xxxur LORD AVEBURY 121 



honour paid him. One or two may be worth a 

 passing notice for the sake of a happy phrase 

 or point of interest. Town Councils, Chambers 

 of Commerce, Tradesmen's Associations, Early 

 Closing Associations, Societies and Companies 

 financial, scientific, antiquarian, home and foreign, 

 as well as individuals sent their tribute. Not only 

 the Unionist leaders but no less than five of the 

 Front Opposition bench congratulated him, and 

 the Press, without exception, was cordial and 

 complimentary. 



On Tuesday, January 30, he writes : " Parlia- 

 ment opened and I took my seat in the House of 

 Lords. James and Kelvin introduced me. What 

 a quaint ceremony ! Alice, Ursula and Irene 

 came." 



A quaint ceremony, perhaps; but the intro- 

 ducers were eminently the right persons — Lord 

 James of Hereford standing very justly for Lord 

 Avebury's political opinions, since both had 

 seceded from the Gladstonian ranks on the same 

 historical occasion, and Lord Kelvin in association 

 with his interests and achievements in science. As 

 in many such cases the writers of the congratu- 

 latory letters were in some little difficulty to know 

 by what style to make their address. It is 

 variously solved. Lord Morley commencing " My 

 dear Lubbock " asks forgiveness for a slip of the 

 pen and the old name coming forth ; but perhaps 

 the happiest way out of the trouble is found by 

 Lady Ritchie (the daughter of Thackeray), who 

 beginning in the old manner has a postscript saying 

 that she cannot write to " Lord Dash." This, of 

 course, before the announcement of the new title. 



