The Henson Journals

[31]

Monday, November 5th, 1917.

1190th day

I returned to Durham by the 10.5 a.m. train from Manchester. It ran well to time, & brought me to Durham shortly after 2 p.m. Among my letters was one from Burge, which was expressed rather cryptically, but which stated that the P.M. had asked him to go to H___d: that he was disinclined to go: that he had not finally refused: that if his going to H. would bring me to S. he would go: that he doubted whether I would accept S. He adds: "The plain straightforward thing is to offer you H___d, & I cannot think what hinders it". I replied briefly at once that I would certainly not accept S. if it were offered me. There the tangle stands for the nonce, & I suppose everything will be held up while the P.M. is in Italy. But it is evident that, so far as I am concerned, the issue is closed.

At 4 p.m. I presided over a meeting of the Heads of City & University who came to confer with the military. Col: Street, Captain Hoyle, & Captain Angus attended, & expounded their demand. Accommodation was required at once for 60 Officers & 1200 men. We discussed available buildings, and made some rough calculations, but everything is curiously inconvenient. My study is temporarily put out of action in order that the fire place may be repaired. In the present state of Durham to inaugurate repairs, however trivial, is to commit yourself to a doubtful fate: just now, of course, I am more than ever tied to my study, by reason of the "Edinburgh Review" Article which must be completed during this month.

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