The invasion of Carlton House Terrace (for 4 Carlton Gardens
is, in fact, the end house of the terrace) by com- merce is one of those enormities which would be incredible if they did not happen to be true. Not, of course, that there is anything derogatory about commerce. But there is a place for everything, and nothing can persuade me that out of all London the late Lord Balfour's house (I remember particularly a lunch there to discuss memories of Woodrow Wilson) is the one ideal site for a paint and varnish manufacturer's business. For- tunately, Lord Curzon's statue opposite No. 3 looks fixedly straight ahead, and the horror of the Marquess's contemplation of the monstrosity to his right will be spared us. What makes the matter worse is that the land is Crown property, and it is the Crown (in its impersonal land-owning capacity) which has let the thing happen. The answer, no doubt, is that the house- has been vacant since Lord Balfour died, and money is money. * * * *
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