IT is a curious, and certainly not an entirely ulelets purfuit, to enquire into the caules and effect of national calamities; as fuch a difquifition frequently leads the mind, while it takes a retrofpective view of thofe events which have perhaps been deemed the fcourges of mankind, to confider the misfortunes of a former age as a bleffing to the preient.

Many inflances might be adduced in fupport of this propofition; but it would be difficult to find a stronger than is prefented to the philofopher or architect, as either of them compares the ftate of the city of London, with refpect to health, beauty, or convenience, previous and fubfequent to the fire in 1666, which forms fo memorable an epoch in our civic hiftory.

Not meaning minutely to fcrutinize the conjectural caufes which are faid to have produced that event, I hall only remark the influence which it had upon the public mind, and how much religious afperity, which feems to have been the characteristic of the age, was sharpened and increased by a misfortune which ought to have calmed the turbulence of party, to have blunted the acrimony of political contention, and have united the whole mafs of people in thanks for their deliverance from the various calamities which they had experienced.

The fire of London happened at a period when the exultation of the nation for the reftoration of its monarch had had time to fubfide; when many of his fubjects faw, or thought they faw, as the character of Charles began to be devoloped, confiderable reafon to be alarmed, for their religion in the first instance, and for their liberties in the fecond. The evils of the war, in which we were at this time engaged with the French and Dutch began allo to be feverely felt. Our

fuccefs had by no means answered our expectation; we had experienced foine reverfe, and confequently defpondence fucceeded.

The nation, divided into three great fects, the Proteftant, Prefbyterian, and Catholic, from the two latter of which the former had fuffered the greatest perfecutions, and dreaded their enewal, was, at the period marked by the awful event which I have mentioned, in a religious and political ferment; and, as the deftruction of the city did not at firit, even to the most unprejudiced, seem to be the effect of accident, it is not to be wendered, that the before-mentioned parties fhould accufe each other as the authors of it, and that every faltehood which malice could invent, afperity could utter, of credulity believe, fhould find a ready cir culation through the country.

Strange as the affociation may stem, the firing of the city was, by fome means or other, connected with the divifion of the fleet. The nation conceived itself betrayed both upon sea and land, abroad and at home: an uncommon confternation pervaded the country. The question, whether thefe events happened by acci. dent or design, became a fubject of controverfy, not only among anonymous writers, but parliamentary partizans.

The endeavour to affix upon their opponents the odium of an act of fuch atrocity as the burning the metropolis, was puríued with avidity by one party, and repelled with equal vigour by the other: for upon this eccafion we read but of two, Papift and Proteftant; and the hatter, having facrificed one* victim to the rage of the times, might be faid to be triumphant †.

Among the many writers that diftinguithed themselves on the Protestant side of the queítion was Dr. Gale, who had,

upen

upon paper, a large fhare in the controvery of the times; but as, like many of his cotemporary authors, his polemical works, as well from the nature of their fubject as the inftability of their materials, were perifiable, and have perifhed; he mult be confidered as peculiarly fortunate in having the fentiments which he had diffuled through many, engraved upon one which feems calculated to bid defiance to time, and which is, perhaps, the ftrongest and most confpicuous record of party-prejudice that the laft or any age, preceding or fucceeding, has produced. The reader will anticipate that I mean the Monument, of whofe feveral infcriptions Dr. Gale was the author; infcriptions which not only ferved to record the calamity the column was intended to commemorate, but, as the lines of my motto fhew, to continue the controverfy through part of the laft and more than a quarter of the prefent century. Yet, altho' I have mentioned the author of thofe monumental records with fome little afperity, for endeavouring to immortalize prejudices which it would have been much better to have buried in oblivion, I would not be understood to wish to convey a general reflection upon his character, which was that of a man equally picus and learned ; but only to fhew that there is, even in the belt and moft enlightened minds, fomething which will, at times, reprefs that liberality of fentiment which religion and erudition, philanthropy and philofophy, ought to infufe into them.

:

In this propentity we can only lament the imperfection of human nature, and, from fuch examples, endeavour to correct any temporary depravity of heart, fuch as, from their conduct, we may judge fometimes to reign even in thofe of men otherwife diftinguifhed for wisdom and virtue in which clafs, I repeat, I mean to include the Rev. Dr. Gale, of whom I fhall fubjoin the few following anecdotes : This Gentleman was born in the year 1534, at Scruton, in Yorkshire. He was educated at Westminster School, from which he removed to Cambridge, where be continued feveral years, became a Felkow of Trinity College, and afterwards Greek Profeffor in that Univerfity. How long he continued in this fituation is uncertain; but we find that, in the year 1572, having, as I before obferved, from the year 1656, diftinguished himself by his political writings, he was cholen Head Matter of St. Paul's School, and foon after had the honour to be named by the City to compofe thofe inferiptions en

graved upon the Monument, which have been fo much cenfured and celebrated, for which he was, by the Corporation of London, rewarded with a piece of plate. In the year 1676 he received a far more ample remuneration; for he was made a Prebendary of St. Paul's, being one of thofe termed conjumpt. per mare.

