B E C 
marquis of Rockingham, and in confeqtience fell to the 
ground. 
Touring the fecond period, in which Mr. Beckford filled 
the chair of the chief tnagiftracy, it fell to his lot, at three 
feveral times, to approach the throne, in order to deliver 
a petition, remonflranee, and addrefs, from the citizens 
and livery of London ; praying for a redfefs of grievances, 
for a dMolution of the then parliament, and for the re¬ 
moval of evil-minded perfons from the cabinet and 
eounfels of Iris majefty. The third addrefs lamented 
in very fitrong terms the difpleafure his majefty had ex- 
prefted at the (ubftance and prayer of their former remon- 
ftrances and petitions; to which however they dill refolv- 
ed to adhere, and again renewed their prayer for a diffolu- 
tion of parliament, and for a change of men and meaCures. 
To this laft petition, which was delivered on the 23d of 
May 1770, his majefty, being feated on the throne, gave 
the following anfvver : 
“ I flioul'd have been wanting to the public as well as to 
myfelf, if I had not expreffed my diffatisfaflion at the late 
addrels : nty fentinlents on that fubjeft continue the fame ; 
and 1 fliould ill deferve to beconfidered as'the father of my 
people, if J'could fuffer myfelf to be prevailed upon, to 
make fucli an ufe of tity prerogative, as I cannot but think 
inconfiftent with the intereft, and dangerous to the confti- 
tution, of the kingdom.” 
Mr. Beckford, in his official capacity, with great pre¬ 
fence of mind and fluency of language, then replied to the 
king in thefe words : 
“ Moft gracious fovereign! Will your majefty be pleafed 
fo far to condefcend, as to permit the mayor of your loyal 
city of London, to declare in your royal prefence, on be¬ 
half of his fellow-citizens, how much the bare apprehen- 
fion of your majefty’s difpleafure would at all times affeiTt 
their minds > 1 he declaration of that difpleafure has filled 
them with inexpreflible anxiety, and with the deeped af¬ 
fliction. Permit me, fire, to affiire your majefty, that 
your majefty has not in all your dominions any fubjeebs 
more faithful, more dutiful, or more affectionate, to your 
majefty’s perfon and family, or more ready to facrifice their 
lives and fortunes in the maintenance of the true honour 
and dignity of your crown. We do therefore, with the 
greatelt humility and iubmiffion moft earneftly fupplicate 
your majefty, that you will not difmifs us from your pre- 
fence without exprefling a more favourable opinion of your 
faithful citizens, and without fome comfort, withoutTome 
profpeff at lead of redrefs. 
“ Permit me, fire, further to obferve, that whoever has 
already dared, or (hall hereafter endeavour, by falfe infi- 
nuations and fuggeftions, to alienate your majefty’s affec¬ 
tions from your loyal fubjedls in general, from the city of 
London in particular, and to withdraw your confidence 
in, and regard for, your people, is an enemy to your ma¬ 
jefty’s perfon and family, a violator of the public peace, 
and a betrayer of our happy coriftitulion, as it was eftab- 
lifiled at the glorious and necefl’ary revolution.” 
The dutiful, but dignified, demeanour, and the feriotis 
firmnefs, with which the chief magiftrate' uttered thefe 
words, filled the court with admiration. They beheld 
countenances among the citizens very different from thofe 
deferibed by lord Pomfret, who had declared in the houfe 
of lords, that, “ however fwagge'ring and impudent the 
behaviour of the citizens might be on their own dunghill, 
when they came into the royal prefence, their heads hung 
down like bullrufhes, and they blinked with their eyes like 
owls in the funfhine.” 
