The Henson Journals

[643]

Tuesday, February 8th, 1916.

554th day

Among my letters I received a long & very interesting one from Frederic Harrison replying to my inquiry about the secret of Robertson's posthumous fame. Acting on a hint which it contained I wrote to Lathbury asking him the same question. I also asked F. H. to let me print his letter as an appendix to my published lecture. I called on Caröe, and heard from him an account of the proceedings at the meeting of the Society of Antiquaries. He had been himself unable to be present, as he had to lie up with his bad knee. He had therefore written a letter, requesting that it would be read. (He read to me the letter, which emphasized the faulty measurements on which the reasoning of the Ctee's report was based.) This letter was read, and then Warren, the President of Magdalen's brother, made a protest against the action of the Society in criticising an Architect without his knowledge to his clients. This, he said, was grossly unprofessional. This opinion seems to have received much support, for the discussion [645] 'fizzled out' rather ignobly. I hope devoutly that we shall hear no more of the matter. The squabbling of architects, like the merriment of parsons to Dr Johnson, is 'mighty offensive'. Leaving Caröe I called at the Deanery, but found the Bishop out. So I went into the Abbey Church and looked at the sand–bags heaped around S. Edward's shrine, the Tombs of Henry VII, Mary Q. of Scots, Elizabeth, & the Lady Margaret. Also I noticed the new cross on the altar in Henry VII's chapel, & was told that it had been presented by the Marquess of Salisbury in memory of his daughter's wedding. I was interested to observe the number of Canadian & Australian soldiers straying about the Church. To some of them I spoke, & pointed out objects of interest. On leaving the Abbey Church I fell in with the Dean, & promised to preach on May 14th in the evening. I spoke to him about placing a tablet to Robertson's memory in the Abbey, & he seemed favourable to the notion. Then I went to lunch with Winnifred. Aylwin Parker also lunched. He says that Italy is not going well. Large supplies are getting into Germany through Italy, & at any moment she might break away from the Entente. I gather that we are now adopting the policy of buying up the supplies which the neutrals would endeavour to sell to Germany. This seems an unexceptionable method of assisting the blockade. On leaving 18 Cowley Street, I fell in with Noel Masters, a battered–looking warrior, who has been through much fighting. Then we drove to Euston, & proceeded to Lichfield to stay until Saturday with the Charnwoods. We found Mrs Thorpe very well, & apparently nowise perturbed by the Zeppelins, which passed close at the last raid.

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