[St Paul Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota.]—Has learnt that Smith was given a civic reception on his arrival in Venezuela. Birch [Moody] has been transferred to Africa, Wilfrid and Dennis have become firefighters, and Illingworth is training as a mental nurse for soldiers. Remi Preston reviewed 'The Pool of Vishnu' [by L. H. Myers] unfavourably in the 'Dublin Review'. Wilfrid is happy about his marriage and is thinking of buying a pony and trap to transport fertiliser to his farm near the Malvern Hills. Harding is to publish an answer to Bewley’s note on Coleridge. Three of Queenie’s relatives have died [in an air-raid]. Daniel Rowe is a physical training teacher in the army. Dennis is ‘cultivating (perhaps even romantically) the acquaintance of a young Irish painter named Maureen’. Wilfrid’s new protegé is a sculptor named Walter Ritchie, a former student of Eric Gill who is going to prison shortly for conscientious objection. Leavis and Eliot have been reconciled after the former’s defence of 'East Coker' in the 'Times Literary Supplement'. The foundations of his spirituality have been shaken rather than built up at the seminary, but he cannot conceive any alternative except the horror of being ‘turned out’ in America again. Is eager to hear of any possibility of ‘anything in the East’. Is having the 'Catholic Worker' sent to Smith, though his interest in it has declined. Finds it difficult to speak to the other seminarians, except Henri Dulac, who is exceptionally intelligent. Is encouraged by recalling how he survived a previous emotional crisis at Cambridge and by the positive change in Illingworth’s fortunes.
Excelsior Springs, Missouri.—Is relieved to hear from him. He intends to return to the seminary, but with reluctance. Now that Russia has entered the war it is difficult to anticipate the Church’s actions. ‘The Pope is quite capable, I think, of blessing a banner for Hitler to carry in front of his army in the new Holy War.’ Is sorry Smith was upset by the news of Leavis and his undergraduates. [Godfrey] Lienhardt is making a name for himself by his views on 'Lear'. In helping Henri [Dulac] with a essay on Leavis he was struck by how useful the narrow critical range of the early reviews in 'Scrutiny' is in giving young men [sic] ‘control over a critical equipment, not too difficult to master, without which they would probably be left inextricably tangled in bibliographies like Henn used to present his students’. Discusses the June number. Apologises for his manner of presenting his views on Lawrence and dissents from Leavis’s estimation of him as a literary critic. Asks Smith to recommend criticism of Shakespeare’s comedies and discusses Bradley’s 'Shakespearean Tragedy' and [Wilson Knight’s] 'The Wheel of Fire'. Asks his opinion of George Eliot, referring to Mrs Craik’s 'John Halifax, Gentleman'. Is finding it difficult to read and is depressed by a sense of deteriorating value in literature and the Church. Sends a photo of himself and Dulac.