LO.RD BEACONSFIELD'S FRENCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1745, 20 January 1888, Page 2

LO.RD BEACONSFIELD'S FRENCH

The following story ia told by the London correspondent of the "'Manchester Guardian" of Lord Beaeonsfi «ld •ad Lord Ampthlll. The latter'a tact,, aays the correspondent, was skilfully employed at the opening of the Congress of Berlin !n 1878, m a delicate matter which taxed it to the utmost.. Oo the evening before' the Congress was to be opened Lord Rowton (thn Mr Montague Oo.rry, and Lord Beaconefield'a private Boorotary) cnvae to Lord Odd- &nssel, bb our Ambassador a till w&a, and begged his assistance m a difficult task, ■ Lord Baaconsfield fancied he could speak French j this was a delusion. Accent, syntax, gramm*r--all were faulty, and as* he had prepared an elaborate French speeoh for tbe opening of the. Congress, the results b&de fair to : be deplorable. f We shall bethelaughing stookof Earopo, 1 ' cried the despairing ;.seoretary. " Pray try what you can do with the chief We dare not approach hini on sach a BUbj'ect." Lord Odo at once entered into thf humor of the situation. He went to the great man and said,. "We hear* a dreadful rumor that you are going to speak m French to-morrow. No one can 4o it better than you ; but then aU the.Congress; can doit equally well. Bat there is one thing which only you m »]1 Berlin can do —you, alone can make a really fiae English speeoh. All the ambassadors are counting on the intellectual treat of hearing English spoken by its great living master. Do not disappoint them." Much impressed by this view. Lord Beaconefield oonsented to change his plan. The Oonflfreas was duly addressed m English, add th ) linguistic honor of Great Britain was «av»d. - . .-, .■■■ '.; : ■:■•■ -\ , ■