The Henson Journals

[205]

Tuesday, March 25th, 1924.

In my opinion the Edinburgh Review is as well qualified to judge of the merits of a poet, as Homer would have been to write a commentary on the Newtonian System.

Shelley to Byron, Nov: 20th. 1816

I distributed prizes to the boys of Tonstall School, Sunderland. This is a preparatory school for the public schools of the second rank, and contains about 100 little fellows mainly from the local aristocracy. The headmaster is a little vainglorious talkative parson called Blenkinsopp. As the building in which the function took place was low–pitched, its windows hermetically sealed, & every seat occupied, the atmosphere was deadly, and I felt asphyxiated. I went to the Rectory for tea and [had] some talk about church–extension in the Cleadon Estate. In the house was Scott, the Vicar of S. Gabriel's whose wife died quite suddenly yesterday. I had some talk with him about his arrangements which are not easy since he has two small children, & so small a house that providing suitability for a housekeeper will be difficult. On the balance of risks and inconveniences I am not sure whether the celibacy of the clergy won't win finally on its practical merits! I went to St Gabriel's, and there confirmed 124 candidates, more males than females, which is a gratifying novelty!

After the service we motored back to Auckland, where we arrived a few minutes before 10 p.m.

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