University of Virginia Library

VII
William Beckford's Copy of William Beloe's Sexagenarian in the Cambridge University Library

Although the catalogue of MSS in the Cambridge University Library lists William Beckford's copy of M. A. Sabellici, Rerum Venetarum Libri XXXIII as having a MS note by Beckford, i.e. "Bound by C. Lewis," there is no listing for the four pages of MS notes in Beckford's copy of William Beloe's Sexagenarian, 2 vols., 1817, shelf-marks Adv. c. 87.8 and 9. Beckford's habit of writing notes in pencil on the fly-leaves of his books is well known, and a

number of these notes have been transcribed.[17] Beloe's Sexagenarian was acquired by the Cambridge University Library in the sale of the books of Henry Richards Luard, University Registery from 1862 to 1891. A MS note by Luard reads, "This was Beckford's copy, by whom are the pencil notes in the beginning of the two volumes. The notes throughout the volume are mine." While Luard's notes are of interest, as they identify many unnamed persons in the two volumes, they are informative rather than critical. Some of Beckford's are critical in more than one sense of the word.

Beckford's comments are keyed to pages of the two volumes of Beloe's work and are often quotation or paraphrase of Beloe's text. They are of some value and interest as an index of what captured Beckford's attention. And they do nothing to belie his reputation for causticness. A reference to the Bishop of Quebec in volume I on p. 75, is largely loose quotation: "The present Bishop of Quebec was originally a grocer's apprentice in which situation the Sexagenarian had seen him employed; but having a taste & talent for more exalted things than weighing plums & breaking sugar he has risen to eminence." In what follows I give page references to the first volume plus an explanatory remark where necessary and then Beckford's comment. P. 89, Gilbert Wakefield's caustic manner: "instance of G. Wakefield's extreme asperity proved by one of his letters which proves also the justice of the sentence which condemned him to Dorchester Jail," i.e. for a libellous pamphlet. P. 145, a young lady of masculine appearance was subjected to a practical joke in which her bed was elevated: "singular elevation of a masculine young lady." P. 278, on Horace Walpole: "anecdotes not much to the credit of Horace Walpole's hospitality or liberality." P. 292, "he used always to wash & put away his fine Dresden breakfast China—in the most notable and old-Lady like manner." The description of Walpole's manner is Beckford's, not Beloe's. P. 327, partially paraphrase and partially quotation of Beloe on Mrs. Hayley, John Wilkes's sister: "Commemoration of Mrs. Hayley (the sister of John Wilkes) who used to sit out all the more remarkable trials at the Old Bailey & whose professed object was to see every body & every thing which deserved or excited attention." Page 359, "Raking Up some of Helen Maria Williams's garbage," which last word he took from Beloe. P. 387, partially quoted from Beloe: "Mrs. Piozzi's most preposterous predilection for a young Italian mountaineer calling himself the nephew of her late never enough to be lamented musician man & when she has thought proper in defiance of all propriety to transform into the representative of the ancient Salusburys— pointed out, as is right to be, with the finger of scorn and reprobation." P. 408, largely quotation from Beloe: "Dr Brook the husband of the authoress

of that very pleasing novel of Emily Montague was one of the greatest bon vivants of his time—the deity of the table was almost the only one he worshipped with consistent devotion & in pursuance of this object he was a member of a club which was called Number Six.—It consisted of six members; they met at six in the Eve. & never parted till six in the Morning.—not withstanding his habitual indulgence in the festivities of the Table Dr Brook lived to a very advanced age." P. 415, "Mrs. Opie—a precieuse," Beloe's word. P. 435, largely quotation from Beloe: "Dr Porteous who had been Br of Chester for many years used laughingly to say he had never interest enough to procure a good Cheshire Cheese."

Perhaps it will be best to summarize the notes in volume two, as they are largely quotation from Beloe. P. 5, John Wilkes as a sad dog, but delightful and well-informed. P. 9, Wilkes's passion for collecting Bibles. P. 61, Browne the Africa traveller had passages "so bad as not to be transcribed" in his "otherwise valuable publications." P. 74, on Tibetan women who practiced polyandry, a "heavy burden" (Beloe) on them: Beckford commented, "a heavy family." Pp. 76-78, Lord Valentia, suffering disappointments, went to India for a change of scene; as a result he published three [sic] volumes of travels, of which Beloe thought little. Beckford commented, of the volumes: "upon which our Sexagenarian, however snarlingly disposed, could not avoid bestowing praise as containing much information particularly of a political tendency by no means unimportant." P. 82, Beckford's concluding remark on Lord Valenti, entirely in his own words: "Never perhaps were the advantages of Birth & Rank more conspicuous than upon this occasion—Their possessor, who in the British Capitol would have been shunned and pointed at [,] was caressed & glorified in British India where he moved about in government Barges and Palanquins & held Durbars or Levies which were fully and obsequiously attended & in short enjoyed so many perogatives & distinctions as induced the natives both Hindus & Moslems to believe him to be a no less personage than the Son or at least grandson of Mother Company herself, that omnipotent, mysterious old Woman the Ruler & also in some instances the Scourge of so many millions!"[18] P. 84, on Bishop George Gleig: "no very reasonable thwack laid over a R.t Revd Bishop's shoulders." P. 156, on the vast riches of the brothers, Lord Eldon and Sir W. Scott; P. 160, on the elevation of the first Jew to the British peerage; P. 158 [sic], on the rise of the house of Thellusson from humble origins. P. 213, Dr. Johnson on Hoole's Grubstreet unbringing. P. 215, on Gifford's satiric couplet on the poet Terningham, upon which Beckford commented: "Yet he rallied again & took leave of the public in a dying song." The page is cropped, causing a line to be absolutely illegible.