xxxiii LORD AVEBURY 127 



believe the idea of aggression on the part of England 

 has any degree of foundation. — Yours respectfully, 



MiCHELS 



(London Correspondent of the Gaulois). 



Lord Avebury was a little startled to be 

 informed that such a very mistaken idea of 

 our policy could be genuinely entertained, and 

 replied : 



Sir — You will indeed do a good service to both our 

 countries in endeavouring to dissipate the absurd and 

 mischievous impression to which you refer, and for which 

 there is not a vestige of foundation. 



I enclose a note of which pray make any use you like, 

 as I am writing entirely in the interests of peace. 

 Allow me to add that if there is anything in my note 

 which you think might be improved, or made clearer, 

 I should be very glad to consider any amendment you 

 might suggest. 



Dear Sir— I have seen with great astonishment that 

 some of your leading public men, and even Journals of 

 great influence, appear to imagine that this country is 

 disposed to adopt an aggressive policy against France. 



There is absolutely no foundation for any such opinion. 



We have no doubt been surprised and disappointed 

 at the attack on us in a large part of the French press, 

 and especially at those on our Venerable Queen, but I 

 fully recognise that the chivalry of the worthy sales- 

 women on the Boulevards represented the best feeling 

 of France more than the contemptible letter of a certain 

 Duke. We recognise here that a war between England 

 and France (whatever the outcome might be) would be 

 one of the gravest possible misfortunes for both. 



For myself, having so many friends in your Country, 

 and having as a Geologist and Archaeologist visited many 

 out of the way parts of your beautiful country, and seen 

 much of your people, I should view such a war with 

 horror. 



England and France have no doubt in some minor 

 points interests which are not entirely the same. We 

 regret that you do not see your way to give to our 

 Commerce in your Colonies the same advantages as we 



