PuiUsTud iy W. OarTa, .Mr Band St. M^' ijBa. 
 
I 
 
 OF 
 
 FONTHILL ABBEY, 
 
 WILTSHIRE. 
 
 IJLlLUSTR^dTMlB MY 
 
 VIEWS, 
 
 DRAWN AND ENGRAVED 
 
 BY JAMES STORER. 
 
 Hontiott : 
 
 Published by W. CLARKE, New Bond Street ; J. CARPENTER, Old Bond Street ; 
 W. MILLER, Albemarle Street; C. CHAPPEL, Pall Mall; WHITE and 
 COCHRANE, Fleet Street ; SHERWOOD, NEELY, and JONES, Paternoster 
 Row J BRODIE and Co. Salisbury ; and J. STORER, Pentonville. 
 
 1812. 
 
Bescriptton 
 
 OP 
 
 FONTHILL ABBEY, 
 
 The public curiosity has been much excited for se- 
 veral years, by the building of a lofty Tower in the 
 conventual style of architecture, among the woody 
 eminences of Fonthill, in the county of Wilts ; more 
 especially, as the extraordinary mansion, of which it 
 forms a stately feature, has never yet been open to 
 view. Imagination, of course, had been busy ; but the 
 conjectures of the most luxuriant fancy could scarcely 
 conceive a scene so noble, so princely, as is exhi- 
 bited in the Abbey op Fonthill upon a near in- 
 spection of its component parts. This impression of 
 grandeur is, if possible, increased in passing through 
 the various apartments of the building, which are 
 fitted up in an almost unequalled style of splendour 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 and magnificence. In attempting a regular and com- 
 prehensive description of the place, we purpose to 
 take some previous notice of the grounds, which are 
 happily formed by nature, and improved by art, into 
 such a variety of mazy and deceptive paths, that it is 
 scarcely possible to retrace the way without a guide : 
 the circumference of the enclosure measures about 
 seven miles, defended by a stone wall and cheveaux- 
 de-frise. 
 
 Fonthill Abbey is distant from Salisbury about 
 eighteen miles, and may be approached through the 
 village of Fonthill Bishop, or by Fonthill GifFord. 
 Immediately upon entering the gate, the road as- 
 cends through a dark wood of firs, remarkable for 
 their lofty growth, to a path leading eastward of the 
 mansion, up the Hard Walk, or Hinkley Hill. In 
 grounds so varied, it is absolutely necessary to give a 
 particular appellation to some principal points ; for 
 without this expedient it would be impossible to direct 
 the different workmen and others to their several desig- 
 nations. This path is skirted with laurel, and enclosed 
 by matted underwood : at intervals the Abbey Tower 
 appears on the left among the trees. After traversing 
 the distance of about half a mile, the forest lawn 
 crosses the way ; and turning to the left, the nut lawn 
 presents itself, so called on account of the variety and 
 abundance of hazels : here are likewise to be seen 
 American and exotic oaks in high perfection. Di* 
 
s 
 
 rectly in front of this walk, at some distance, is the 
 Beacon, a very lofty wooded height, which we shall 
 have occasion to notice as we proceed. The way, 
 continued about a quarter of a mile, leads to the 
 Clerk's Walk, which on the left passes the western 
 front of the Abbey. A narrow, mossy alley on the 
 right, closely shaded, conducts to a path bordered 
 ;with the scarlet thorn, and, extending more than a 
 mile, presents, during spring and summer, a beau- 
 tiful and fascinating display of flowers of spontaneous 
 growth, of luxuriant shrubs, and variegated hollies. 
 
