sir Christopher Wren, Inigo Jones, Lord Burlington, Sir John 
 V 7 anbrugh, Hawksmoor, Gibbs, Kent, Robt. and James Adam, Dance, Sampson, Ripley, Milne, 
 Leverton, Holland, James and Benjamin Wyatt, Sir Robert Taylor, Sir William Chambers, 
 Stuart, Soane, Nash, Rennie, Smirke, Laing, Jupp, Saunders, Hardwick, Inwood, Burton, 
 Abraham, Repton, Newman, &c. 
 
 Two leading features of this Work will be accuracy of delineation and cheapness in price : towards 
 attaining the former, the Authors will solicit the aid of the Architects of modern Buildings ; and they intend 
 to have the old Edifices drawn and measured by competent Artists. To render the Work moderate in price, 
 it is intended to have the Plates executed in a clear, but firm outline ; by which means the architectural 
 forms and characters of Buildings will be more carefully defined than in finished, shadowed prints. Many 
 of the Plates are already engraved, by J. Le Keux, J. Roffe, R. Sands, G. Gladwin, J. Cleghorn, &c. 
 — The object of the Plates, and of the Letter-press, will be to afford the Architect, Builder, Antiquary, and 
 Connoisseur, accurate and scientific information : to represent the real design and construction of each 
 Building, respectively, and thus exemplify the talents of its Architect. The Letter-press will be devoted to 
 History and Description, rather than to criticism and comment; and will be wholly limited to the two 
 former in accounts of the works of living Artists. The Authors are aware that they might make a 
 more attractive and amusing book, by a series of picturesque, and what are generally termed pretty prints ; 
 but they address themselves to men of science and taste, rather than to those persons who seek only to please 
 the eye, without informing or improving the mind. A List of Subscribers will be printed. 
 
 This Publication will be printed in Medium 8vo. at 5s. per Number; and Imperial 8vo. at 8s. per Number. 
 A Number will appear at the interval of two months. Each Number will contain at least Seven Plates, and, 
 on an average, about Two Sheets of Letter-press. The whole will be comprised in Twenty, or Twenty-four 
 Numbers, forming Two handsome Volumes; to which appropriate Engraved Titles will be given, and a 
 Plan of Loudon. A small number of Proofs on India Paper, Quarto, at 14s. per No. 
 
 %* Gentlemen desirous of securing choice Impressions, are requested to forward their Na?ncs and Addresses 
 to either of the Publishers, where Specimens of the Work may be seen. 
 
 LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOS1AH TAYLOR, ARCHITECTURAL LIBRARY HIGH HOLBORN; .1. BRITTON, 
 BURTON COTTAGE, BURTON STREET; AND A. PUGIN, 105, GREAT RUSSELL STREET, BLOOMSBURY. 
 
PUBLISHED THIS DAY, 
 
 In 2 Vols. Medium 4to. price Six Guineas; and Nine Guineas in Imperial 4to. with Proofs: both Sizes 
 in extra Boards, and to correspond with the Cathedral and Architectural Antiquities, 
 
 OF 
 
 GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE; 
 
 SELECTED FROM VARIOUS 
 
 ANTIENT EDIFICES IN ENGLAND ; 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 PLANS, ELEVATIONS, SECTIONS, AND PARTS AT LARGE; 
 
 CALCULATED TO EXEMPLIFY 
 
 7Bf)t fcartous Stales ant> xf)t practical ©onstrttctton 
 
 OF 
 
 THIS CLASS OF ADMIRED ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 ACCOMPANIED BY 
 
 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS. 
 
 By A. PUGIN, — Architect. 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 This publication is intended to supply a long wished for desideratum: /'. e. a series of measured Plans, 
 Sections, Elevations, and Details of Gothic Architecture, by which the Architect and Builder may 
 construct any new work in strict imitation of antient examples. The Antiquary and Amateur will find, in 
 the present publication, a variety of useful and interesting information on a subject which has, within the 
 last few years, attained much deserved publicity, and excited more than common attention and admiration. 
 It is notorious that many modern Churches, Chapels, and Mansions, have been built in what is usually termed 
 the Gothic Style ; and it is equally notorious that most of these Edifices have provoked more censure than 
 praise, and entailed on their Architects the reproachful remarks of the scientific Antiquary and the tasteful 
 Connoisseur. By a careful study of the " Specimens" now offered to the Public, and other similar publica- 
 tions, the Architect may readily see the geometrical principles of the Gothic Structures, and the true 
 forms, proportions, &c. of the various parts which enter into the composition of an antient Edifice. The 
 two volumes hereby announced contain a series of 114 Engravings, all of which have been drawn and 
 measured with strict attention to construction. The Letter-press is addressed to the man of science; and 
 at the same time furnishes the Antiquary and Historian with dates and facts for the purpose of comparative 
 elucidation and archaeological inference. The work also embraces an " Architectural Glossary," or 
 explanation of many old terms applicable to the buildings of the Middle Ages. The Letter-press is by 
 Mr. E. J. Willson, of Lincoln ; and will be found to be apposite, judicious, and discriminating. The 
 Prefaces to the two volumes contain a Review of and Comments on the revived Gothic Architecture 
 and Architects of the last century; with Accounts of several Works that have been published both in 
 England and in Germany on the subject. 
 
