ds a year； and with Becky Sharp who remarked safely that in these circumstances it was easier to be virtuous！
I worked hard on that Royal mission。 During the five years of its life； indeed； I only missed one day’s sitting； and that was because the steamer from Denmark could not get me there in time。 Shortly after the mencement of its labours I was nominated the Chairman of the Unemployed Labour and Reclamation mittee； which involved a good deal of extra； but important and interesting； business。 Also I was the Chairman of two of the tours that were made by mittees of the mission to inspect the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland； during which tours I am glad to say there were no differences of opinion or other troubles； such as have been known to arise on similar occasions。
When we had been sitting about a year； finding that there was not really very much in the Coast Erosion business； which had been somewhat exaggerated； Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers and I approached Mr。 Lloyd George one night at a dinner party and suggested that； as had been originally proposed； the question of Afforestation should be added to our Reference。 This was done； and some experts in the matter were appointed to the mission。 After this we investigated that great subject with much zeal and； being pressed by the Government； presented an interim Report。 It was drafted； with the assistance of course of our clever and industrious secretary； Mr。 Grimshaw； of the Board of Trade； by the Chairman； Professor Somerville； and myself； quorum pars magna fuit my extremely able and learned friend； Professor Somerville。 We presented a scheme for the consideration of the Government； under which； had it been adopted； enormous areas of waste or poor land in the United Kingdom would in due course have b