Showing 144 results

The collection mainly consists of letters to Smith from various friends and acquaintances, most of them literary scholars or Catholics or both. There are also five testimonials written for Smith in support of his application for the chair of English at the University of Fribourg in 1946 and three items apparently added to the papers by accident.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Would like to see his articles, and asks him to send them as they appear. Encloses a prospectus for the [Downside] Review and asks him to pass it to possible contributors. Discusses Cressy’s Sancta Sophia. Refers to Warwick Bond [editor of Lyly, etc.] and to certain articles by Croll [see 1/101]. ‘I wonder if [Thomas] Nash derives from some derivative vestige of the “homely-idiomatic-pulpit-medieval style”?’ Recommends a review of Baskerville’s Suppression of the Monasteries.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Sympathises with his hesitation to go to Budapest or Warsaw, and hopes that the British Council will find something more congenial. Thanks him for information about a 1670 recusant book. Responds to his remarks on Dom Illtyd’s writing and ‘heretic Scripture versions’. Intends to read Maritain on St Paul shortly. Has school-work to do.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Thanks him and his family for a pleasant weekend and describes his return journey. Sends postcards of the choir [at Downside]. Hopes he will find Victor White interesting. Suggests that Blackwell’s may have the numbers of Scrutiny he needs. Will pray that he gets a post which will keep him in Cambridge.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Responds to his inquiries about the academic dress he (Steuert) needs for graduation. Hopes that Smith’s interview with the [British] Council goes well and that he will be able to get congenial work in England. Moreno is now a lecturer at King’s College, London. Has much to discuss with him. ‘I’m afraid in many ways I’m no longer a thorough-going Leavisite.’

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Thanks him for agreeing to let him stay, and informs him when he expects to arrive and leave.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Is glad Smith is safely back in Cambridge. Hopes he will enjoy a long holiday and that the British Council will at last treat him generously. Asks to stay with him when he comes [to Cambridge] to take his MA degree. Father Mark hopes to see Smith during his stay with Father Bonnar. The Colosseum and Arena are defunct, but the «Dublin [Review] is still appearing. Dawson is to lecture on Religion and Culture'. Refers to Dawson’s Judgment of the Nations, the work of Maritain, and Gerald Vann’s St Thomas. Blackfriars still appears; he believes Leavis exchanges it for Scrutiny. Father Reeves has been succeeded [as superior of the Cambridge Dominicans] by Father Delany.

Downside Abbey, near Bath.—Is glad things have improved at Caracas and is impressed by the news that Smith has founded an institute. Despite getting a first in Part II [of the English Tripos] and the Stoll studentship [at Christ’s College] he is dissatisfied with his work, though he has appreciated Leavis’s supervision. Will miss his visits to Smith’s family. Father Grant has promised to call on Smith’s aunt. Has decided not to return to Cambridge but to research his chosen subject, the devotional prose of the Catholic recusants, at Downside; the subject of his Stoll paper, the medieval tradition in Shakespeare, deserves to be pursued by Smith himself. The boy he coached for a scholarship is not doing well at Cambridge but Dom Gerard [Hayes] has got a first; Brother Sebastian [Moore?] is also going to read English at Cambridge. Kenelm Foster, a Dante scholar, has come [to the Dominican friary] to take the place of Father Elrington, who has died. Relates an anecdote about Father Reeves, relating to a bust of Edward Bullough. Now that Edward Wilson is engaged elsewhere Moreno must find someone else to translate his thesis. Gives an account of the Corpus Christi procession.

Benet House, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge.—Asks him to suggest books for Part II of the English Tripos, and contrasts the approaches of Downs and Leavis. Asks whether he has heard any of the broadcasts to South America from Downside. Suggests that Bewley might be interested in St Anselm’s Priory, [Washington] DC. Gives accounts of visits to the Carmelites and to the Observatory.