Mr. Beckford did not fnrvive this memorable interview 
quite a month, for he expired in London on the 21ft of 
June 1770, aged fixty-three ; and, if any thing could add to 
the luftre of his character, it was the manner of his death ; 
for, notwithftanding he was extremely indifpofed at Font- 
hill, he was fo attentive to discharge the important duties 
committed to his truft, that he travelled a hundred miles 
in one day to attend the pnbiic buftnefs. This violent ex¬ 
ertion intreafed his ftvdnpoGtion, and occaftoned- a fever, 
B E C 843 
which terminated the life of a man, whofe name will ever 
be held in veneration. As a citizen, he was eminently 
diftinguifhed by his popular and affable manners ; as a fe- 
nator, by his conftant affection of the rights of the people; 
and as a magiftrate, by his unremitted vigilance to prevent 
the violation of them. That his memory might be pre- 
ferved to pofterity, the corporation of London ereCted his 
ftatue in their Guild-hall, and recorded, in the infeription, 
the magnanimous fpeech, which lie addreffed to the king 
in vindication of the people’s right to remonftrate to the 
throne. Moft public perfonages have had fome (hade in 
their characters, which the finger of envy or malice had 
occasionally marked ; but in whatever point of view, whe¬ 
ther of citizen, magiftrate, or fenator, alderman Beckford 
is regarded, it may be affirmed, that, though all the ho¬ 
nours of the (late were within his grafp, nothing ever 
(hook his independence, and that he nreferved the conlif- 
tency and greatnefs of his character to the hour of his 
death. The bulk of his imtnenfe fortune, with the fu- 
perb manfion and valuable eftate of Fonthill, Wilts, de- 
feended to his only legitimate fon, William Beckford, Efq. 
the prefect poilelfor. 
BEC'KINGFIAM (Charles), an Englfth dramatic wri¬ 
ter, was the fon of a linen-draper in London, and born in 
1699. He was educated at Merchant-Taylor’s fchool, 
under the learned Dr. Smith, where he made a very great 
proficiency in his ftudies. In poetry more particularly he 
very early difeovered an uncommon genius, two dramatic 
pieces of his writing being reprefented on the ftage before 
lie had completed his twentieth year : and thofe not fuch 
as required the lead indulgence or allowance on account 
of his years ; but fuch as bore evidence to a boldnefs of 
fentiment, an accuracy of diCtion, an ingenuity of con¬ 
duit, and a maturity of judgment, which would have 
done honour to a more ripened age. The titles of his 
plays, both of which are tragedies, are, 1. Henry IV. of 
France. 2. Scipio Africanus. Befides thefe dramatic 
pieces, he wrote feveral other poems : but his genius ex- 
ifted not any very long period, for he died on the 18th of 
February 1730, in the thirty-fecond year of his age. 
To BEC'KON, v. n. To make a fign without words : 
Sudden you mount, you beckon from the fkies ; 
Clouds interpofe, waves roar, and winds arife. Tope. 
To Beckon, v.a-. [from beck , or beacn y Sax. a fign.3 
To make a fign : 
With this his diftant friends he beckons near, 
Provokes their duty, and prevents their fear. Dryden. 
To BECLIP', v. a. [of be cltppan, Sax.] To embrace. 
To BECO'ME, v. n. pret. I became-, comp. pret. I have 
become, [from by and come.~\ To enter into fome ftate of 
condition, by a change from fome other : 
So the leaft faults, if mix’d with faireft deed, 
Of future ill become the fatal feed. Prior. 
To Become of. To be the fate of; to be the end of; 
to be the fubfequent or final condition of. It is obfervable, 
that this word is never, or very feldont, ufed but with 
what, either indefinite or interrogative.—The firft hints of 
the circulation of the blood were taken from a commoir 
perfbn’s wondering what became of all the blood that blued 
out of the heart. Graunt. —In the following paffage, the 
phrafe, where is he become? is ufed for, what is become of him ? 
I cannot joy, until I be refolv’d 
Where our right valiant father is become. Shakcfpcare. 
To Become, v.a. [from^e or^y, and cremen, Sax. to 
pleafe.] Applied to perfons, to appear in a manner fuit- 
able to fome thing : 
Why would I be a queen ? becaufe my face 
Would wear the title with a better grace ; 
If I became it not, yet it would be 
Part of your duty then to flatter me. Dryden. 
Applied to things,;to be fuitable to the perfon; to benefit y; 
to 
