BECKFORD, William (1759-1844). Two autograph letters signed with initials ('WB'), the first to Sir Robert [Barclay], Fonthill, 19 June 1807, explaining that 'continual disappointments have brought on that sort of apathy which will prevent my ever putting myself in the way of being noticed or slighted by any personages ... from the Prince of Wales down to Mother Goose', adding that Barclay cannot be surprised at his resolve to remain aloof and not enter the House of Commons 'unless drawn thither nolens volens by the omniptent magic of the Speaker's Mace' and referring to legal and financial arrangements which White [Beckford's lawyer] being 'by no means the most luminous or punctual of correspondents' had not communicated with him, Beckford insisting that 'The principal point respecting my own private comfort viz: a settlement with Morland [Beckford's banker] has been only half attended to', 4 pages, 4to; the second, subscribed 'with real regard invariably yours' to Edmund English Junior, Park Street, [London], 18 March 1839, relating to a design he had received from Goodridge for a bookcase, 'many parts of which are very good', and to a letter 'stating the horrors of fitting up the Capital & blunting the sharpness by paint', requesting a meeting as soon as possible to discuss this 'aware of the great probability of inattention when Barry begins his work ... In order to prevent failure & confusion', 2 pages, 4to, integral address leaf 'Mr. E. English Jun.. Milsom S.. Bath'.Sir Robert Barclay 8th Baronet was MP for Newport 1802-07, but unlike Beckford was not returned at the general election of April 1807. He advised Beckford on his Jamaican business affairs which were not particularly healthy in June 1807 (just as Beckford was moving into the unfinished Fonthill Abbey), sugar being sold at a loss on the English market (see Boyd Alexander ed. Life at Fonthill 1807-1822, 1957, pp.35, 46-7).H.E. Goodridge was an architect, son of a builder-speculator in Bathwick, who drew the plans for Lansdown Tower, and made alterations to Beckford's Lansdown Crescent houses. The bookcases in Beckford's Grecian library at 19 Lansdown Crescent (acquired in 1837) were designed by Goodrich. The Bath auctioneer and furniture dealer, Edmund F. English, provided the text of the folio volume on Lansdown Tower with illustrations by Willes Maddox published in 1844 just after Beckford's death (see James Lees-Milne, William Beckford, 1976, pp.79, 82-86). (2)

BECKFORD, William (1759-1844). Two autograph letters signed with initials ('WB'), the first to Sir Robert [Barclay], Fonthill, 19 June 1807, explaining that 'continual disappointments have brought on that sort of apathy which will prevent my ever putting myself in the way of being noticed or slighted by any personages ... from the Prince of Wales down to Mother Goose', adding that Barclay cannot be surprised at his resolve to remain aloof and not enter the House of Commons 'unless drawn thither nolens volens by the omniptent magic of the Speaker's Mace' and referring to legal and financial arrangements which White [Beckford's lawyer] being 'by no means the most luminous or punctual of correspondents' had not communicated with him, Beckford insisting that 'The principal point respecting my own private comfort viz: a settlement with Morland [Beckford's banker] has been only half attended to', 4 pages, 4to; the second, subscribed 'with real regard invariably yours' to Edmund English Junior, Park Street, [London], 18 March 1839, relating to a design he had received from Goodridge for a bookcase, 'many parts of which are very good', and to a letter 'stating the horrors of fitting up the Capital & blunting the sharpness by paint', requesting a meeting as soon as possible to discuss this 'aware of the great probability of inattention when Barry begins his work ... In order to prevent failure & confusion', 2 pages, 4to, integral address leaf 'Mr. E. English Jun.. Milsom S.. Bath'. Sir Robert Barclay 8th Baronet was MP for Newport 1802-07, but unlike Beckford was not returned at the general election of April 1807. He advised Beckford on his Jamaican business affairs which were not particularly healthy in June 1807 (just as Beckford was moving into the unfinished Fonthill Abbey), sugar being sold at a loss on the English market (see Boyd Alexander ed. Life at Fonthill 1807-1822, 1957, pp.35, 46-7). H.E. Goodridge was an architect, son of a builder-speculator in Bathwick, who drew the plans for Lansdown Tower, and made alterations to Beckford's Lansdown Crescent houses. The bookcases in Beckford's Grecian library at 19 Lansdown Crescent (acquired in 1837) were designed by Goodrich. The Bath auctioneer and furniture dealer, Edmund F. English, provided the text of the folio volume on Lansdown Tower with illustrations by Willes Maddox published in 1844 just after Beckford's death (see James Lees-Milne, William Beckford, 1976, pp.79, 82-86). (2)

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BECKFORD, William (1759-1844). Two autograph letters signed with initials ('WB'), the first to Sir Robert [Barclay], Fonthill, 19 June 1807, explaining that 'continual disappointments have brought on that sort of apathy which will prevent my ever putting myself in the way of being noticed or slighted by any personages ... from the Prince of Wales down to Mother Goose', adding that Barclay cannot be surprised at his resolve to remain aloof and not enter the House of Commons 'unless drawn thither nolens volens by the omniptent magic of the Speaker's Mace' and referring to legal and financial arrangements which White [Beckford's lawyer] being 'by no means the most luminous or punctual of correspondents' had not communicated with him, Beckford insisting that 'The principal point respecting my own private comfort viz: a settlement with Morland [Beckford's banker] has been only half attended to', 4 pages, 4to; the second, subscribed 'with real regard invariably yours' to Edmund English Junior, Park Street, [London], 18 March 1839, relating to a design he had received from Goodridge for a bookcase, 'many parts of which are very good', and to a letter 'stating the horrors of fitting up the Capital & blunting the sharpness by paint', requesting a meeting as soon as possible to discuss this 'aware of the great probability of inattention when Barry begins his work ... In order to prevent failure & confusion', 2 pages, 4to, integral address leaf 'Mr. E. English Jun^.. Milsom S^.. Bath'.

Sir Robert Barclay 8th Baronet was MP for Newport 1802-07, but unlike Beckford was not returned at the general election of April 1807. He advised Beckford on his Jamaican business affairs which were not particularly healthy in June 1807 (just as Beckford was moving into the unfinished Fonthill Abbey), sugar being sold at a loss on the English market (see Boyd Alexander ed. Life at Fonthill 1807-1822, 1957, pp.35, 46-7).

H.E. Goodridge was an architect, son of a builder-speculator in Bathwick, who drew the plans for Lansdown Tower, and made alterations to Beckford's Lansdown Crescent houses. The bookcases in Beckford's Grecian library at 19 Lansdown Crescent (acquired in 1837) were designed by Goodrich. The Bath auctioneer and furniture dealer, Edmund F. English, provided the text of the folio volume on Lansdown Tower with illustrations by Willes Maddox published in 1844 just after Beckford's death (see James Lees-Milne, William Beckford, 1976, pp.79, 82-86). (2)

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