down, in 1850, G. F. Watts, R.A., painted the
gilt figures on the upper portions. The gilding and decoration of all
the rest of the room have never been touched since Charles I.'s day. The
ceiling is, however, modern, copied from one at Melbury of date 1602.
The Sir Joshua Room would probably be more attractive to many people
than any other in the house; there is here the "Vision of St. Anthony,"
by Murillo, also a Velasquez, two Teniers, and many portraits by Sir
Joshua, including those of Charles James Fox, the first Lord Holland,
Mary, Lady Holland, and Lady Sarah Lennox, whose "Life and Letters" have
been edited by Lady Ilchester and her son, Lord Stavordale. In the
Addison or dining room there are several other portraits and more china,
including the famous Chelsea service presented by the proprietors of the
Chelsea Company to Dr. Johnson in recognition of his laborious and
unsuccessful efforts to learn their trade. From here we can pass to the
library, a long gallery running the whole width of the house, as a
library should do. Besides ordinary books, the library contains
priceless treasures, such as a collection of Elzevirs, a collection of
Spanish literature, a MS. book with the handwritings of Savonarola,
Petrarch, several autograph letters of Philip II., III., and IV. of
Spain, and autographs of D. Hume, Byron, Sir D. Wilkie, Moore, Rogers,
Campbell, Sir W. Scott, Southey, and foreigners of note, as Madame de
Stael, Cuvier, Buffon, Voltaire, etc.

From the Yellow Drawing-room, in which, among other things, is a curious
picture representing one eye of Lady Holland, by Watts, the Miniature
Room is reached: miniature in two senses, for, besides containing an
assortment of miniatures, it is very small. The miniatures are mostly
Cosways, Plymers, and Coopers. On January 10, 1871, Holland House caught
fire, and the chief rooms that suffered were those known as Lady
Holland's Rooms, on this side. Luckily the fire did not do much damage,
and all trace of it was speedily effaced.

Holland House is not shown to the public, and few persons have any idea
of the treasures it contains; to live in such a house must be a liberal
education. It can hardly be seen at all in summer on account of the
extent of the grounds of 55 acres stretching around it, and making it a
country place in the midst of a town. It has the largest private grounds
of any house in London, not excepting Buckingham Palace, yet from the
road all that can