128 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ch. 



give your Commerce in ours. But in by far the most 

 numerous and the most important problems the interests 

 of France and of England are identical. 



I am sure that I express the general feeling of my 

 countrymen when I express the hope that the peace 

 which has happily subsisted between us for so many 

 years may long continue, and our friendly feelings grow 

 stronger and stronger. 



I take this opportunity of expressing my own warm 

 and earnest wishes for the happiness and prosperity of 

 your great country. 



The Paris Chamber of Commerce had invited 

 the Associated Chambers to hold their autumnal 

 meeting at Paris, but there was considerable 

 doubt whether it would be wise to accept, seeing 

 how bitter was the feeling at this time between 

 the two countries. 



On behalf of the Chambers Lord Avebury 

 consulted Lord Salisbury on the subject, who said 

 that their visit would be a great risk and that he 

 could not advise it. At the same time he said 

 that he should not like to raise any objection. 

 Under these circumstances they determined to 

 go. At the last moment Lady Avebury was not 

 well enough to accompany Lord Avebury, but 

 his daughters Ursula and Irene went with him. 

 It turned out a great success. The best people 

 in Paris were glad of the opportunity to dis- 

 sociate themselves from the attacks on England. 

 Millerand, the Minister of Commerce, came to 

 welcome them to the Exhibition. They were 

 taken to the Chamber of Deputies, to the Senate, 

 and to the Hotel de Ville. The President, M. 

 Loubet, gave them a party at the Elysee, lent 

 Lord Avebury his box at the Opera, and asked 

 him out to Rambouillet. 



