The Henson Journals

[19]

Thursday, January 18th, 1906.

Today there was a service in S. Margaret's held in connection with the Funeral of the late Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff. The King was represented, & there was a fair assembly in spite of a down–fall of rain. The Bishop of Rochester and I took the service.

In the afternoon Harold and I visited the British Museum. Rather strangely, we encountered Sir Frederick Bridge, and his family, visiting the mummies, in order, so he assured me, to "distract their thoughts".

Albert Saxton went up to Oxford for the term. The Elections continue to go against the Unionists. Broderick & Chaplin are 'out'. Only Birmingham remains loyal to the Architect of this immense disaster. The re–action has gathered strength from so many sources.

1. General disgust at the revelations of muddlement in the South African War.
2. Special dislike of the Chinese compound system.
3. Impatience of the muddling at the War Office.
4. Nonconformist resentment of the Education Act.
5. 'Temperance' resentment of the Licensing Act.
6. General dread of a return to Protection.
7. Weariness of the Unionist Administration.

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