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Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Is touched by Smith’s frankness and by his sufferings. Suggests he would be strengthened by a visit to Downside. Dom Christopher Butler has been elected abbot. Hopes that Smith will put a paper together on Chaucer for the Literary Society. Is attracted by C. S. Lewis’s popular theology, but mistrusts him when he goes outside natural theology. Many of the writers he used to reject as worthless when he was a ‘rigid Leavisian’ he has since found helpful. Discusses the appeal of remarks by Lewis on The Merchant of Venice. Is disgusted by the ‘Eliot review’ [a review of Preston’s 'Four Quartets’ Rehearsed] in Scrutiny. Thanks him for his comments on the offprints. Sheed and Ward have agreed to publish an anthology of recusant prose, if he produces one. Asks for advice on the scheme of the book. Is sorry to hear that Parker is ill. Has not yet read Parker’s book. Thanks him for offering to call on Birrell.

Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Asks him to regard the invitation to Downside as a standing one, except for their two annual closed seasons. Sends two offprints of his own for comments. The Allegory of Love does not bring out C. S. Lewis’s best work, but he admires That Hideous Strength and Lewis’s popular theology lectures. Invites him to address the Literary Society again, perhaps on the 1300–1640 period which Smith is presently supervising. Asks if his friend Anthony Birrell might call on him. ‘He was at school here, got an exhibition in English at Downing & is now returning for a third year after the war.’