 The parts above described are on the north side 
 of the Abbey. Inclining to the north-west, we enter 
 another path, called The Nine-miles -walk, being part 
 of a journey of twenty-two miles which may be made 
 ;Within the grounds without retracing our steps ; on 
 each side are broad spaces covered with flowers, which 
 appear to be cultivated with peculiar care. Enclosed by 
 large forest trees the way may be pursued in a winding 
 course to the summit of the great avenue : having at- 
 tained the eminence, as we turn to the east, the Abbey 
 hursts upon the view in solemn and imposing majesty. 
 This point is the north-western extremity of the 
 grounds, whence a folding gate opens into the public 
 road ; crossing which, another gate leads to the terrace, 
 a woody ridge, that extends about five miles from west 
 to east. Continuing along the western boundary, the 
 prospect ranges over a country extensive and delight- 
 
 B 2 
 
4 
 
 fully diversified. Among the most prominent objects are 
 Alfred's Tower, and part of the grounds at Stourhead, 
 the seat of Sir Richard Hoare, Bart. ; which we shall 
 have occasion to notice in describing the surrounding 
 country as viewed from the Abbey Tower. Ascend- 
 ing the new terrace southward, the ground upon the 
 right is an abrupt steep, crowned with large trees of 
 various species ; on the left is a deep woody bottom j 
 called Bitham Wood. Turning out of this path at an 
 acute angle to the left, and pursuing the walk through 
 a narrow passage in the wood, we arrive at the Bea- 
 con, one of the loftiest points in the whole sweep of 
 hills for which this part of the country is remark- 
 able. On the summit of this hill is a plain of about five 
 or six acres, intended for the site of a magnificent 
 tower ; the foundations are entirely laid, and in most 
 parts the walls are raised to the height of nine or ten 
 feet ; it is of considerable extent, of triangular form, 
 having a circular bastion at each of its angles, and 
 being overgrown with shrubs and moss in a very pic- 
 turesque manner. 
 
 Declining towards the south-east, near the foot 
 of the Beacon, a most interesting prospect is sud- 
 denly and agreeably presented. Over a long extent 
 of ground varied by gentle undulations, and studded 
 with clumps of trees, displaying a rich assemblage 
 of glowing and luxuriant tints, appears the Abbey, 
 forming a grand mass of embattled towers, sur- 
 
5 
 
 mounted by the lofty octagon which composes the 
 centre. This enchanting scenery is backed by an 
 elevated woodland of a sombre aspect, which by 
 contrast heightens the striking and brilliant effect of 
 the edifice. Descending into the bottom, a fine pel- 
 lucid lake reflects the surrounding beauties of the 
 place; in some parts of unfathomable depth, and 
 having the appearance of the crater of an ancient 
 volcano ; stretching and meandring so as to give an 
 idea of even much greater magnitude than it possesses. 
 The lake is plentifully supplied with wild fowl, and the 
 woodcock has frequently chosen this sequestered valley 
 for her nest. As shooting is not permitted within the 
 enclosure, every animal sports undisturbed ; and con- 
 scious of security, the hares will feed at the horse's 
 feet from the hands of the rider, and frequently asso- 
 ciate in great numbers within a few paces of the win-i 
 dows. Passing through a sheltered walk, bordered on 
 one side with the hardiest English and Mediterranean 
 heaths, the American Plantation is seen, broken into 
 picturesque forms by the margin of the water. This 
 plantation is principally made upon the declivity of a 
 large knoll, and exhibits every variety of the mag- 
 nolia, azalia, and rhododendron hitherto imported. 
 Here is a pleasing view of the Abbey. In a direc- 
 tion south-east there is a romantic hollow, made 
 still more interesting by the works that are here 
 erected for supplying the Abbey with water. A wheel 
 about twenty-four feet in diameter is put into motion 
 
by a stream conducted from the lalvc tlirough a 
 wooden trough, several smaller watercourses assist- 
 ing in the operation ; the water thus raised to a cer- 
 tain level in the hydraulic machine, is passed into 
 pipes, and conveyed under ground to the house— 
 the whole contrivance being remarkably simple, and 
 reflecting great credit on the inventor. Approaching 
 from this picturesque dell to the southern side of the 
 Abbey, we arrive at a small garden, surrounded by a 
 light iron fence, which is called the Chinese Garden, 
 particularly appropriated to the culture of the rarest 
 flowers. A little to the eastward is the kitchen gar- 
 den, containing eight or nine acres, screened on the 
 northern side by a wood of lofty pines. From the 
 garden we arrive nearly at the point from, which we 
 set out, and, taking a short winding walk between the 
 trees, come directly upon the lawn in front of 
 
 THE ABBEY. 
 