Benet House, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge.—Sympathises with his difficulties. Has passed Part I of the English Tripos in the first class and has obtained a scholarship at Christ’s College. Smith’s family are in good health. Encloses an ordination card. Discusses Father Ryan, who has replaced Father Watkis at the parish church. Moreno’s lectureship has now expired but he is being paid for broadcasts to Spanish America. Praises Moreno’s family and refers wryly to the exploits attributed to ‘the Leavis progidy [sic]’ [Ralph]. Moreno has been visited by Wilson. Asks after Bewley and McLuhan.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Has heard news of him from his (Smith’s) aunt, whom he saw in Cambridge. Sympathises with Smith’s difficulties at Caracas and reflects on the role of suffering in the Catholic life. Hopes that his aunt will become interested in the Catholic faith. Discusses his relations with Edward Wilson (who has left Cambridge to begin war work), the Morenos, and the Leavises. Agrees that the dissatisfaction sometimes felt by Smith’s readers is largely due to defective critical training. Will draw Dom Illtyd’s attention to Smith’s Marlowe paper. Commends Smith’s point about Blake’s ‘equivocal’ Christianity. Hopes his asthma is yielding to treatment. Discusses his own prospects in the Tripos.

[St Paul Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota.]—Is writing briefly, in order to reach him before he leaves New York for South America. Is glad Smith has left England, as there is little to look forward to there, and in South America there will be more freedom from distractions. His own difficulties are ‘only those that a Cambridge undergraduate who read English under Leavis would tend to feel in a Middle Western seminary’, and some of the other seminarians exhibit ‘intelligence and perspicacity, even in a "Scrutiny" sense’. Encourages him to look up the 'Catholic Worker' in New York, as it is the most vital movement in the Church in America.

Benet House, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge.—Sends Christmas greetings and encloses a prayer. Asks whether it is justifiable to refer to Blake as a ‘Christian’ poet. Describes a visit with Wilson to the Carmelites at Waterbeach. No overt approaches have been made to Wilson’s religious position, but he seemed impressed by Father Bonnar. Smith’s aunt seems happy. Is enjoying this term’s work, particularly Leavis’s supervisions. Is often surprised by Leavis’s sympathy for Catholicism; once he even appeared to accept that the coarsening of Wordsworth’s sensibility would have been avoided if he had appreciated the Catholic doctrine of the mysti-cal body. Cambridge and Downside have both escaped serious air-raid damage. Hopes that Smith will have time to write articles. He now has no difficulty with his style, but is puzzled by his remarks on St Thomas’s method in his article on metaphysical poetry. Sends greetings to Bewley, and regrets that he was unable to profit from literary discussions with him when he knew him.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Is surprised to learn that Smith is still in England, and hopes that his difficulties will soon disappear. Quotes from his own compilation of prayers ‘for use when oppressed in mind & body’. Discusses types of breviary. Will be happy to help [E. M.] Wilson, as will Father Mark [Pontifex], and would like to meet Moreno [Báez]. He finds Smith’s style easier now and was convinced by his Webster article, but Dom Illtyd feels that elsewhere his arguments, though consistent, are not sufficiently founded in the texts. Has sent Leavis an article by Dom Illtyd expressing the reactions of a scholastic to the philosophical implications of Leavis’s literary position.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Is well, and the frequent air-raids have not damaged their property. Is sorry on his own account that Smith is leaving [for Venezuela], but thinks there will be good work for him to do there. Gives details of Benedictine congregations in South America and encloses a letter of introduction. Is glad he now has a breviary. Offers to call on his aunt. Encourages him to read Dawson. Refers to the significant effect of the Eucharistic Congress at Buenos Aires in 1935 on other South American republics.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Is relieved that he has not offended him, but is sorry to hear that Smith has fallen out with Father Reeves, and recommends the counsel of Father Bonnar. Thanks him for answering his questions, but the typescript was not enclosed. Is glad that he has written to Captain Walker, though the British withdrawal from the Continent may reduce his chances of getting government employment. ‘The boys have just gone away – that means reams of exam papers for you I suppose.’ Hopes that Smith will come to Downside soon, and that he will continue his work on Shakespeare.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Acknowledges that his last letter may have been inopportune, but hopes that Smith will consider his requests when he is rested. Argues against his opposition to the war, referring to Dawson’s articles in the Dublin Review, and suggests that the ‘irascible’ side of Smith’s nature is obstructing his reason. Is disappointed that Smith feels unable to use Hamson’s letter, as he thinks that employment in the War Office would be little different from employment as a state teacher, though he acknowledges that, given Smith’s opinions, he might find the atmosphere there intolerable. Has not been able to sound D. Christopher [Butler] on Mirfield. Air-raids are frequent. Recommends a place to buy breviaries and commends him for saying part of the Office daily. ‘If you can spare my type-script of your paper to the boys here I’d be glad to have it back.’ Bernard [Orchard] found Smith’s As You Like It article difficult to follow but ‘pregnant’.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Hopes he is doing well despite the air-raids, which they too have experienced. Is pleased that Christopher Dawson has become editor of the Dublin Review, and hopes that Smith will complete his article on Shakespeare in time for the October number, for the instruction of Doms Illtyd [Trethowan] and Bernard [Orchard]. The former is waiting for a letter from Smith on Aristotle. Is delighted that Bewley got a first and hopes he will find his vocation soon. Asks whether the ‘Mays’ [the Easter term examinations] were held; Downs has not been sending him the papers. Would like to discuss Nostromo with him. Is studying Eliot’s Elizabethan Essays and asks for a list of Smith’s articles on the subject. Is glad that his last letter was helpful.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Advises him to send Hamson’s letter [probably recommending Smith for work in the War Office] to Captain Walker quickly, if he is likely to be travelling for a month or two. Is sorry that he has been experiencing air-raids, and urges him not to worry. Encloses a rosary. ‘Ireland I fear is out of the question now. I’m not convinced that you ought to establish yourself there, but here I admit I speak without deliberation.’

