1898] Cambon the New French Ambassador 309 



ing said ' the crisis of Fashoda.' Cambon's countenance fell at the 

 word, and he changed the conversation, though heaven knows I meant 

 no harm. It is arranged between d'Estournelles and me that I should 

 get up a little dinner at Mount Street for the Ambassador after the 

 Jour dc VAn, but I fear I should disappoint d'Estournelles' expecta- 

 tions. He counts, among other inducements, upon my inviting Lady 

 Galloway, who, being Lord Salisbury's sister, he thinks would interest 

 Cambon. He wants Cambon to make a good impression in English 

 society. When he finds out how little I am a persona grata with the 

 Government he will probably be less keen for my assistance ; however, 

 that is their affair. [N.B. Cambon had been sent to England after 

 the Fashoda affair and the change of Ministry at Paris, expressly to 

 bring about a good understanding between France and England, and in 

 this he succeeded admirably. I believe it to have been due to him more 

 than to any other Frenchman, except perhaps Delcasse, that the En- 

 tente Cordiale was come to four years later with the withdrawal of all 

 French opposition to England in Egypt. It is probable that at the 

 time of Fashoda an understanding was come to between Lord Salisbury 

 and Delcasse for the partition of North Africa. England to have the 

 East, France the West, Germany and Russia to be eventually allowed 

 the spoil of Turkey and Persia. The full development of the plan 

 being put off till the death, when it should happen, of Sultan Abdul 

 Hamid.] 



" igth Dec. — Old Lord Napier and Ettrick, Mark's father, is dead. 

 He was a man of distinction, and no small ability. He was for many 

 years in diplomacy, and was then sent as Governor to Madras. The 

 last I saw of him was six or seven years ago, when I was at the Glen. 

 His chief achievement in life was the making of Mark. 



" 26th Dec. — I have been staying at the Danes for Christmas, a 

 family party. To-day we drove over to North Mimms, to make ac- 

 quaintance with Loulou's financee. North Mimms, a beautiful old 

 place, but turned inside out by a Victorian architect, who has been let 

 loose on it regardless of expense. Loulou's new relations are Ameri- 

 cans, the young lady simple and unaffected, and tenderly attached to 

 Loulou." 



I ended the year 1898 at Ockham with Ralph and Mary, more happily 

 than was its beginning. " The first four months were of exceeding 

 physical pain with the final breakdown, followed by a great contentment 

 of mind and body. That great act of abdication, ' the taking to one's 

 deathbed,' teaches one the value of the smaller pleasures of life. In- 

 tellectually I still feel growth, and while growth continues one is not 

 yet old. Judith's marriage has been an event of supreme satisfaction. 



" 1st Jan., 1899. — I am back at Lyndhurst. Lady Lytton tells me 

 that the Queen was greatly opposed to Neville's marrying before he 



