XXXI THE BEST HUNDRED BOOKS 95 



that in doing so they will confer a benefit on many who 

 have not funds or space to collect a large library. 



John Lubbock. 



This year Sir John resigned his seat as an 

 Alderman on the London County Council and also 

 the Chairmanship of the Council of Foreign Bond- 

 holders, but he was much occupied, nevertheless, 

 with the business of the latter, giving evidence 

 before the House of Commons Committee in 

 respect of a Bill somewhat altering its constitu- 

 tion, and eventually getting the Bill passed. 

 Counsel on behalf of those who opposed the Bill 

 confessed himself, privately, afterwards, as being 

 entirely at the end of his resources even at the 

 beginning of the hearing, because the obvious 

 course in a case of the kind is to impute interested 

 motives to the principal parties concerned. It 

 was, however, so patently absurd to suggest to a 

 Committee of the House anything of the kind in 

 connection with Sir John Lubbock or the deputy 

 chairman. Sir Charles Fremantle, that his task 

 was like the vain brick-making of the Israelites 

 without straw. In 1900 he consented, under 

 pressure, to resume the Presidency of the Council, 

 and held the office until his death. 



In July he was elected by a unanimous vote 

 Chairman of the London Bankers, and in Sep- 

 tember, the Irish Bankers, having founded an 

 Institute, invited him to deliver the Inaugural 

 Address. The following letter indicates the scope 

 and purpose of the new institution. 



