332 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK oh. 



land to Sir John, who by that time was at home 

 again. 



The story of an amusing, though extremely 

 natural, little mistake of Mrs. Gladstone's is noted 

 in his diary on the 11th of this month. It was 

 narrated of a dinner at the Sydney Buxtons' 

 at which were Sir J. Grant, Mr. George Russell, 

 and Sir Alfred Lyall : " Story of Mrs. Gladstone 

 having sat next Lyall and saying afterwards she 

 was so sorry she had not caught the name, she 

 would so much have liked to ask him some 

 questions about geology — taking him for Sir 

 Charles Lyell." 



On the 18th the appointment was announced 

 of Mr. Sydney Buxton as Under-Secretary of the 

 Colonies, which pleased Sir John greatly. His 

 comment in his diary is, "I am sure he will do it 

 very well." 



Naturally he wrote to Mr. Buxton his con- 

 gratulations, receiving the following from Mrs. 

 Buxton in reply : 



15 Eaton Place, S.W., 



18 Aug. 1892. 



My dearest Father — Thank you so much for your 

 kind letter of congratulation. We are delighted at 

 Sydney's appointment. It is work he will like very 

 much indeed, and he is particularly fond of Lord Ripon. 

 Mr. Gladstone wrote a very nice letter (which came this 

 morning) saying that he hoped Sydney would consider 

 himself quite free to take part in Debate on the subjects 

 he cared for outside his own Department. 



Sydney looks forward very much to the work, and is 

 very happy. But poor Edward Grey is rather blue, 

 having just been told that he will get no holiday for some 

 time, and never have his Sundays ! 



Our little gang of 5 has done well, hasn't it ? With 

 two cabinet ministers, two Under Secretaries, and only 



