168 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK oh. 



the twelve original members of the Order were 

 or had been members of the Athenaeum. The 

 twelve were the following : Field-Marshal Earl 

 Roberts/ General Viscount Kitchener, Lord 

 Rayleigh/ Lord Kelvin,^ Lord Lister,^ Admiral 

 of the Fleet Sir Henry Keppel, Admiral Sir 

 E. H. Seymour, Sir William Huggins,^ Field- 

 Marshal Viscount Wolseley,^ Right Hon. John 

 (now Viscount) Morley,i Right Hon. W. E. H. 

 Lecky,! G. F. Watts, Esq., R.A.,i and when it 

 was decided to entertain them at dinner, Lord 

 Avebury was chosen to take the Chair. 



" The Coffee Room was closed to ordinary 

 business on July 25, on the occasion of the 

 dinner, and about 150 members assembled, the 

 members of the newly instituted Order occupying 

 the top table. Before dinner a telegram signed 

 by Lord Avebury was despatched to the King 

 (then at Cowes, recovering from his serious 

 illness), and His Majesty sent a gracious reply 

 which was received before the close of the dinner : 



Lord Avebury — I thank sincerely you and the Com- 

 mittee and Members of the Athenaeum assembled at 

 dinner in celebration of the establishment of the Order 

 of Merit for your telegram and kind good wishes. 



Edward R. 



" Lord Avebury proposed the toast of the 

 members of the Order and described the occasion 

 as a memorable and unique event in the history 

 of the Club. He then outlined the distinguished 

 services of each of the guests, prefacing his 

 remarks by saying that a whole evening would 

 be insufficient adequately to do justice to the 

 subject. 



1 Member of the Athenaeum. 



