HOME OF STATESMEN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10908, 28 May 1929, Page 3

HOME OF STATESMEN

WHERE PALMERSTON LI VED

SALE DECIDED ON

The liar I of Balfour lias decided to sell his London house. 4 Carlton Gardens, St. James’s, S.W. No plans have yet been made for Lord Balfour’s future residence in Loudon when tho house lias been sold, says the Daily Mail. No, 4, Carlton Gardens has been the borne of great statesmen for most of the 104 years of its - existence. Here Lord Balfour has lived since 1871. Before him, it was the home of Lord Pahneiston, when he was Primp, Minister. Within its walls the two statesmen conside red some of t-he greatest Empire problems of their times and were visited hv the outstanding political personalities of generations that were rich in. great men. Tho only tenant to occupy the house before Lord Palmerston was Adrian Hope, who built it in 182-), and the son of Adrian Hone occupied it when Lord Palmerston’s lease expired until Lord Balfour bought it AS years ago. So the house has a better title to tho description, “the home of great statesmen” then any other of London’s famous houses, with the exception of the official residences No. 10 and No. 11 Downing Street.

There is much of great interest about the building itself, the improvements inspired by Lord Balfour and- the objects of art within it. The site, was once part of the gardens of Carlton House, the residence of King George IV. when he was Prince of Wales. Parts of tho old mansion were embodied in the house. Several of the mantelpieces and some of the old ironwork were, part of the old Carlton House. Lord Balfour had extensive alter-

at’ons made. A single staircase round the hall • replaced two separate stairs. The library, one of the two principal rooms on tiro ground floor, has been considerably enlarged. It still contains the mahogany and ormolu hook-cases used by Lord Palmerston. There are pieces of furniture, silver and original political cartoons that- have, been presented to Lord Balfour. His thousands of hooks are chiefly psychological and religious works and political and legal records, although Shakespeare has an honored place. There is old china and porcelain, Fulham pottery, and, most interesting of all, a fine collection of pictures painted by Sir Edward Burne-Jones for Lord Balfour.

The drawing room was specially constructed to hold t-li© set of eight muntings depicting the adventures of Perseus and Andromeda. Only four were completed, and wto which the artist was unable to complete before his death still hear rough, chalkmarks. The remaining two are mere rough ehalkings on brown paper.