The people of the two nations [French and English] must be brought into mutual dependence by the supply of each other's wants. There is no other way of counteracting the antagonism of language and race. It is God's own method of producing an entente cordiale, and no other plan is worth a farthing.

letter to M. Michel Chevalier (Sept., 1859). "Entente cordiale," used by Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell (Sept. 7, 1848). Littré (Dict.) dates its use to speech in The Chamber of Deputies, 1840–41. Phrase in a letter written by the Dutch Governor-General at Batavia to the Bewinikebbers (directors) at Amsterdam (Dec. 15, 1657). See Notes and Queries (Sept. 11, 1909), p. 216. Early examples given in Stanford Dictionary. Cobden probably first user to make the phrase popular. Quoted also by Lord Aberdeen. Phrase appeared in the Foreign Quarterly Review (Oct., 1844). Used by Louis Philippe in a speech from the throne (Jan., 1843), to express friendly relations between France and England.