11 Walton Str[eet], Oxford. - Thanks Bob for his book of poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; read it in the Christmas 'rush', then lost it; has found again and enjoyed re-reading 'so much'; apologises for his delay in thanks. Enjoys the "Moretum" especially, which is a 'wonderful picture of the Dutch school'. Very kind of Bob to remember him. Clara [his wife] is well; four of the children are at home with whooping cough. Saw 'Aunt Molly McCarthy' recently when she was staying with the Cecils, and saw something of Betty [Muntz] when he was in Dorset in August, but otherwise has not heard news of Bob; looks out for him at the London Library, where they last met. Had a letter at Christmas from Oliver Lodge, now living in Gloucestershire; would like very much to visit him but it is difficult to leave home. Expecting David from Athens later in the year. Goes to London to teach each week; hopes he may see Bob there one day.
11 Walton Street, Oxford. - Thanks from himself and Clare for Bob's poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; they congratulate him on the birth of a grandson. Lists his favourite poems; also has Bob's epistle to Lady Allen, which he 'reread with pleasure'. Asks whether he ever hears from the Lodges; has had no news from them since they left the country, though received a copy of Oliver's "The Candle". They have had 'a Christening and a Christmas', and all the children but the baby have 'gone to stay with Hester in the country'. Clare recovered well [after the birth] and is 'back in her kitchen'; they find that 'just looking after ourselves takes up almost all our time', though he still works a little in his studio, and has Bob's Ward's "Anthology" [of English verse] and other books 'for recreation'. Tells him to let them know if he is ever in Oxford. Uncle Desmond and Aunt Molly [MacCarthy] are here staying with the Cecils, and Belloc came down early in the year.
Wadham College, Oxford.—Apologises for not writing sooner. Has been busy preparing for the prelims in March, which include a paper on Latin, two on Anglo-Saxon, and three on tragedy—Greek, Shakespearean, and neo-classical. Is unsure whether he likes Anglo-Saxon, and suspects they only learn it to ‘keep the dons at work’. His present tutors are [George] Forrest, [Alan] Ward, and [John] Bamborough; later this term they will have Humphry House for the Poetics. Five people are taking prelims in English at Wadham this year. Refers to the college’s connections with twentieth-century literature through C. Day Lewis, Rex Warner, and Humbert Wolfe, and discusses lectures he has been attending by Miss [Pamela] Gradon, Dorothy Whitelock, House, Helen Gardner, and Lord David Cecil. Describes his rooms and gives his impressions of the college. Has joined three clubs: the English Club, the Poetry Society, and University Critical Club. The English Club engages people like James Laver (on Huysmans), Angus Wilson, Richard Church, and Louis Macneice to talk or read poems. The last talk, by J. I. M. Stewart on ‘Literature and the New Psychology’, was very bad. The Poetry Society is an ‘Art-y affair, favouring the modern romantic verse’. Their first meeting, featuring readings by Clifford Dyment and his wife, was ‘frightful’. ‘We also have Patrick [sic] Dickinson, Day Lewis and a production of Macneice’s Eclogues (with music) besides other things to come.’ The Critical Society is ‘a somewhat elusive organization’ sponsored by F. W. Bateson. Has only attended one of their meetings so far, a talk by Leavis on Yeats’s Byzantium poems, which was excellent. ‘The other two talks this term are D. W. Harding on Shelley, and Wilson Knight re-interpreting the Scholar Gipsy, which should be interesting. There are also two discussion groups on William Faulkner’s “Sanctuary” and Langland.’ Refers to some recent book bargains. Is reading Coningsby, which is disappointing. Asks how Smith’s lectures on the Nineties are proceeding and whether his promised assistance has come. There is a revival of interest in Ezra Pound. Will try to describe some of the ‘fancy-waistcoated gentlemen themselves’ in his next letter. Asks whether Smith did any travelling this summer, as planned.