274 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK OT . 



conversational energies at their best on these 

 occasions. I know there is somewhere, though I 

 cannot lay hands on it, an amusing letter from 

 Mr. Joseph Chamberlain in answer to an invita- 

 tion from Sir John to breakfast, in which he says 

 that he regards that meal as an anachronism, 

 that at an early hour in the morning, such as 

 2 or 3 a.m., he would be delighted to meet and 

 converse with Sir John and his other guests, but 

 that such an hour as that proposed for breakfast 

 he considers ought to be consecrated, by civilised 

 humanity, to sleep. 



It was a curious friendship that existed 

 between men so different as Sir John and Mr. 

 Chamberlain, but it was founded on a strong 

 mutual esteem. 



In Sir John Lubbock's opinion, the provisions 

 of the " Declaration of Paris " did not go far 

 enough, and thinking that it would be desirable 

 to assimilate the law relating to property at sea 

 during times of war to that on land, and so make 

 ships free of capture and seizure, he brought the 

 question up before the Council of the London 

 Chamber of Commerce. The Council agreed 

 with his view and passed a unanimous resolution 

 in that sense, asking him to convey it to the 

 Prime Minister (Lord Salisbury) and engage his 

 support. 



He saw Lord Salisbury, who was quite of the 

 same opinion, but was afraid that France would 

 not concur, and asked him to consult Lord 

 Lytton, then our Ambassador at Paris. This he 

 did, and Lord Lytton wrote in reply as follows : 



