MR. BECKFORD.
MR. LOUDON, in the Gardener's Magazine for this month, describes the grounds of Fonthill as having been perfect in point of unity of character, and a unique specimen of the monastic style of landscape gardening. He incidentally relates some of the freaks of wilfulness of its accomplished but eccentric Owner. Mr. BECEFORD seems to have been as impatient of delay in carrying his suddenly-conceived plans into execution, as if be had a daimon at his beck. Men worked literally night mid day to fulfil his wishes. One afternoon be would fancy a walk through a wood: the next morning he rode through the new-formed avenue ; and a bank-note of 51. or 101. rewarded the la. bourers. His charities were equally impulsive, and on a grand scale: he would suddenly order the distribution of' a hundred pairs of blankets, despatch all the carts and waggons that could be got for coals to give away; or order a plantation to be felled for fire-wood. He would give a guinea to a beggar, sometimes prefacing the bounty by an application of the horsewhip. The effect of this prodigality of charity was that the labourers were drunken and improvident. His love of splendour is well known. Though be lived alone, his table was served with the utmost magnificence. He has been known to sit down alone to a sumptuous banquet for twelve, with as many servants in full-dress liveries; and then, as if' in mockery of the pomp and dainties, eat hut of one dish, and send the rest away. His will was all in all. The castles that other men build in air, he realized ; and the gratification appears to have been as short-lived as that of the day-dreamer.
The manner of the falling of the great tower points, the moral of the tale. So slight were the materials, and so flimsy its construction, that it sunk down like a stage-trap; and with so little noise, that Mr. EAR - 9uHAR and his servants, who were living in another part of the build- ing, were not aware of its having fallen, until the people of the vil- lage, attracted by the sight of an immense cloud of dust, that darkened the air for a time, and was seen for miles round, came flocking to the spot.
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