Dr. Gale had, as foon as he was qualified, taken the Degree of Doctor of Divinity; he was alto chofen a Fellow of the Royal Society; and gave to the repofitory of Gresham College a Roman urn with its afhes.

About the year 1697 he made a donation to the new Library of Trinity College of a great number of Arabic Manu1cripts.

Having continued Head Master of St. Paul's School twenty-five years, he, in the fame year 1697, was preferred to the Deanry of the Metropolitan Church of York, in which fituation his piety, hofpitality, and benevolence, were equally confpicuous; as was alfo his care for, and good government of the Chapter, and his affiduity in repairing and beautifying that venerable and auguit Cathedral.

It was a misfortune lamented by his friends and the literary world, that Dr. Gale did not long enjoy that elevated itation to which his merit, in an anxious and laborious employment, had raised him. He died at his Deanry, April the 8th, 1702, leaving behind him the character of a learned divine, a great hiftorian and antiquary, and one of the best Grecians of his time.

The feveral works which he published are equal evidences of his indefatigable induitry and erudition, as the following catalogue of them will evince:

Hercdoti Hailicarnaffei Hiftoriarum, Lib. 9.

ca.

Iamblichus de Myfteriis Ægyptiorum.

Rhetores Selecti.

Hiftoriæ Poeticæ Scriptores Antiqui. OpulculaMythologica,Phyfica, & Ethi

Græcum Pfalterium juxta Exemplar Alexandrinum.

Rerum Anglicarum Scripterum Veterum. Tom. I. querum Ingulphus nunc primum integer cæteri primum prodeunt.

Hittoria Britannice & Anglicana Scriptores. XXV. Vol. 2.

Befides which, amorg his papers, the following Manuscripts were found nearly ready for the press; fome of which have fince been published, though, perhaps,

not

not exactly in the form in which he left

them.

Lamblicus de Vita Pythagoræ. Origenis Philocalia variis MSS. collectat, emendata nova Verfione donata. Antonini Imperatoris Itinerarium Infcriptionibus & Scholiis Illuftratum per T. G.

Dr.Gale left alfo a noble Library of curious and valuable books and manuferipts, together with a confiderable eftate

to his fon and heir, Roger Gale, Eft.

As he was converfant with the literati of our own nation, fo was he also well known to, and his literary talents equally efteemed by foreigners, among whom he had a particular correfpondence with the learned Huetius, Mabillon, Allix, and many others, who have in their works paid the greatest respect to his character and abilities.

SUCH was the avidity of the Public for information upon the fubject of the late Festivities at Fonthill, that our account in the laft Month's Magazine was, we fear, confiderably anticipated by details, not much unlike our own, which, in the courfe of the month, had been very generally circulated through the channel of the London and Provincial Papers. This prefent communication however, which we had encouraged our readers to expect, concerning Fonthill, is particularly configned to the Editor of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE; and it will probably not prove the lefs interefting from the fort of connection it will be found to have with the late accounts just mentioned. Thele, we need not fay, have left on the public mind the molt advantageous impreflions of Mr. Beckford's hofpitality and nunificence. As feon, therefore, as it was known that the noble ipirit difplayed on that occafion originated in the icheme of a Chriftmas entertainment to his numercus body of workmen, curiosity could not fail to be awakened refpecting the objects on which the workmen have been, and are at prefent employed. We flatter ourfelves, therefore, that the following details will, as their authenticity may be depended upon, not appear unwerthy of attention, nor ill calculated to gratify that curiofity which is ftill much alive en the fubject of Fonthill.

The present Proprietor of Fonthill, from the time he attained his majority, is known to have made it matter of principle, that fome confiderable work or other, at this his chief family refidence, fhould be continually carrying on for the fake of giving bread to the poor of an extenfive reighbourhood, deftitute of manufactures, and that through the laudable medium of their own labour and industry. In this principle will be found the motive of most of the works of this place; and notwithstanding all the

beautiful fpecimens of genius and ta lents which the first Artifts have dif played there, or are engaged to produce, the world will have leis fatisfaction in contemplating the various works at Fonthill as monuments of Mr. Beckford's diftinguifhed tafte in the Fine Arts, than as a continued exercise of that ge nerous and charitable difpofition, which is ever rendering his princely fortune, in fome way or other, fubiervient to the benefit or happinets of others.

