There is a portrait of Mr. Beckford's mother painted by West, with a view
of Fonthill in the background. Never was there a greater contrast in
this and the last picture; West certainly knew nothing of portrait
painting. The _tout ensemble_ of the portrait in question is as dry and
hard as if painted by a Chinese novice. There is also a portrait of the
Countess, of Effingham, Mr. Beckford's aunt. On one side is the original
portrait by Reynolds of the author of Vathek engraved as the frontispiece
of the "Excursions to the Monasteries." The character of the original
picture is much superior in expression to the print, less stout, eyes
very intellectual; in fact, you are convinced it must be the portrait of
a poet or of a poetical character. The face is very handsome, so is the
print, but that has nothing in it but what you meet with in a good
looking young man of fashion. This, on the contrary, has an expression
of sensibility, deeply tinged with melancholy, which gives it great
interest.

On the other side of Lady Rivers's portrait is the Duke of Hamilton when
a boy. A sweet child, with the hair cut straight along the forehead, as
worn by children some fifty years ago, and hanging luxuriantly down his
neck On the same side of the room, behind a bronze of the Laocoon, is a
wonderful sketch by Paolo Veronese, the drawing and composition in the
grand style, touched with great sweetness and juiciness. Two small
upright Bassans, painted conjointly by both, bearing their names; the
point of sight is immensely high.

We were then led down the north staircase. Fronting us was a portrait of
Mr. Beckford's father, the Alderman and celebrated Lord Mayor of London.
Mr. Goodridge asked him if he knew a book, just published, denying the
truth of his father's famous speech to George III. He seemed astonished,
and stood still on the staircase. "Not true! What in the world will
they find out next? Garrick was present when my father uttered it, heard
the whole speech, repeated it word for word to me, and what is more,
acted it in my father's manner." "That is the portrait of my great
grandfather, Colonel Peter Beckford. It was painted by a French artist,
who went to Jamaica for the purpose, at the time he was Governor of the
island." It is a full length portrait, large as life, the Colonel
dressed in a scarlet coat embroidered richly with gold. There is also a
lovely portrait by Barker of the present Marquis of Dougla