New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-17
HOLLAND HOUSE OWNERSHIP

y l-t[E
HoI-ano House now belongs n ro-d "a LADY
t.s1-eI, having passed into the possession Of the
&C.. 60 u I4chester on the death in 1889 OF the
ca----=sS WHO" Of the last and fourth Lord IIoI-
AAi. Nf-te this IN response TO a letter which
reaches me from Washington. inquiring as 70 the
FFeSeIt ownership Of Holland House, which in the
cary part OF The nineteenth century was so ia
mo- 'yI Us salon That was more particularly
in the days cf the wife OF the third Lord Holland
nepIe" ana political associate OF the famous
salesman ChaT4es James Fox She hailed from
Jsraaiea- had been Miss Vassal. and after mar
ring or Godfrey Webster eloped with the third
Lora t4o4ard, whom she married after being d.
voTceo rom Sir Godfrey. IN spite OF this states
men ard celebrities from all over Europe we're
won't 70 gather around her at Holland House in
The he1sington suburb OF London. among the
hsb.tLes Of her salon being the great Talleyrand.
Nine De Stael Princess Iiever the noet lord
Byron. Baron Humboldt Lord Macaulay. Lord
Brougharn. the poet Tom Moore Sir Walter Scott
and n fact, al the men OF note Of the age. BY
her marriage 10 the third Lord Holland in l7S7
she had two children. a son. who succeeded
tztl.er in 1910 fourth and last Lord Holland.
and daughter named Mary. who married the
The fourth L,rd Holland spent g number OF
years il the diplomatic service, and married LADY
Mari Coyentry. daughter OF he eighth Ear! OF
Coventry. in 1853. and died in 1888 having had no
children by his marriage. True. Lord and Lady
Holland had an adopted daughter, concerning
who's birth much mystery always prevailed she
WIS known as Mary Fox. and married in London,
with much po-np and ceremony, Prince Alloys
15ctrergtein OF the German sovereign family OF
hat name, dying about Internationally years ago
- Vienna where she made her home altogether
ss-a- her marriage The widow % the fourth
Lord Holland continued TO maintain salon al
Holland House after her husbands death. ana
among her favorite guests were the late I~oro
Eouzhton and Lord Ronald Sutherland Cover. !,
During the last ten years or so OF her NE La!
Holland was 50 much Of invalid that "heA SO
de5 II -sss, Holland House had 10 great extent
csssed 70 2 factor in the social lie OF Loildoi
and The kindly hostess had become almost elltFeIN
forgotten Holland House then went as nave
stated above 70 Lord Leicester. q very distant
k1rzusn az the last Lord Holland but the chleI
Of TIE house OF Fox, which they both belonged
Tts founder Of the family was Sir stephen Fox
zho began life IS poor choir boy and who
bgd the good luck 70 hear Of the death OF O-lFeI
Cromwell before any else and was the hrsI
-f- rh= good will Of the IeTrie Monarch. VINO
rrsdusIlv promoted MIN until he became knight,
-re- Der Of the Privy Council Lord OF tl~
Treasury and payn1aster general OF the army ne
Lad Two sons the elder Of whom became the first
lord Leicester. while the second son became th7
first Lord Holland.
nav add thar the Holland peerage having be
come extinct ir 1852, record Of its members OF
,hei- births deaths. marriages etc. s 70 be found
n any Of -he standard ''peeraKes'' and works or
reference published within the last quarter or
century The records are. however, accessible II
those who wish 10 90 10 the trouble OF making INC
Tesesrches-
forzo- 70 mention above that the famous Count
dOrssy made his debut IN London al Holland
House and he II once commended himself TO the
brilliant circle which used gather there round the
Webster Lady Holland by the lesson which he
gave 70 his hostess spite Of MS youth he being
only about Uwenty-three years old at the time.
Lady Holland was continually letting her napkin
sip from her lap 10 the floor a dinner and rs
tattvey OF Young Count q Orsay ana asked him
20 pick i Up. He politely complied several times.
hu ~ last tired OF this exercise. he exclaimed, TO
Ter great surprise II French: Would II not be
better To- ne madame 70 SIT under the table In
order 70 Dc able hand you up your napkin more
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