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Memoirs of William Beckford of Fonthill; Author of "vathek" in Two Volumes
Memoirs of William Beckford of Fonthill Author of vathek in Two Volumes Author:William Beckford General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1859 Original Publisher: Charles J. Skeet Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you ca... more »n select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III. WILLIAM BECKFOBD THE YOUNGEB -- HIS BIBTH AND EDUCATION. The late William Beckford of Fonthill Giffard, Wilts, and afterwards of Bath, was born at the former place, September 29th, 1759. His mother was the second wife of the member in parliament for the city for fourteen years preceding, and twice Lord Mayor. She was daughter and coheir of the Hon. George Hamilton, M. P. for Wells. Young Beckford was christened early, the year following his birth, as appears by the following letter from his father to Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham. " Fonthill, January 7th, 1760. "Mv Dear Sir, " Your very obliging and much-esteemed favour was duly received. I consider it thegreatest honor to have such a sponsor to my child. He was made a Christian last night, and Lord Effingham was your proxy. No endeavours of mine shall be wanting (if it please God to spare his life), to instil into his mind principles of religion, honor, and love of country. It is true those are old-fashioned principles; but they are such as you approve and practise. " Nothing could give me more pleasure than to take your opinion on my present works, and to regulate my future operations by your advice and judgment. But I cannot flatter myself so much as to think it possible to enjoy that comfort, until you have first procured for your country a safe, honorable, and lasting peace. " I am, my dear Sir, " Your ever faithful and affectionate, " Humble servant, " W. Beckford." At the earliest possible time that impressions of any value in education can be made upon the youthful mind, a pre...« less