Stafford House. 23 



made all seem like a new settlement in the Far West 

 rather than the latest development of culture. From 

 this criticism Mr, C.'s own pretty little home is wholly 

 exempt, and no doubt there are many other homes 

 there equally admirable. I speak only of the general 

 impression made upon our party by a very hasty visit. 

 Bedford Park is no doubt an excellent idea, and des- 

 tined to do much good, only it is different from what 

 we had expected. 



Extremes meet. It was from houses such as I have 

 spoken of that we went direct to Stafford House, to 

 meet the Marquis of Stafford by appointment, and to 

 be shown over that palace by him. What a change ! 

 If the former were not up to our expectations, this 

 exceeded them. I don't suppose any one ever has 

 expected to see such a staircase as enchants him^ 

 upon entering Stafford House. This is the most mag- 

 nificent residence any of us has ever seen. I will not 

 trust myself to speak of its beauties, nor of the treas- 

 ures it contains. One begins to understand to what 

 the Marquis of Stafford is born. The Sutherland fam- 

 ily have a million two hundred thousand acres of land 

 in Britain ; no other family in the world compares with 

 them as landowners. It is positively startling to think 

 of it. Almost the entire County of Sutherland is theirs. 

 Stafford House is their London residence. They 

 have Trentham Hall and Lillieshall in Mid-England, 

 and glorious Dunrobin Castle in Scotland. 