 This building, which was designed by Mr. Wyatt, 
 aided by the acknowledged taste of Mr. Beckford, 
 consists of three grand and leading features, con- 
 joined by the galleries and the cloister. In the centre 
 is the great hall and principal tower ; towards the 
 north are two large square towers, which are balanced 
 at the other extremity, or southern end, by a group 
 of varied edifices, with embattled parapets. 
 
 The northern part of the gallery, as seen in the 
 
7 
 
 annexed View, sliews part of the oratory, the win** 
 dows of the gallery leading to it, the oriel of the 
 Lancaster apartment, and the windows of the adjoin- 
 ing gallery. Below are the simply elegant windows of 
 King Edward's gallery : to the right is a romid tower, 
 with a winding staircase leading to the apartments 
 in the octagon. 
 
 The south-west view comprehends the whole 
 huilding from north to south, the perspective of the 
 hall hiding the north wing all but its extremity. 
 The front of the hall presents a door thirty-five feet 
 high, adorned with crockets, and a highly- wrought 
 finial. On the top of the pediment is a niche, con- 
 taining a statue of St. Anthony of Padua, sur- 
 mounted by a cross -flory, the arms of William the 
 first Lord Latimer, from whom Mr. Beckford is line- 
 ally descended. The great tower, which is two 
 hundred and seventy-six feet in height, is seen 
 rising between four pediments, whose projections 
 form the two stories of apartments around the octa- 
 gon, the upper ones having a Catherine -wheel win- 
 dow upon a level with openings of the same descrip- 
 tion seen within the octagon. Directly under the 
 tower, appears the western cloister, behind which is 
 a square paved court, having in its centre a fountain 
 that plays into a large marble basin. Between two 
 octangular towers, south of the cloister, is an oriel 
 of two stories attached to the brown Parlour below 
 
8 
 
 and yellow damask room above ; the tower on the 
 north side of the oriel contains various apartments ; 
 that on the south is a staircase to this part of the 
 buildings. 
 
 The south view represents the windows of the 
 yellow damask room and of Mr. Beckford's private 
 library ; below them is a richly-ornamented cloister of 
 five pointed arches, their outer mouldings terminated 
 by heads beautifully wrought : answering to each 
 of the arches, are the parlour windows, their upper 
 compartments filled with delicate tracery and painted 
 glass. From the square tower towards the east pro- 
 jects the south oriel, forming the extremity of the long 
 gallery, which measures three hundred and thirty 
 feet ; the upper part of this window is of stained 
 glass, representing the Four Fathers of the Church; 
 the lower part, like most of the windows throughout 
 the building, is the finest plate glass, of uncommon 
 size ; below the window is a pointed door leading to 
 the lobby of the parlour. 
 
 The south-east view shews all that is finished of 
 the eastern side of the Abbey. Here is an oriel richly 
 carved, containing shields with armorial bearings, 
 and other devices ; the window is ornamented with 
 the figures of St. Columba, St. Etheldreda, Vene- 
 rable Bede, and Roger Bacon, in stained glass, by 
 Eginton. 
 
9 
 
 The principal features of the east side are three 
 large square towers. We are told it is the intention 
 of Mr. Beckford to build a superb chapel, directly op- 
 posite to the great hall. The offices, stables, work- 
 shops for the artificers, &c. are all on this side, 
 closely encompassed by a wood of firs, beech, and 
 other large trees, and so enclosed as to cause no dis-»- 
 paragement to the view. 
 
 Having taken a general survey of this extensive 
 mansion, we shall now proceed to describe its inte- 
 rior. 
 
 THE BROWN PARLOUR. 
 
