XXXIX FAILING HEALTH 231 



was also for more investigation. The Duke of 

 Northumberland, Kinnaird and I maintained 

 that the inquiry had been very thorough and 

 we did not see what more information could be 

 gained. We accepted, however, the Joint Com- 

 mittee, which no doubt is a step gained." 



The Presidency of the London Institution 

 was an office which he relinquished this year, 

 owing to " advancing years." A resolution was 

 unanimously passed by the proprietors :• 



That we greatly regret the retirement of our President, 

 Lord Avebury, from the Presidential Chair of this 

 Institution : and desire his Lordship's acceptance of 

 our warm and sincere thanks for the services he has 

 kindly rendered in that capacity during the past 

 twelve years. 



Lady Avebury had been far from well towards 

 the end of March, and mainly for her health 

 they went to Valescure early in April, returning 

 home on the last day of the month. The change 

 and the sunshine appear to have set Lady 

 Avebury up again, and he also enjoyed his time 

 there, playing golf and making expeditions. 



Both on account of his exertions on behalf 

 of a better understanding between Great Britain 

 and Germany, and also because both his scientific 

 and his popular books were well known in that 

 country, he was distinctly a persona grata to the 

 German nation. This year London was visited 

 by two distinguished bodies of German guests, 

 the first being a company of burgomasters of 

 some of the more important German towns, 

 and the second of fifty editors of German news- 

 papers. He took an important part in the 



