survived him two years, and was succeeded by his cousin William Edwardes (created Baron Kensington in 1776), who sold Holland House in 1767 to Henry Fox, first Lord Holland.

The fortunes of the Fox family were founded by Sir Stephen Fox, who gained the favour of Charles II. by being the first to announce the death of Cromwell to him at Brussels. He was made Clerk of the Green Cloth and Paymaster of the Forces, and acquired a great fortune, "honestly got and unenvied, which is nigh to a miracle," says Evelyn. Sir Stephen Fox, "of a sweet nature, wellspoken, well-bred, and so highly in his Majesty's esteem," was the practical founder of Chelsea Hospital, as well as of many other charitable institutions. By deserting the cause of James II. he continued to enjoy Court favour till his death in 1716, when Anne was on the throne. His second son, the son of his second wife, was Henry Fox, the Secretary of State and Paymaster of the Forces. It was with him that Lady Caroline Lennox, the Duke of Richmond's daughter-after she had cut off her eyebrows to protect herself from an unwelcome marriage arranged by her father-eloped in 1744. Having endured the fury of her parents for four years, she was forgiven on the birth of her eldest son. Henry Fox was created Lord Holland after his purchase of Holland House, where he died in 1774. His son Stephen, who succeeded him, only survived him six months, and left an only son, Henry, third Lord Holland, who was educated under the guardianship of his uncle, Charles James Fox, the famous orator and statesman.

Under the third Lord Holland, Holland House attained

a splendour and beauty which it had never acquired before, and it became an intellectual centre, not only for England, but for the world. Its master is remembered as the most genial of mankind; Lady Holland, though wayward and fanciful, was also beautiful and clever; Miss Fox, Lord Holland's sister, was loving, gracious, and charitable. Sydney Smith, Luttrell, and Allen were habitués of the house, and had their fixed apartments assigned to them. The list of guests included Sheridan, Blanco White, Parr, Byron, George Ellis, Lord Jeffrey, Payne Knight, Thurlow, Eldon, Brougham, Lyndhurst, Sir Humphry Davy, Count Romford, Lord Aberdeen, Lord Moira, Windham, Curran, Sir Samuel Romilly, Washington Irving, Pozzo di Borgo, Counts Montholon and Bertrand, Princess Lieven, the Humboldts, Talleyrand, Tom Moore, Madame de Staël, Macaulay. Daily all that was most brilliant in European society was welcomed uninvited to the hospitable dinner-table. It was no wonder that Sydney Smith heard "five hundred travelled men assert that there was no such agreeable house as Holland House."

The third Lord Holland died in 1841, and was succeeded by his son, British Minister at Florence. He died in 1859. Under his widow, Mary Augusta, Lady Holland, daughter of the eighth Earl of Coventry, Holland House still has the reputation of being the most charming house in England.

As we pass the terrace which bounds the garden and enter the deep belt of shade which encircles the mansion, the most conspicuous feature is a gateway with stone piers by Inigo Jones bearing the arms of Rich, approached by a

double flight of steps enclosing a fountain. The house is now entered from the east side; originally the entrance was on the south, and it was there that William Penn, to whom Holland House was let for a time, narrates that he could

scarcely get down the steps through the crowd of suitors who besought him to use his good offices with the king in their behalf.

The Interior of Holland House is full of historical relics,

pictures, and china. Many of the portraits are by Watts, who first rose into fame under the patronage of Elizabeth, Lady Holland, and who painted, for the walls of the house, many of the most valued friends of its master. One of his best portraits is that of Princess Lieven.

In the last of " the West Rooms”—around which, to those who know it well, many of the happiest associations of the house are entwined-are three interesting works of Hogarth, a view of Ranelagh; a portrait of the first Lord Holland; and a scene of Private Theatricals (from Dryden's Indian Emperor) at the house of Mr. Conduitt, Master of the Mint, in which the first Lady Holland, then Lady Caroline Lennox, with her father and mother, took a part. portrait by Ramsay also hangs here, with that of her sister Lady Cecilia Lennox, who died of consumption at Holland House.

Her

From the third of the West Rooms a staircase leads to the Library (originally a Portrait Gallery), a long room, warm with a glow of crimson velvet, with two great carved chimney-pieces, and deeply recessed windows, from one of which there is a view, through the dark boughs of a cedar, into the radiant flower-garden. In one corner is Addison's folding-table (purchased at Rogers' sale) covered with faded. green velvet, blotted by his pen. A little lobby leads from the library to the inner rooms.

Here, on a pane of glass,

are the lines written by Hookham Frere in 1811

"May neither fire destroy nor waste impair,

Nor Time consume thee till the twentieth heir,
May Taste respect thee, and may Fashion spare."

Here also, amongst other relics, are—

A Letter from Voltaire, written at the "Delices," expressing his "pleasure at receiving the son of the amiable and honoured Mr. Fox, who was formerly so kind to me."

A Portrait of Addison.

A Miniature of the Empress Catherine, with a letter from her, saying that she had ordered the bust of "Charles Fox" to be placed on her colonnade with those of Demosthenes and Cicero.

An original Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, given by M. Gallois at Paris.

A Portrait of John Locke, supposed to be the identical picture discarded from the hall at Christ Church.

An outline Portrait of Edward VI. by Vertue, given by Horace Walpole.

A Miniature of Robespierre, on the back of which Fox has written, "un scélérat, un lâche, et un fou."

A Medallion of Ariosto found near the head of the poet when his coffin was exhumed in S. Benedetto at Ferrara in 1800.

An autograph Order by Addison (1719) desiring that the Countess of Warwick should be allowed to receive for him his stock in the South Sea Company.

We enter from hence the Yellow Drawing Room, which contains a charming pastel portrait of Charles James Fox as a child, and leads into the Gilt Room, full of rich colour, with a great window over the central doorway. The emblematical figures over the chimney-pieces are by Watts, and supply the place of lost pictures by Francis Cleyn, a Danish artist, which were described by Walpole as not unworthy of Parmigiano. From this room, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of the first Earl of Holland carrying his head in his hand, we may enter the Crimson Drawing Room, or Sir Joshua Room, filled with noble works by Reynolds

• The "Muscipula "—a little girl, with a face full of mischief, holding a mouse in a cage temptingly out of reach of a cat.

• Portrait of Charles James Fox, a noble picture. The Receipt for L105 for the portrait (April 20, 1789) is preserved. Reyrolds painted