Although parts of the original eftate at Fonthill are covered with fine oak timber, yet fome thousand acres of the ground purchafed by Mr. Beckford's father, as well as by himself, the leafes of which have been continually talling in, were unplanted. Not to mention the great plantation begun by the late Mr. Beckford, the prefent gentleman has been, every year fince his poffeflion, continuing them upon a grander fcale. Several hundred thousand trees, and, fome years, not less than a million, and thofe of all the different forts of forelt wood, and of various tribes of exotic plants and fhrubs, often confiitute the work but of a fingle feafon. As new purchafes are continually adding large tracts of land to Mr. Beckford's domain, his plantations will probably proceed in the fame tile for fore years to come. As the planting at Fonthill may be confidered as a kind of general undertaking always going forward in the proper fea fons, a ingle work only in this way hall be particularly fpecified, becaufe it was attended by fome circumftances which gave it peculiar merit.-The stone of the prefent Fonthill Houfe, built by the late Mr. Beckford, was taken from a quarry on the Eattern fhore of the Lake, at an inconfiderable distance from the feite of the manfion it felf. Ɛeveral acres of rocky ground, which formed this quarry, continued after the completion

of

of the building ftill open; and exhibit ing nothing but large naked males of white ftone and ugly excavations, and thole almoft fronting the houfe, it was refolved to cover every part of this quarry, fome picturefque features of rock excepted, with foil brought from a dittance by dint of labour, and then to plant the ground with oak, beech, elm, arch, fir, &c. leaving green walks, bordered with fhrubs and flowers, and fuch other spaces open, as good tafte fuggefted, according to the nature of the ground. This plantation Mr. Beckford 1oon after confiderably extended along the adjoining hills which hang over the Lake; on the fide of which has been formed a Grotto trickling with perennial fprings; the surface of its Rock-work variegated with many-coloured mofles, and its crevices filled with aquatic plants and flowers. This whole range of fcenery, but particularly the quarry part, the wood having now attained a very confiderable growth, may, in point of beauty and original effect, challenge any garden fcenery in the kingdom.

That work, having employed a great number of hands for two or three years, was fucceeded by an enlargement of the bed of the river, and the removal of a ftone bridge of feveral arches, by which the water could no longer be crolled. The different form of the thores and extention now given to the breadth of the water have entirely changed its former alpect and character, and rendered it worthy of its pretent appellation of a Lake. The clearnets and depth of this water, partly fupplied by the river Nadder, and partly by thofe numerous fountains iffuing from the high ground, and giving the appropriate name of Fonthill to the village, add greatly to the inerit of this Lake, in refpect to its volume and expanfe, and entitle it to rank as one of the most interefting objects of the place. Further improvements, however, are in due time to be made upon this water; its fize to be still enlarged, and its form

more varied.

Mr. Beckford's next undertaking was the formation of a new Kitchen and Flower Garden, contiguous to each other, in a more convenient fcite, under a warmer afpect, and upon a fcale four times larger than the old one. The Hot Walls, Pineries, Confervatories, quan tity of glazed Frame-work, the Gardener's Houfe, importation of foil for this extenfive fpot of many acres, with its plantations and nurieries, and an VOL. XXXI. JAN. 1797.

extenfive inclosure of hand fome brickwall round the whole, have altogether concurred to render this work almost as unrivalled in magnitude and convenience, as it must have been in matter of expence.

About three years ago was begun a Wall of confiderable height and thick nefs, built of hewn ftone, and carried circularly round near feven miles of the loftieft and fineft part of the hills and woods of Fonthill. This has been finifhed with a strong painted paling, inclined outwards, as a chevaux de frize, which runs entirely round the top of the wall in order to fecure this favourite inclofure from all intrufion. Hares, pheafants, partridges, and other game, with birds of fong or of beautiful plumage, are the conftant inhabitants of this fecure region, and are, fome or other of them, continually offering themselves to fight in the air or on the ground, half tame, and almoft fearlefs, as if conscious of their privileged fafety.

At the bottom of a wildly wooded hill, within this inclofure, is a natural Lake of the moit transparent water and happily varied outline→→

"Haud procul inde Lacus "Panditur, et nemoruin frondofo margine cinétus "Vicinis pallefcit aquis."

