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Downing College, Cambridge.—Urges him to publish a collection of his essays. There is a large public for literary criticism, owing to the increase in the number of English schools. Would use his influence with the CUP, though he thinks Chatto’s would be better. If Smith wanted later to do a Shakespeare book, there would be nothing against including previously collected essays. ‘I rage when I think of the Kermodes[,] Darbys, Knightses & Holloways bringing out their stuff, when, for the most part, your essays can’t be got at. Willey replies that he agrees with me about Amis (so I’ve something to use), but he says nothing about Williams.’

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Writing again today as he has been reading "Aftermath" and discovered several new poems of Bob's which he likes 'as much as any'. Asks if Bob has read "The Seventeenth Century Background', by Basil Willie [sic: Willey], the history book which has most interested him in recent years; was reminded of it when reading Bob's "The Spirit of Man" in "Aftermath"; will show it to him when he comes.

[St Paul Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota.]—Responds to Smith’s comments on D. H. Lawrence. Has heard from Wilfrid, Dennis, Morley, and Preston about the latest number of 'Scrutiny', which seems to be characterised by bickering. Preston wishes Smith were at Cambridge ‘to keep Leavis’s – and "Scrutiny"’s – aberrations under control’. Leavis’s undergraduates, including [Eric] Baker and [Godfrey] Lienhardt, are turning away from him. The cause seems to be Leavis’s sudden turn against Eliot, whose critical writing he declared, during an address by Willey to the Doughty Society, to be ‘largely specious’. Traversi is back from Italy and Harding’s prestige is growing. Queenie is much better, but Leavis is depressed by the change at Cambridge caused by the call-up of the nineteen-year-olds. Dennis, who has almost given up English in favour of gardening, says that Stephen Spender is now ‘our top poet’ and that ‘no one loves Auden anymore’, while everyone is disclaiming their communism and Churchill is popular with nearly every plane of opinion. Reflects on his reading of Jonson, Plautus, and Terence. Is becoming reconciled to the seminary. Compares favourably the readings appointed for Holy Saturday with modernist poems.

Pembroke College, Cambridge.—Supports Smith’s candidature for the chair of English at Fribourg. Though he does not know him personally, his published work testifies to his wide knowledge of literature, his keen critical intelligence, and his linguistic powers. Refers to his own links with another Swiss university and his interest in promoting intellectual discourse between the two countries.