 This spacious apartment, fifty-six feet in length, 
 receives its appellation from the dark-coloured oak 
 with which it is wainscotted. It is lighted by eight 
 pointed windows, three of which compose the lower 
 story of the western oriel, the other five range within 
 the southern cloister, and command the prospect over 
 a deep w^oody vale, intersected by the Lake and by 
 pleasant lawns, beyond which rises the forest that 
 encloses Wardour Castle. The upper tracery of the 
 windows is enriched with painted glass by Eginton^ 
 after the drawings of the late eminent artist, R. Ha- 
 milton, R. A. representing a series of some of the 
 most historical personages among Mr. Beckford's 
 ancestors. The room is fitted up with splendid sim- 
 plicity; two large pieces of tapestry adorn its northern 
 
IB 
 
 side Between them, over the chimney, is a whole- 
 length portrait of Peter Beckford, Esq. Mr. Beck- 
 fordV great grandfather. He was Lieutenant-gOf 
 vernor and commander in chief of Jamaica, and was 
 honoured with the presidency of the council, and 
 most of the civil as well as military employments of 
 that Island, where he greatly distinguished himself 
 at the French invasion in 1693. His son, likewise 
 named Peter, was esteemed the richest suhject in 
 Europe. He married Bathshua, daughter and coheir 
 of Julines Hering, Esq. and was the father of Wil- 
 liam Beckford, Esq. the late celebrated senator. 
 
 The windows of the Parlour are hung with two 
 suits of curtains ; the inner one is of blue damask, 
 bordered with the tressure of Scotland; the other suit 
 is scarlet, which gives the light a rich and sumptuous 
 effect. The ceiling, tesselated by a neat moulding, 
 has at each intersection four oak-leaves entwined. 
 Attached to this Parlour is a small drawing room 
 with a groined roof, and an appropriate chimney- 
 piece of purbeck marble : opposite we remarked, 
 upon a table of curious construction, an antique vase 
 of the purest alabaster. A closet in this little room 
 contains specimens of an almost unequalled col- 
 lection of ancient china, which is dispersed in the 
 various apartments of the Abbey. This room leads 
 from the Parlour, through the cloister, to the great 
 hall. Opposite to this a winding staircase conducts 
 
11 
 
 to the apartments above, and to a small gallery, at 
 the entrance of which is a bust of Lord Nelson, placed 
 there as a memorial of his visit to Fonthill, shortly 
 after the glorious and decisive victory which he ob- 
 tained near the mouth of the Nile. This head is 
 esteemed a striking likeness of the much-lamented 
 Admiral. An account of the magnificent manner in 
 which the Hero was entertained at this place, on the 
 20th of December 1800, appeared in the Gentle- 
 man's Magazine for April 1801. 
 
 We now proceed to the small gallery, which is 
 above the yellow room : it contains costly tables in- 
 laid with oriental alabaster, and many invaluable 
 pieces of china. Opposite to the gallery, in the small 
 octagon tower, is an apartment furnished with se- 
 veral curiosities worthy of attention; among them 
 is a rich cabinet of ebony, inlaid with lapis -lazuli, 
 and other precious stones, designed by Bernini : over 
 this hangs a remarkably curious old picture, repre- 
 senting the Burial of a Cardinal, by Van Eyck. There 
 is likewise a fine Head by Holbein, and several Mini- 
 atures by Julio Clovio. 
 
 Adjoining this is an apartment devoted to the 
 use of such artists as are employed in directing the 
 works now carrying on at Fonthill; it contains a 
 collection of the rarest books and prints, illustrative 
 of ancient costume. This room has a window of four 
 
 c 2 
 
12 
 
 bays looking into the fountain court already mentioned; 
 on each side of this window is a smaller one, with 
 the armorial bearings of Mervin and Latimer, beauti- 
 fully executed by Pierson. Here are two inestimable 
 cabinets of the rarest old japan, enriched with 
 bronzes by Vulliamy, and a portrait of the Duke 
 d'Alen^on, by Zucchero, once the property of 
 Charles the First. Connected with this noble apart- 
 ment is a small lobby and dressing room, orna- 
 mented with several pictures and drawings ; the 
 former has two views of the edifice that was burnt at 
 Fonthill in the year 17^5, and a first design for the 
 Abbey. The dressing room is furnished with book- 
 cases, and is hung round with drawings of the man- 
 sion lately taken down, and of the ancient manor 
 house as it appeared about the year 1566, in the time 
 of the Mervins, Mr. Beckford's immediate ancestors. 
 Here is also a design for the tower once intended to be 
 erected upon the Beacon, the foundation and progress 
 of which have been already mentioned. 
 
