HOLLAND HOUSE AND GARDENS 



But to try conclusions with Rogers was a dangerous game, for 

 nobody could say disagreeable things so wittily. Even Lady 

 Holland's sharp tongue must have found its match in his, and it 

 is to the credit of both that their friendship was never broken. 



It was Rogers who introduced Byron to Lord and Lady Holland, 

 about the time that " Childe Harold " appeared ; and afterwards 

 until he left England he was frequently at their house. 



It is surprising that he never fell foul of his hostess, for he could 

 be a most uncomfortable dinner guest. " Did he take soup ? ' 

 ' No, he never took soup." " Did he take fish ? " " No, he never 

 took fish." " Mutton ? " " No, he never ate mutton." 

 ' Would he take wine ? " " Thank you, I never take wine." 



' What will you take ? " inquired the distressed host (who on 

 this occasion happened to be Rogers, but might quite as well have 

 been Lord Holland). ' I take nothing but biscuits and soda- 

 water." There were no biscuits, and there was no soda-water in 

 the house. So Byron helped himself to a plate of potatoes, mashed 

 them with a fork, and drenched them with vinegar ; " and con- 

 trived," says Tom Moore, who was present, " to make rather a 

 hearty meal out of this meagre material." 



In this year of grace 1918 we ourselves are fast learning to live 

 on vinegar and potatoes, but minus Byron's compensations ; for 

 it appears in the sequel, that on leaving St. James' Street, the poet 

 turned into his club and had a good meat supper ! 



Moore was a welcome guest on the Kensington Mount Parnassus ; 

 and once Rogers, desiring to take him to his sister's at Highbury, 

 met with strong opposition from her ladyship. " Do you allow 

 him," she cried to Moore, " to dispose of you like a little bit of 

 literary property ? " She did her utmost to prevent " her dear, 

 dear Macaulay " from going to India. She cried and raved ; and 

 afterwards stormed at the Ministry for letting him go, rousing even 

 her good-humoured husband to say : " Don't talk nonsense, my 

 Lady ! what the devil ! can we tell a gentleman who has a claim 

 upon us that he must lose his only chance of getting an independ- 

 ence, in order that he may come and talk to you in an evening ? " 



The intimates of Holland House were Rogers, Luttrell, the epi- 

 curean, witty, and polished man-about-town ; and when he was 

 in London Sydney Smith, the most lovable of the wits. In earlier 

 days Charles James Fox was a welcome guest, and his delightful 



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