CLAUDIAN.

On an elevated fcite above this Lake, a fpace, converted into a Lawn, has been opened in the Wood, confiiting chiefly, in this part, of larch and the various tribe of firs, with fome mixture of holly and yew, for the erection of a Gothic Abbey, upon a very magnificent plan by Wyatt. This edifice, in which contiderable progrefs is already made, extends to the length of 185 feet; one of its towers, an octagon of 64 feet in diameter, will rife to the height of 145 feet. They alone, who have feen the elevations of this edifice, and are acquainted with its characteristic fituation, can form any adequate rotion of the grand and striking effects which it will difplay within the place itfelf, or prefent to the furrounding country. It will naturally enough be afked, what fuggefted to Mr. Beckford the fcheme of this building in the form of a Gothic Abbey: the following circumftances will explain the motive:When this Gentleman's father, foon after the burning of the ancient houfe in 1755, began to erect the prefent noble manfion, he obtained a faculty to take P

down

down the old church, which ftood too -near it, and to build a new one in a fituation more convenient. This venerable old ftructure, dedicated to St. Ni cholas, contained a number of monuments, and fome of fplendid workmanship for the times when they were executed, in memory of the family of the Mervyns, formerly one of the moft opulent and refpectable in the county of Wilts. This family was defcended, by an heiress, from the first Lord Latimer, who was fummoned to Parliament in the reign of Edward I. Through the Mervyns, Mr. Beckford clearly traces his own lineal defcent up the fame fource. The above-mentioned fepulchral monuments of the Mervyns, who were not only Mr. Beckford's ancestors, but for feveral centuries the original poffeffors of the Fonthill eftate, having been expofed to the open air on the removal of the old church, and neglected till their ornaments became mutilated and their infcriptions effaced, Mr. Beckford has defigned his Gothic Abbey as a memorial tribute, in their ficad, to this ancient family. Their Arms, in regular feries, and with their different Quarterings, are to be painted on the windows of this edifice, and the names and dates of each fucceffive member of the family infcribed on mural tablets, in the galleries and cloyfters of the Abbey.

Although it will be imagined that avenues and ridings cannot have been wanting in the vast extent of the woods and plantations of Fonthill, it fhould be particularly noticed in this account of works fet on foot by the prefent Mr. Beckford, that a great variety of beau. tiful walks and avenues have been formed under his direction, particuJarly within the great walled inclofure. Thefe, though each of very confiderable length and width, are all laid in the imootheft turf, kept at great expence, and conftantly mown in the manner of owling greens, and are almost all bordered on either fide, within the ofty fcreens of the plantations with laurel, flowering fhrubs and flowers in great variety and abundance. One of The approaches lately inade to the Abbey is a broad ftraight avenue, in the fame ftile and keeping as of thofe juft mentioned, and at its termination at the wall of the inclosure communicating,

by means of a bridge over a road, with a bold terrace, four miles and a half in length. Befides this terrace, and the avenues here fpoken of, a walk (for fo it is called) was begun to be opened laft fummer, which is to be continued for at least twenty miles, and is to wind about in eafy curves over hills, valleys and levels, to every ftriking or interefting point of view which can be commanded within or without the whole extent of Mr. Beckford's fylvan do main. As the ground of this walk is to be fmoothed throughout, and covered with the verdure of a lawn, a great deal of labour is neceffary to its forma. tion, and not more than five or fix miles of it are yet entirely finished; but as an addition of labourers will be employed upon it, a very confiderable progrefs may be expected in the course of another year.

With how little influence the motive of oftentation can be fuppofed to have operated on the mind of the Proprietor, in the greatest of these projects, may be concluded from the impracticability of fhewing more than a small part of them to the numerous companies who are ufed to include Fonthill in the plan of their fummer excurfions. It is not only that fome days would be requifite for parties on foot, but that no carriages, except garden chaifes, with broad wheels, can, without injury, be admitted within the great walled inclofure.

As not less than three hundred men will generally continue to be employed on the prefent works, it is hoped that two years more may nearly fuffice for their accomplishment. When they are finished, nothing, unless we mention another inclofure of about eleven hundred acres, the prefent bank-fence of which will be changed into a wall, will remain to be executed, except the great Tower on Stops- Beacon, of which an incorrect, though not exaggerated account, appeared laft autumn in the Papers.

Mr. Wyatt has already drawn fome of the plans and an elevation of this edifice. The Prefident of the Academy, and many other celebrated Artifts, are at prefent engaged on the paintings and different objects of ornament for the Abbey, not to mention many others intended for the decoration

of