Convent of Our Lady of Lourdes, Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Congratulates him on his nomination to the chair at Fribourg; he had been wondering whether to make inquiries through the Holy Ghost Fathers there—where de Winton is—and only yesterday had been sharing recollections of the place with the Bishop of Lancaster [T. E. Flynn]. Thinks Aunt Hannah will be at home there. Will start saving for a visit next year. Is glad that they [Smith and his aunt] are going to the South Coast for a holiday. Smith will be relieved that his examination work is coming to an end. Is thinking of going to St Edmund’s House in August, at the invitation of the present rector [Corboy], and asks whether Smith will be in Cambridge then. Encourages him to write to Hanrahan directly.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Apologises for not replying earlier. Urges him not to worry about the way in which he (Smith) wrote, or about his spiritual state. ‘Fribourg has greatly disappointed me. I think we can thank the British Council for jamming up the works.’ Discusses Harding’s idea of Eliot’s ‘new concepts’, and responds to Smith’s remarks on the Chester miracle plays. Will try again to ‘produce something’. They have had a flood of visitors since Easter, and he has been helping two French girls (nieces of the Mother General, who has been staying there) with their English. Reflects on the qualities of Newman’s Apologia. Urges Smith to produce ‘something really first-rate on the paths on English though[t] from its philosophers thro’ its more purely “literary” writers’.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Is disappointed that Smith has had no news from Fribourg yet, but glad that he has more pupils. Hopes he will soon be released from marking examination papers. Dickinson’s brother Paul, who visited recently on leave from Germany, has been working among displaced persons and running a review which introduces Catholics to European writers they could not know in Nazi days, including [G. M.] Hopkins, whom his brother admires. Is concerned that Eliot’s Four Quartets may have been taken as a substitute for religion, and objects to the stance taken in Scrutiny towards their theological elements. Queries Smith’s use of the term ‘new concepts’. In preparing to explain the Psalms to his nuns, he has been struck by the generosity of Catholic critics, towards non-Catholic scholars, particularly [A. F.] Kirkpatrick. Thanks him for his kind remarks about his Christmas carol. Has been working on something more ambitious, but has been hampered by other work and lack of inspiration.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Has mislaid Smith’s last letter. Sends a belated testimonial [2/5] from Father Petit, who is preoccupied with the founding of a seminary in Nottinghamshire. Hanrahan is sure that Fribourg will give Smith an adequate salary, which might be supplemented by work at local finishing-schools. Would like to do more writing (he started writing verse again seriously two or three years ago), but lacks the necessary strength and solitude at present. Is busy with Christmas activities. ‘You will be examining, not so amusing, I’m afraid, but I hope you are keeping up your spirits.’ Sends news of [H. S.] Vaughan, a contemporary at Downing, who has asked after Smith.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Thanks him for various letters and enclosures, one of which was providentially delivered without a stamp. Will return the Newman Society letters to Hanrahan and show him the copies of Smith’s testimonials [for the chair at Fribourg]. ‘They are really first-rate. I’m very glad of T. S. Eliot’s.’ Discusses the testimonials, the salary offered, and the conditions of life and culture in Switzerland. Suggests that Smith’s aunt would benefit from a stay at Boarbank. His own ‘little change’ did him good.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands, Lancs.—Asks him to return Hanrahan’s papers, when convenient. Has just had a ‘quiet little rest at home’.
‘As from’ Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Is glad that Leavis is supporting Smith’s candidature [for the chair at Fribourg]. ‘If you get a backing from T. S. Eliot, I should think you will be home.’ Thinks he has enough ecclesiastical backing. ‘It was news to me that Fr. J. B. Reeves received you [into the Church].’ Encloses information from Hanrahan about the Newman Society’s involvement with the appointment, and urges him to apply immediately. Has heard via D[ouglas] Woodruff that the salary is £500 a year.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands, Lancs.—Is glad that Smith plans to apply for the post at Fribourg, and gives advice. Sympathises with his troubles and those of his aunt, who he is sorry to hear is unwell. Is disappointed in Leavis, whom he had thought above anti-Catholic bias, but it seems that everywhere useful people—like Father Britt-Compton, who did much of the work in the Geography faculty during the war—are being dropped when ‘those of the more favoured colours’ come along. ‘Leavis … has spoken to me in the most glowing terms of you—that you were too good for the English faculty and that they wouldn’t let you in, in case you showed them up, etc. Of course, I know he thought you should have swallowed the British Minister(?) in Venezuela, or played up to him. Personally, I’m heartily glad that you are out of that hell-hole.’ Recommends a dentist in London. Asks about Smith’s writing, and hopes he will soon be free from examination papers.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands, Lancs.—Has learned from Father Petit of Smith’s return to Cambridge. Encloses news from Father Hanrahan of a vacant chair at Fribourg and refers to his own experience of the place. Hanrahan has also written to Fathers Gilbey, Corbishley, and Martindale. Has now been chaplain at Boarbank Hall, a convalescent home for insurance patients, for four years. Encourages Smith to come and stay if he ever needs a few days’ peace.
Downing College, [Cambridge].—Hopes that Smith had an agreeable journey back to Switzerland. Is frustrated that, renewing their acquaintance after a long interval, they had only begun to talk with ease again during their last walk together, particularly as he felt unable to accept Smith’s invitation to work with him in Fribourg. Has told Ian Doyle that Smith is looking for an assistant. Doyle himself is looking for a place and he also knows some Downing graduates (‘Catholics, I believe’) who might be interested. Doyle recently returned to Cambridge, but is leaving next year, as he has not got on with Leavis. Leavis will probably be blamed for Doyle’s departure, but Bewley thinks it only fair to point out that Doyle has been the centre of a ‘whispering campaign’ against Leavis and has made a secret alliance with Cuttle against Leavis’s plans to strengthen the links between Downing and America. Has had his first long conversation with Queenie, and found her charming. Refers to her complimentary remarks about Smith. Encourages Smith to send some of his essays to American quarterlies, particularly as there is a general absence of good Catholic writers. Has not yet been able to generate much enthusiasm for his thesis and is unsettled about where to live.
These testimonials were provided in connection with Smith’s application for the chair of English at the University of Fribourg in 1946. Smith also received a testimonial from T. S. Eliot (see 1/40), which is now at the University of Virginia.
Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Hopes he is enjoying a rest after last term. Eliot’s British Academy lecture apparently contained ‘some startling recantations … which will flutter the Scrutiny dove-cotes’. Recommends O. J. Campbell’s Comicall Satyre and Shakespeare’s ‘Troilus and Cressida’. Moreno is going to lecture in Spain this summer. He was in great form when he visited Downside in January. Has started to collect material for his recusant anthology. Asks for news of ‘the Fribourg affair’.