The Henson Journals

[25]

Tuesday, August 8th, 1922.

A thoroughly wet day. There was nothing for it but to spend the time indoors. I wrote to Mrs Dicey thanking her for the photograph of the old Professor, which arrived at the Castle on the very day of our departure. Also I wrote to Carissima. The newspapers & talk with mine host filled "the impracticable hours" until lunch time: and afterwards we donned mackintoshes, and walked out in the rain as far as the Manse, where we called on Miss Knowles.

The control of a Scottish churchyard is vested in the heritors of the parish, who alone have power to determine what monuments and inscriptions may be allowed. As the heritors may be numerous, & scattered, they commonly delegate their authority to one or more of their number, who often associate the minister with them. This system is said to work well enough, but it has an uninviting aspect: & certainly Scottish churchyards look detestable. The income of the minister of Dalton is £300 per annum with a manse, and two or three fields. This is regarded as a fair endowment.

We dined with Major & Mrs Critchley, with whom the Bishop of Cork was staying. This prelate had until recently been favourable to the policy of the Treaty in Ireland, but now he has changed his opinion, and now sees nothing but disaster before the Irish Protestants. Many of these have deserted the country.

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