 A passage now leads to Mr. Beckford's bed- 
 chamber : this room has two closets filled with cu- 
 rious specimens of carvings in ivory, and other rari- 
 ties. On one side of the apartment is a large glazed 
 cabinet, in which are most exquisite pieces of japan. 
 
 This being the south-east extremity of the build- 
 ing, we return northward through the dressing room 
 
13 
 
 to the upper library, or gallery, which is vaulted by 
 an obtuse arch. At the north end of this gallery is a 
 square room that looks through a tribune into the great 
 octagon; there are two of these beautiful openings op- 
 posite each other : the room of the south tribune con- 
 tains precious cabinets and valuable pictures. That on 
 the north side will be more particularly attended to 
 hereafter. All further progress this way being in- 
 terrupted by the octagon, we return again through 
 the lobby of the dressing room, whence a staircase 
 conducts to the central eastern tower ; here is a bed- 
 chamber hung with the finest Brussells tapestry, an 
 apartment over which terminates this part of the 
 building. Descending, we enter a passage, in which 
 stand six japan jars of uncommon size ; rising again 
 by a few steps we come into the south-east tower di- 
 rectly over Mr. Beckford's bed-chamber ; here is a 
 spacious apartment, and above it another, that forms 
 the summit of this tower. 
 
 Having viewed all the principal apartments in the 
 south wing of the building, it is necessary to return 
 to the room directly over the parlour ; the 
 
 YELLOW DAMASK ROOM. 
 
 So called on account of its splendid yellow hangings. 
 This apartment has five windows, three of them 
 compose the upper part of the western oriel, the 
 other two face the south. In this room are some of 
 
14 
 
 the finest cabinets of japan and Buhl work in Europe: 
 one of the latter formerly adorned the apartments of 
 Fontainhleau, and is remarkable for a beautiful me- 
 dallion of Lewis the Fourteenth. Near the colla- 
 teral windows of the oriel stand two immense china 
 jars, not more valuable for their size than quality, 
 presented to Mr. Beckford by the Prince of Brazil. * 
 
 On the north-west side of the damask room, in 
 the small octagon tower, is an apartment called 
 the green cabinet room ; it contains two frames, with 
 alto-relievos in ivory, of the time of Edward the First, 
 each divided into two compartments ; one frame 
 represents the Virgin and Child, attended by Angels, 
 and the Offerings of the Magi ; the other contains 
 the Salutation of Mary and Elizabeth, and Christ 
 entering Jerusalem. Here are two tables of the 
 rarest Florentine work, imitating shells, corals, 
 and pearls, upon grounds of lapis-lazuli and oriental 
 alabaster. Numerous articles of japan, with a great 
 variety of delicate gold vases, some enamelled and 
 others enriched with gems, are arranged in cases,' 
 somewhat in the style of those ancient cabinets which ' 
 were called Ambries. The roof of this apartment 
 is composed of fan-work, with rich and elaborate 
 tracery. From the yellow room by large folding 
 doors we enter the 
 
15 
 
 JAPAN ROOM, - 
 
 which contains Mr. Beckford's most choice and rarS 
 hooks. The roof is ornamented with circles filled 
 with quatrefoil ; upon the chimney-piece is a pair of 
 massive gold candlesticks, of admirable workmanship. 
 Passing again through a lofty folding screen, com- 
 posed of the most exquisite tracery, we come to the 
 south end of 
 
 THE GALLERY. 
 
