cH.xxx DIVERS PUBLIC FUNCTIONS 77 



year he notes, respecting a lecture on " Buds and 

 Stipules," illustrated by diagrams, which he gave 

 at the Royal Institution, that " Ursula did some of 

 the diagrams " ; and a day or two later : " Harold 

 seems very keen about ants, and is making some 

 experiments." John, the eldest son, was always 

 much at High Elms. 



At the end of January he and Lady Lubbock 

 were at Rye with the children, playing golf hard 

 at Rye and Littlestone. They returned to High 

 Elms on February 5, and went up to London for 

 the Parliamentary season on the 17th. 



The Government had promised, in the pre- 

 ceding session, an inquiry into the Jameson raid. 

 Many members felt that there were grave objec- 

 tions to the inquiry, and Mr. Maclean gave notice 

 that he would oppose the appointment of the 

 Committee. Sir John agreed to second him. 

 The Times on January 22 said that the opposition 

 of Mr. Maclean might possibly " be regarded as 

 the outcome of personal feeling or individual 

 eccentricity, but Sir J. Lubbock occupies a posi- 

 tion of greater authority in Parliament and, in 

 ordinary circumstances, his action would suffice 

 to give pause even to a strong Government. He 

 is looked upon, generally and justly, as a man of 

 moderate opinions and of judicial temper. He is 

 politically allied with the Secretary of State for 

 the Colonies, and he is not at all likely to interfere, 

 except on grounds Avhich he believes to be urgent, 

 with a decision adopted deliberately on the re- 

 sponsibility of the Administration. We have 

 already recognised the force of the contentions 

 embodied in Sir John Lubbock's amendment. It 



