The Henson Journals

[230]

Saturday, April 10th, 1926.

The poet Browning attempted an unfavourable interpretation of Wiseman's character in his "Bishop Blougram's Apology" (first published in Browning's "Men and Women" 1855): "Sylvester Blougram", Browning's bishop, was undoubtedly intended for Wiseman, but Blougram's worldly & self–indulgent justification of his successful pursuit of the clerical career in the Roman catholic church [sic], although dramatically most effective, cannot be accepted as a serious description of Wiseman's aims in life or conduct. According to Father Prout, Wiseman in "The Rambler" temperately reviewed "Men & Women" on its publication, & favourably noticed "Bishop Blougram's Apology" as a masterly intellectual achievment [sic], although he regarded it as an assault on the ground–works of religion.

v. Dict. of N.B. Art. "Wiseman."

Robertson of Brighton died two years before "Bishop Blougram's Apology" was published. He was the precise contradiction of that comfortable prelate.

[231]

Whatsoever the world thinks, he who hath not much meditated upon God, the human mind, and the summum bonum, may possibly make a thriving earthworm, but will most indubitably make a sorry patriot and a sorry statesman.

Bishop Berkeley. Sirio 350.

These words are printed as a kind of text on the first page of Tawney's " Religion & the Rise of Capitalism," a very notable & admirably written book which I finished reading through today.

I worked at the Brighton Sermon most of the morning, but with woefully small success. After lunch I walked in the Park with Lionel, & looked on at a football match.

Spedding came to see me at 6 p.m., & did some more "adjustment" in my comfortless jaws.

I read again Browning's "Bishop Blougram's Apology," & was more than ever impressed by its power & insight. Indeed, could I reasonably resent the substitution of "Henson" for "Blougram", and the application of the cynical argument to the case of the present holder of the see of Durham?

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