 This is a point peculiarly impressive — the oratory 
 faintly appears through a long perspective of vaulted 
 roofs, at the distance of three hundred and thirty 
 feet. Near the south oriel, which forms this end 
 of the gallery, stands a large amber cabinet, in 
 which is seen all the various hues of that precious 
 material ; in some parts the palest yellow is sud- 
 denly succeeded by the richest orange ; in others 
 the tint increases to a garnet red, and again declines 
 to a purity almost white ; its sides are adorned with 
 medallions likewise in amber. This rare curiosity, 
 which is without a blemish, was once in the pos- 
 session of the Queen of Bohemia, daughter of 
 James the First ; her portrait with that of her hus- 
 band appears in cameo upon one of the drawers. 
 The cabinet stands upon a table of ebony, with 
 torsel feet, which formerly belonged to Cardinal 
 Wolsey. 
 
16 
 
 The east side of the gallery is lighted by an 
 oriel and two pointed windows (as seen in the south- 
 east View of the Abbey) ; immediately under the oriel 
 is placed a large japan chest, inlaid with curious de-r 
 vices in pearl and silver; the bordering is uncommonly 
 rich. Under each of the pointed windows is a superb 
 Gothic fire-place of marble, with tracery in the span- 
 drils of the arches. The windows on the west side 
 have their upper compartments of stained glass : this 
 gallery with that of King Edward the Third, form 
 the great library. The ceiling is of the richest fan- 
 work, having for corbels angels bearing emblazoned 
 shields : the curtains are of scarlet and blue, which 
 give a rich effect. The carpeting, woven for the ex- 
 press purpose, is crimson strewed with the Hamilton 
 cinquefoils, which Mr. Beckford quarters in right of 
 his mother, who was an heiress of that illustrious 
 family. 
 
 From the west side of the gallery we enter the 
 purple bed-room; it contains a painted frieze by Ca- 
 gliari, representing the Woman taken in Adultery ; 
 the Coronation of Henry the Fourth of France, by 
 Phillip de Champagne ; Two Monks, an undoubted 
 original, by Quintin Matsys ; a portrait of Catharine 
 Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus, by Paul Veronese ; and 
 over 'the fire-place a Head by Holbein, remarkably 
 pure and perfect. 
 
Proceeding in the gallery northward, we enter 
 
 THE OCTAGON, 
 
 and have a direct view of the northern tribune, which 
 is over King Edward the Third's gallery. Between 
 the piers of the octagon, which are composed of 
 clustered columns, bearing eight lofty arches, are 
 four pointed windows of beautifully stained glass, 
 copied from those of the celebrated monastery of 
 Batalha, in Portugal ; the other four arches that 
 support the tOwer are the openings of the galleries, 
 the entrance to the great hall, and another arch built 
 up ; this latter is reserved for the entrance to the 
 chapel intended to be erected on the eastern side of 
 the Abbey. The arches that have no place of egress, 
 five in number, are hung with curtains, at least fifty 
 feet high, which, concealing the termination of the 
 building, give an idea of continued space : the light 
 emitted through the painted windows of the octagon, 
 presents a most enchanting play of colours, and the 
 effect produced by the sombre hue of twilight, con- 
 trasted with the vivid appearance at different hours of 
 ,the day, is indescribably pleasing and grand. Above 
 the eight arches is an open gallery that communi- 
 cates with the higher suit of apartments ; from this 
 ^iprings a beautiful groining of fan-work, supporting 
 a lanthorn, hghted by eight windows richly painted ; 
 the whole is finished by a vaulted roof, the height of 
 which is one hundred and thirty-two feet from the 
 
 D 
 
18 
 
 ground. Descending by a flight of twenty-eight 
 steps, eighteen feet in width, from the octagon we 
 enter the great hall : this is a magnificent building in 
 the ancient baronial style ; the roof, which is of oak, 
 is decorated with thirty-eight shields, emblazoned 
 \Vith Mr. Beckford's principal family quarterings.^ 
 On the left side are three windows of painted glass, 
 the borders in imitation of a very ancient specimen in 
 Canterbury Cathedral. On the right, directly oppo- 
 site to the windows, are three lofty arches ; the middle 
 one has a deep recess, in which stands a statue of the 
 late Mr.Beckford, habited in his official robes as mayor 
 of London, with Magna Charta in his left hand. 
 
