BAD FRENCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1723, 30 November 1887, Page 3

BAD FRENCH

The following story is told by tho London correspondent of tbe " Manchester Guardian" of Lord Beaconsfield and Lord Ampthlll. The latter's tact, sajs the correspondent, wts skilfully employed at the opening of the Congress of Berlin, m 1878 m a delicate matter whioh taxed It to utmost. On tho evening before the Congress woa to he opened Lord Rowton (then Mr Montagu Oorry, and Lord Beaconefield's private seoretary) came to Lord Odo Russell, as our Ambasßador still was, and begged hie assistance lo a difficult task. Lord Beaconifield fancied he could speak French ; thia was a delusion Accent, syntax, grammar —'all was equally faulty, and, as ho had prepared en, elaborate French speech for the opening pf the Congress, the results bade fair to be deplorable. "We shall be the laughing-stock of Europe," cried the despairing secretary, " Pray try what you can do with the ohief. We dare not approach him on Buch a subject." Lord Odo at onoe entered into the humor of the situation, He went to tbe great man and said, " We hear a dreadful rumor that you are going to speak m French tomorrow. No one can do it better tban you ; but then all the Congress can do it equally well. But there Is one thing which only you in r all Berlin can do — you alone can make a really fine English speech All the Ambassador* are counting on the intellectual treat of heating English spoken by its great living master, Do not diaßppolnt them." Much impressed by this view, Lord Beaconsfield consented to change his plan. Tho Congreßß was duly addressed m English, and the linguistic honor of Great Britain was saved.