The Henson Journals

[395]

Wednesday, November 25th, 1908.

[symbol]

Beeching & I walked to the Literary Society's rooms in Hanover Sq., & there he delivered an admirable lecture criticizing Greenwood's book against the "Stratfordian" theory of Shakespearian authorship. Greenwood himself was present, & spoke after the lecture had concluded. He struck me as a blustering, amateurish man, who had no case.

I dined with Sir Kenneth. Mr Asquith, Lord Franard, & Sir Fleetwood Edwards were the rest of the party. We had much conversation. A: asked me suddenly, ["]What do you think of Pearce? Would he do for S. Pauls?" I sang P.'s praises. We talked pretty frankly about affairs ecclesiastical: & I pressed on him strongly the disastrous over–representation of the High Church party on the Bench. He seemed to agree: but pleaded that there were none but High Churchmen available for appointment. Happily he avoided all reference to Lang's preferment to York. Had he raised that matter, it had not failed that I should have given him offence.

---