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Commends him on the difficult decision he has made, and urges him not to let ‘painful “accidentals”’ like his aunt [Hannah Smith]’s welfare unsettle his peace of mind.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Campbell says the «Dublin Review» will be glad to receive Smith’s paper on Shakespearian criticism when he has revised it. Thanks him for putting his case before Leavis, and agrees to see Downs first. They return [to Cambridge] on Friday. Urges him not to worry.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Thanks him for his kind comments about his stay at Downside and hopes that his visit to the Davenports ended pleasantly. His oculist says there is nothing wrong with his eyes. Urges him to ‘go easy on’ the enclosed letter from Campbell [1/31] and emphasises the necessity for simplicity of style and explicitness in writing for the «Dublin Review». Recommends a chapter in Dawson’s Medieval Religion for Smith’s ‘Ixion’s wheel article’. Confirms that the angel in Holcombe church is modern. Thanks him for the two days he spent in Wells and Bath at Smith’s expense.

[St Paul Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota.]—Has come, at short notice, to study at the St Paul Seminary. The first week was miserable, but he has been persuaded to stay. The rector [Lawrence O. Wolf] has been sympathetic, while the archbishop [John Gregory Murray], who has plans for him to teach English at St Thomas College, intends to send him back to Cambridge to take a doctor’s degree when he finishes at St Paul’s and has arranged for him to read English alongside his other studies. Has found some of the other seminarians agreeable, or at least pleasant. Describes with approval the grounds and the chapel, but deplores the prevailing crudeness among the seminarians. Is glad to be isolated from news of the war. Is fairly certain he will remain where he is for five years and that his studies will prepare him for an important function, though he wants to preserve the possibility of literary studies. Acknowledges that without Smith’s support he would probably have lost his vocation, and asks him to inform Leavis of his present step. His books have only recently arrived. Gordon [Cox] has sent him accounts of ‘marches and drilling and meeting with the son of the Bishop of Birmingham [William P. W. Barnes]’. Asks to be remembered to various Cambridge Catholics.

Benet House, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge.—Is sorry Smith could not come to tea, but hopes he is recovering. The arrangement must be postponed till next term, as they go down [to Downside] on Friday. Asks him to let him know the result of his talk with Leavis if they do not meet tomorrow.

Richmond Lodge, Richmond Avenue, Milltown, Dublin.—Aunt Hannah has written to tell her how much she and her companions enjoyed their holiday with Smith in Switzerland. Bullard sent her ‘a sweet and daring card’, saying that William Empson is publishing a book on logic which has alarmed the publisher by its length. Has worked hard in the garden, but suspects that Aubrey, when he comes in the spring, will not notice. They drink beer in the garden every night, and she listens to witty conversations there, but can never think of anything to say herself. ‘Carew informed me a few days ago that there is only Right and Wrong in Mathematics.’ Sends Christmas greetings.

