The Henson Journals

[4]

Saturday, June 4th, 1921.

I sent Harold £50. as a commission on the car. After breakfast Ryle left in the car to spend the weekend with Welldon at the Deanery. William returned from Durham in time to take Clayton and me to Eastgate, where the Vicar, Canon Croudace, had convened the clergy & laity of his rural deanery (Stanhope) to meet me. The weather had changed for the worse during the night, and we motored through the loveliest country in a closed car under a dropping sky. All the clergy of the Deanery were present except Espin of Tow Law, who is abroad. The parish of Stanhope still remains vacant. I was formally welcomed, and then I addressed the clergy by themselves. When I had finished with them, the laity were admitted, and I went through the same process again. Then we had tea in the garden. Rather foolishly the Vicar then asked me to address the members of his parish council, which I did but, of course, very ineffectively. After this silly epilogue I returned home, arriving shortly before 6 p.m. Then I had to prepare notes for my teaching tomorrow, and to clear off some correspondence. Finally I ended the day by reading to Ella & Fearne some of Strachey's book on Queen Victoria. He writes amusingly enough, & succeeds in conveying a clear impression. There is an undercurrent of mockery running through all he says about Albert & Victoria, but he cannot conceal the fact that they were admirable persons, of more than the average intelligence.