The Henson Journals
Sat 15 November 1913
Volume 19, Page 57
[57]
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Saturday, November 15th, 1913.
A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Everything else is vulgar in the conception, perilous in the execution.
Burke
I attended the Chapter meeting at 11 a.m. We appointed Dolphin to the Rectory at Edmundbyers not without hesitation for his means are narrow and the income of the benefice is not large. However he is clearly anxious to go, & it is difficult to see what living in our gift wd suit him better. We discussed the Report on our Electric Light Systems, & in the course of the discussion (moved thereto by some very exasperating & characteristic obiter dicta of the Archdeacon) I 'let myself go' in a vehement declaration to the Chapter on the subject of our dilapidations' arrangement. If the legality were disputed, let legal advice be forthwith taken: but if not, then let there be an end of hintings of conduct which was really dishonest. I would not permit any allusion of the kind. We were not a thieves' kitchen, in which alone such corrupt jestings were suitable! The Chapter was startled, & silent!