The Henson Journals

[89]

Friday, June 20th, 1930.

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Another stifling and nearly sleepless night, and by consequence, I felt very limp and loose! I shared the taxi with the Bishop of Chester from the Athenaeum to the Church House.

After some indispensable business had been completed, the debate on Colonel Martin's motion was resumed. I led off with a 20 minutes speech which was much applauded. The speaking was mainly on the same side, and, finally the motion was carried with few dissentients. Then I called on Caröe, only to find him absent. Alban was there. I lunched at [symbol] the Athenaeum with Bishop Eden, the late Bishop of Wakefield. He had been in the gallery of the Church House, & heard my speech of which he expressed warm approval. After lunch I walked to Sackville Street and had my clothes tried on. Then I paid another visit to the Royal Academy: my portrait pleased me less than on the former occasion, but why I cannot imagine. Then I visited the National Portrait Gallery in order to see Goya's portrait of Wellington [90] [symbol] painted just after the Battle of Salamanca when the duke was a young man. He has a curiously startled look. This is the most interesting collection in London for the student of history. I went back to the Athenaeum, and had tea, after which I wrote my daily letter to Ella.

Athelstan Riley was in the Club, and fastened himself upon me. He has become strangely affectionate to me lately, but, if he imagines that I abate anything of my dislike for his absurd ecclesiasticism, he is woefully mistaken. He extracted a promise from me that I would dine with him on July 15th to meet some of his precious Patriarchs: and he pressed me so hard to promise to visit him in Jersey next year that I found it difficult to refuse. The truth is that I shrink from sea–passage. Even to enjoy the difficult hospitality of an ardent Anglo–Catholick. I am not to be brought twice over to the woeful experience of mal de mer!

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