 The great western doors are of oak, and, as before 
 observed, thirty-five feet high ; the hinges alone, by 
 which they are suspended, weigh more than a ton : 
 notwithstanding this, they are so exactly poised that 
 the valves may be put in motion by the slightest eflfort. 
 Over the door-way is a spacious music gallery ; the 
 access is by a small staircase curiously contrived within 
 the thickness of the wall : its front is of Gothic screen- 
 work with a cushion of crimson extending the whole 
 breadth of the hall. Above this in the pediment is a 
 small window of ancient stained glass, representing 
 the Virgin and Child. Ascending again from the 
 hall and crossing the octagon, is a large staircase 
 leading -to the Lancaster apartments ; the northern 
 tribune room first presents itself. This is adorned 
 
with ebony and ivory cabinets, vases of agate and 
 jade, some of them enriched with precious stoneS|^> 
 The pictures in this apartment are portraits of St»% 
 Lewis Gonzaga, by Bronzino; of Jeanne d'Arkel, 
 of the house of Egmont, one of the finest specimens 
 of Antonio Moro ; two pictures by West from the 
 Revelations ; and figures of St. Jerome, St. Augus-> 
 tine, and St. Ambrose, by Hamilton, being the ori-) 
 ginal designs for the stained glass in the gallery below;) 
 these are so placed as to be visible from the floor of 
 the octagon. 
 
 my 
 
 The Lancaster gallery has a vauhed roof, and is 
 decorated with a number of scarce prints. The 
 carpeting is purple, powdered with flower-de-luces. 
 This leads to the dressing room, which, through large 
 folding doors, opens into the state bed-chamber. The 
 bed, which is of crimson damask richly fringed, 
 belonged to Mr. Beckford's great grandfather, when 
 Governor of Jamaica. This room is furnished in 
 a splendid manner, and contains several valuable 
 pictures; among them is a whole-length portrait of 
 the Regent Murray ; on one side is a picture of Mi- 
 chael overcoming the Dragon, and on the other a 
 highly-finished portrait of St. Thomas -a-Becket. The 
 ceiling is in the purest style of the sixteenth century ; 
 round the cornice is a richly carved and painted frieze^ 
 composed of portculisses and the united roses of York 
 and Lancaster. g 
 
 D 2 
 
26 
 
 /now ascend the staircase that leads to the 
 entrance of the great tower, and come to the suit of 
 I'ooms that surrounds the octagon. There are twdi 
 hed rooms and two dressing rooms ; the dressing room 
 towards the west contains a curious picture by An- 
 drea Mantegna, of Christ on the Mount, his three 
 Disciples asleep ; a very ancient performance, but in 
 excellent preservation. Under this is a Pieta by West. 
 On the opposite side is the Madonna, surrounded 
 by cherubs, presenting her with baskets of flowers ; 
 the figures by Van-Balen, the landscape by Brueghel. 
 Under this is the Vision of St. Anthony of Padua, 
 receiving into his arms the infant Christ. The oppo- 
 site dressing-room is hung with a curious grotesque 
 device, worked with velvet, in crimson and green, upon 
 a yellow ground of satin. In this room is a sump- 
 tuous cabinet, covered with a great variety of designs 
 in silver, beautifully chased ; and two pictures from 
 the Revelations by West. The two bed-chambers 
 are furnished in a stately baronial style. Above is 
 another suit of handsome apartments for attendants, 
 each lighted by a catherine-wheel window. 
 
