The Henson Journals

[95]

Thursday, July 26th, 1906.

Two letters – from Morrison & from Pearce – caused me much mental disturbance. Both mentioned the vacant bishopric, and indicated that a serious attempt was in progress to persuade the P.M. to offer it to me. Taken in conjunction with the article in the Times on Gott, which emphasized the need of appointing a persona grata to the Dissenters for a diocese so full of Dissenters as Truro, their letters caused me genuine perturbation: for I could hardly refuse to go if I were offered the place, & I don't want to leave Westminster, & exchange independence for the dog's life of an unpopular bishop . Probably C.B. will be too wise to bring another ecclesiastical hornets' nest about his ears, and there is little doubt that the risks of appointing Canon H. will be carefully pointed out to him: but the notion was enough to waste my day.

In the afternoon my wife and I went to Hampton Court, & saw the Palace & its pictures.

In the evening we dined with Lord Davey. Sir Henry Fowler, Lord Courtenay & Lord Killanin were among the guests.

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