The Henson Journals

[277]

Friday, December 10th, 1926.

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The papists in Seaham Harbour have organized a series of "Sermons on the Catholic Faith", and the parson, Appleton, is much exercised thereupon. He writes to me suggesting that he should organize a "Teaching Mission" in the autumn of 1928, & asks me to "suggest some really able Teacher". I don't know anybody who is not either an "Anglo–Catholick" or a "Christian Socialist", or both! Why can't he leave well alone. The one effective argument which the Papists possess – the bright eyes of the Irish girls – is inaccessible to his teaching!

I did actually make a start in writing the Earl Grey lecture: but not very successfully. The fact is that I am still uncertain as to my own intentions!! However it is something to have started.

Mrs Hedley and her daughter lunched here, & then went off with Ella to another of these incessant bazaars. I walked round the Park, & was rewarded by another amazing sunset.

N. B. I paid £131.13.0 to John Peed & Son for the rhododendrons, and some trees. If they grow, it is well enough: but if not?

If the gardeners' wages, the cost of coke, manure, & cartage, & the bills for seeds etc be added together the expenditure on the garden can hardly amount to less than £500 per annum. The repairs of the Castle, the quinquennial dilapidates, & the rates & taxes cannot be placed at less than £800. The cost of the car, and salaries of chaplains & secretaries together with "office expenses" amount to at least £1100. So that before the House–hold expenses, & the personal charges are faced, I must expend £2400. The rates & taxes (apart from the Castle) amount to about £1600. Thus some £4000 per annum has to be expended in manners which I cannot control, and the maintenance of my household, my personal expenditure including subscriptions etc, have to be provided out of less than half my income.

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