 A staircase now winds up to the leads of the 
 circular tower, whence we enter the upper part of 
 the great octagon ; ascending by an inclined plane, 
 in a circular direction, we reach the top of this lofty 
 structure, which is two hundred and seventy-six feet 
 in height. The view is here of vast extent, including 
 
21 
 
 many counties in its circumference : among the most 
 conspicuous objects discernible without the aid of a 
 glass, is Lord ArundeFs terrace, adjoining Wardour 
 Castle ; this is a line range of wood, above which 
 rise the bold, green eminences communicating with 
 Salisbury Plain. Westward appear the grounds at 
 Stourhead, a distant prospect into Dorsetshire and 
 Somersetshire, as far as Glastonbury, and the road 
 to Shaftesbury winding between two hills. Among 
 other picturesque objects is a line of buildings called 
 Castle-Town, on account of the construction of the 
 houses, which have at intervals a raised work like 
 a tower ; the general appearance resembles Ludlow 
 Castle, in Shropshire. These houses were built by 
 Mr. Beckford for the convenience of the villagers 
 which he employs ; they are situated without the 
 grounds, at a short distance from the enclosure. Far- 
 ther north is seen Bradley Knoll and Bidcomb Hill. 
 It would be almost endless to enumerate the interest- 
 ing objects that are visible from this elevation : some 
 conception, however, may be formed, when it is 
 known that the tower has its base upon an eminence 
 considerably above the level of the top of Salisbury 
 Spire ; and there is no hill in the immediate neigh- 
 bourhood of sufficient consequence to bound the com- 
 manding height of its summit. 
 
 Descending through the octagon on the north- 
 east side of the Abbey, we observe a tower, contain- 
 
22 
 
 ing several apartments. The upper one is a bed- 
 chamber, lined with hangings of blue, streAved with 
 white mullets, the original arms of the house of 
 Douglas, and drawn together in the form of a tent. 
 Under this is a dressing and bed room, in both of 
 which the furniture, entirely composed of solid ebony 
 and the rarest woods, is remarkable for the neatness 
 and precision of the carved work. Re-entering the 
 octagon, King Edward the Third's gallery presents 
 itself. This contains seven lofty windows ; opposite 
 to them are portraits of Henry the Seventh, Edward 
 the Fourth, John of Gaunt, the Constable Montmo- 
 rency, Alphonso King of Naples, and John of Mont- 
 fort Duke of Brittany. Facing the centre window 
 is a fire-place of alabaster, composed of an arch 
 resting upon columns, with vine-leaf capitals. Above 
 is a whole-length portrait of Edward the Third, co- 
 pied by Mr. Matthew Wyatt, from a picture in the 
 vestry of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. Tlie win- 
 dows of this gallery are hung with curtains of purple 
 and scarlet. Upon a sculptured frieze are the at- 
 chievements of seventy-eight knights of the most 
 noble order of the garter, all persons of eminence in 
 English and foreign history, and from whom Mr. 
 Beckford is lineally descended. In continuation of 
 this stately apartment is a vaulted gallery wainscotted 
 with oak and ribbed with deep mouldings, partly gilt 
 and partly coloured ; the floor is entirely covered with 
 a Persian carpet of the most extraordinary size and 
 
23 
 
 beautiful texture. This gallery receives a glimmering 
 light through six perforated bronze doors, modelled 
 after those of Henry the Fifth's chantry in the Abbey 
 of Westminster. These doors are hung with crimson 
 curtains, which increasing the solemn gloom, aid the 
 efiect of the oratory which we are now approaching* 
 
 THE ORATORY 
 
 Is part of an octagon ; the roof, which is entirely 
 gilt, tei minates at each angle with delicate fan- work. 
 
24 
 
 resting upon a slender column. From the centre of 
 the ceiling is suspended a golden lamp, elahorately 
 chased. The altar is adorned with a statue of St. 
 Anthony, admirably executed in alabaster by Rossi. 
 On each side are lofty stands, upon which are placed 
 candelabra of massive silver richly gilt. — ^The effect 
 of this solemn recess must be seen to be conceived ; 
 nor can any description convey an idea of the awful 
 sensations it inspires.