The Henson Journals

[661]

Thursday, February 17th, 1916.

563rd day

Fred. Palgrave called on me, and came to lunch. He is now a tutor at the Missionary college at Warminster, having retired from his work as a missionary in the Canadian North–west five years ago. He was a resident at the Oxford House in Bethnal Green, when I was Head there nearly 30 years ago. He is a strange, odd being, who has great powers of self–sacrifice, and, perhaps (though of this I have no knowledge) of service. Like his father, the Professor of Poetry, he is extremely garrulous.

The newspapers announce a military success of real importance – the capture of Erzeroum by the Russians. It is thought, even taken for certain, that this will compel the abandonment of the projected attack on Egypt. It may possibly also relieve the pressure on the British forces in Mesopotamia. We may allow ourselves to believe that the Grand Duke Nicholas has recovered his nerve.

Mr Reginald Smith sent me a letter he had received from Stopford Brooke, the Editor of Robertson's Letters. It contains the following:

"I did not know any of the Robertson family. I once met the son in the street, but that is all, nor have I any information concerning the others. Henry King of Cornhill had most of the MSS in his hands for a time, & I think that all that was worth publishing was published. The bulk of the letters were in my hands, & I sent them back to the owners. I should think that Kegan Paul & Co would know where the Robertson family were or are."

This hardly looks promising for a 6th series of Sermons.

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