XXXVI WORK IN THE UPPER HOUSE 191 



I need not say that we have a " corrupt interest " in 

 your saying " yes " because, if you do, you will naturally 

 come to us for a couple of days ; but about this Julia 

 is writing to Lady Avebury. 



Come if you possibly can. It is really a rather big 

 business and there is, goodness knows ! plenty to talk 

 about. The Country never more wanted wise guidance. 

 — Ever most sincerely yours, M. E. Grant Duff. 



Apparently, however, he was not able to 

 accept this invitation, which to a true oyster 

 lover would have been irresistible. 



Mr. Chamberlain's proposal for a retaliatory 

 tariff against nations, which imposed a heavy 

 duty on our imports from them, was agitating 

 the commercial world at this time, and was the 

 occasion of Lord Avebury's writing to Lord 

 Brassey : 



lOth November 1903. 



My dear Brassey — The London Chamber of Com- 

 merce will have to consider what position it will take 

 at the spring meeting of the Association, and I think 

 we ought to submit our views in the form of a resolution 

 or resolutions. If so, notice must be given before the 

 end of the year. 



Ought we not therefore to be having some meeting 

 to consider the position ? I enclose two resolutions. 

 Something like No. 1 we might, I think, put on the 

 Agenda paper of the Association ; No. 2 I only suggest 

 as an instruction to our Delegates. You may not 

 concur, and indeed, I should myself individually prefer 

 something more definite ; and in any case I doubt not 

 you will improve the wording. 



I should wish to support you, and only throw this 

 out as a tentative suggestion. — Yours sincerely, 



Avebury. 

 The Rt. Hon. Lord Brassey. 



I 



That Great Britain has just cause of complaint at 

 certain restrictions and unfair arrangements directed 