 These Specimens may be purchased complete, or in Sit separate Numbers, at One Guinea each, small Paper; 
 
 and \l. 1 I s. (id. large Paper. 
 
 LONDON: PUBLISHED 15 Y J O S 1 A II TAYLOR, ARCHITECTURAL LIBRARY, HIGH BOLBORN ; A. PUGIN, 105, 
 GREAT RUSSELL STREET, BLOOM SBURY^ AND J. BRITTON, BURTON COTTAGE, BURTON STREET. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Pl. XL Engraved Title Page, with shields, Ckc. to precede the printed title. 
 
 Described 5 to 10 
 
 Pl. VI. View of the II ALL, looking west, to face the engraved title. 
 
 Described 13,40,42 
 
 Pl. XII. View of the West End of the Abbey, from the avenue: in title page. 
 
 Described 13 
 
 Pl. I. Plan of the principal suite of rooms: to face 13 
 
 Pl. 111. View of the building from the south west: to face 13 
 
 Described 11 
 
 Pl. II. View of the central Tower, Hall, &c. from the north west: to face 13 
 
 Described 1 ] 
 
 Pl. IV. View of the Building from the south east (erroneously printed north east, p. 11.)... 12 
 
 Described 12 
 
 Pl. V. Distant View of the Building from the south west, shewing its situation and adjoining- 
 scenery: to face 37 
 
 Pl. VII. View of four Sides of the great Octagon, looking south east: to face 37 
 
 Described 43 
 
 Pl. VIII. View of Part of Edward the Third's Gallery, looking north: to face 45 
 
 Described 45 
 
 Pl. IX. View of the South End of the St. Michael Gallery: to face 53 
 
 Described 54 
 
 Pl. X. View of one of the painted Windows of St. Michael's Gallery: to face 53 
 
 Described 54 
 
 LITERARY CONTENTS. 
 
 An Address to the Subscribers, &c. after title , v — viii 
 
 Description of the Engraved Title Page 4 — 9 
 
 List and Description of the Plates 10 — 14 
 
 Preface — Remarks on the fashionable Publicity of Fonthill Abbey, 1822 — on Periodical 
 Publications — Topographical Literature — Acknowledgments — Rivalry — Excuse for 
 
 giving a Catalogue 15 — 19 
 
 Address to J. Broadley, Esq. — Friendship, Patronage, Pleasures of Literature: — Re- 
 marks on Taste: — Publications on Seats 20 — 22 
 
 Chap. I. English Mansions: — Descriptive Notices of Fonthill: — Natural and Artificial 
 Character of the Place, &c. — Old House, Park, and Scenery: — Lord X T elson's Visit: — 
 
 Grounds around the Abbey: — Roads of Approach 22 — 3G 
 
 Chap. II. Description of the principal Parts of the Building: — General Remarks: — Hall: 
 — Octagon :— Edward Ill's Gallery: — Oratory: — Lancaster Booms: — Dining-room: — 
 Baronial Hall: — Remarks on the Architect and Proprietor of Fonthill Abbey: — St. Mi- 
 chael's Gallery: — Drawing and Cabinet Rooms : — Library : — and concluding Reflections : 
 
 —Two Poems by Mr. Beckford 37— GO 
 
 Chap. III. Succinct Memoirs of the Families of Beckford and Hering, with Tables ... 61 — 0*8 
 
 GENEALOGICAL PEDIGREES, ETC. 
 
 Table I. Principal Quarterings of Wm. Beckford, Esq. in the Great Hall 42 
 
 Table II. Descent of Wm. Beckford, Esq. and his Consort from King Edward Til 44 
 
 Table III. Descent of the same through the illustrious House of Butler, and by an 
 
 equal number of Generations from King Edward the First 46 
 
 Table IV. Some of the principal Descents of Wm. Beckford, Esq. from the House of 
 
 Lancaster 49 
 
 Table V. Some of the principal Descents of Lady Margaret Beckford, from the House of 
 
 Lancaster 50 
 
 Table VI. Descent of the Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon, through various Lines, from 
 
 James, Lord Hamilton, and the Princess Mary Stuart 56 
 
 Table VII. The Maternal Connexions of the late Wm. Beckford, Esq 65 
 
 Table VI II. The immediate and collateral Paternal Connexions of Win. Beckford, Esq. 6(5, 67 
 
 Table IX. Descent of William Beckford, Esq. from William, Lord Latimer 68 
 
mo9 
 
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