Richmond Lodge, Richmond Avenue, Milltown, Dublin.—It was kind of Aunt Hannah to invite her to stay, but she had to come home as she and Carew were missing each other. She met Bullard, and liked him as much as always, but was more terrified of him, as he ‘is always so right’. Refers to her awkward attempts to talk to him about logic and her own plays. The professor [Łukasiewicz] is recovering from a heart attack (‘The pity of it is that I believe that Ox-ford has been trying to get in touch with him’), and, as ‘Madame’ [his wife] is also ill, Sybil is going to do some cleaning for them. ‘Aubrey had a party for me on my way back from Cornwall. A chorus boy, Josephine Tweedy and her mother.’ Term starts today. ‘I ought to be weeding the garden, patching the sheets and getting on with my latest play.’

Richmond Lodge, Richmond Avenue, Milltown, Dublin.—She supposes that Smith is still in Cambridge, but expects that he will have gone [back to Switzerland] by the time she comes to England in October. Her mother has not been well. Is planning to visit Sophie, Oli Doveton, Michael Fordham, and Bullard. The professor [Łukasiewicz] told her yesterday that she was ‘always right’. She and Carew dined together at Jemmets, where Carew recalled a time when he and Smith drank a bottle of Benedictine together after working twenty-five hours on end. Discusses her work in the garden. Hopes Smith is finding lecturing easier, though she expects he wishes he had a small private income. ‘Aubrey says that Bullard must be the richest man in London now.’ For the first time in their lives she and Carew have enough to pay their bills. Asks for his address in Switzerland.

Richmond Lodge, Richmond Avenue, Milltown, Dublin.—Carew is still immersed in logic. He should to be preparing something for publication, but has apparently moved on to something new. He is going to publish something with the professor [Łukasiewicz], which is gratifying. Asks what Smith is working on. She herself has a cupboard of unfinished plays, but is going to try and finish her latest one. Aubrey enjoyed his visit, and, as he was without Josephine [Tweedy] this time, she saw more of him. ‘Apparently he shared a flat for some time with Angus and a woman called Marjorie Baron Russell who is an excellent cook and dedicated a cookery book to Aubrey.’ Discusses her crop of peas and her visit to the Sadlers Wells Ballet. Wishes to have his private address. The garden has been neglected, but she has been making clothes. Has been feeding the birds, and she shocked some visitors by referring to her ‘two dear little tits’.

Richmond Lodge, Richmond Avenue, Milltown, Dublin.—His sweet letter almost made up for the fact that he is not coming. Offers herself as his ‘Irish Pen Pal’, as Carew is too busy to write. Discusses the work they have done in the house and garden. Łukasiewicz she thinks ‘a very nice man’. His much-younger wife [Regina] was in the bombing of Poland and Germany and lost most of her friends and relations in the war, while her favourite nephew recently died from the effects of being in a concentration camp. She is therefore in a bad mental state and her only relief seems to be to drink whisky at the Shelburne Hotel, where Sybil has occasionally accom-panied her. If Smith decides to settle in Switzerland, the climate will be good for his asthma. Carew says mathematical logic ‘shows the same fishiness’ as mathematics, and says that he has heard of Bochensky [Joseph Bocheński], who was a pupil of Łukasiewicz. Aubrey is coming, but without his ‘young woman’ [Josephine Tweedy], as a room could not be found for her. Aubrey wants Sybil to take her to Cornwall this year, and they [Aubrey and Josephine] are going to Italy in the autumn. The young woman is very young, beautiful, and amusing. She has been acting for some time, but has recently been left some money and is thinking of becoming a doctor. She (Sybil Meredith) will be coming over alone in September, as Carew has neither the money nor the time. Hopes to see him then.

59 Redcliffe Road, S.W.10.—Thanks him for his offer to accommodate them [Carew and herself] if London was evacuated. They have always said they would go to Ireland but as they could not leave ‘GandP.’ till war was declared they would probably not be able to get there. ‘It has been unpleasant in London. Panic, Gas Masks, trenches, stretchers and food hoarding.’ Political affiliations seem more confused than ever and Ina [Una?] is ‘absolutely on the war path’.