GARDENS OF CELEBRITIES 



Lord Holland was the good genius of Holland House. " I 

 would not go to Heaven with Lady Holland, but I would go to 

 Hell with Lord Holland," says Ugo Foscolo. 



" Lord Holland," wrote Macaulay to his sister, " is extremely 

 kind. But that is of course, for he is kindness itself. Her Lady- 

 ship, too, which is by no means of course, is all graciousness and 

 civility." These remarks expressed the general opinion of society ; 

 but despite her despotism and her whims, those who knew Lady 

 Holland best and longest, testify to her real kindness of heart. 



Lord Holland was a victim to gout, and during the greater part 

 of his life he was a confirmed invalid, and a cripple ; but his 

 patience and invariable sweetness of temper, were phenomenal. 

 If unable to appear at dinner he would be wheeled in afterwards ; 

 and he always came down to breakfast, said Samuel Rogers, 

 his friend for forty years " like a man on whom some sudden 

 good fortune had just fallen." Thomas Moore describes him in 

 1818 as being " full of sunshine, as usual; " and in 1832 Macaulay 

 wrote that " the sight of him spreads good humour over the face 

 of every one who comes near him." 



When not suffering, Lord Holland was the most delightful 

 companion ; cheerful, intellectual, and well read ; and he was 

 sometimes " extravagantly entertaining," for he enhanced his 

 delightful gift of story-telling with the drollest mimicry. 



Macaulay once spent a Saturday and Sunday at Kensington, 

 when " my Lord was ill, and my Lady thought herself so " . . . 

 She had " fretted herself into being ill, could eat nothing but the 

 breast of a partridge, and thought the howling of a dog portended 

 her own death, or Lord Holland's." They dined at four instead 

 of six or seven, and the company was " scant "for " Allen, like 

 the poor, we have always with us "Macaulay says he did his best 

 to keep the house alive, but he found the day dull, for Lord Holland 

 was in bed ; but since he had the library and the delightful gardens 

 all to himself, I cannot extend much compassion to him. 



Dr. Allen was the factotum, and useful friend, practically resident 

 at Holland House. The poet Rogers was its " Oracle," and 

 persona grata, with both master and mistress. He delighted in 

 healing quarrels, was fond of children, and staunch in friendship ; 

 to him the dying Sheridan turned for help, when there was an 

 execution in his house, and almost everybody else had deserted him. 



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