I was quite surprised to find that tlie public orator was Godley, 

 whose Lyra Frivola you have often heard me quote; hke most hu- 

 mourists he is a very solemn and lugubrious looking person. I said to 

 him, when I was introduced: "I understand that you are going to hbel 

 me today," to which he answered: "At least, it will be in the decent 

 obscurity of a dead language." As a matter of fact, he did libel me and 

 declared that I had spent three years in Patagonia! That base calumny 

 I shall never be able to live down. 



The next thing on the programme was a beautiful luncheon, beauti- 

 fully served in the library of All Souls College, very enjoyable despite 

 the rather dreary speeches, of which the most tolerable was made by 

 Lord Curzon, Chancellor of the University, This was followed by a 

 garden party at Wadham, and in the evening I went to a dinner given 

 by Poulton in the hall of Jesus College, which was delightful. Bed was 

 very welcome after a strenuous and most memorable day. 



Saturday and Sunday I remained at Oxford as the guest of Sollas, 

 meeting at his house Brogger, Dollo and de Geer. Monday morning I 

 returned to London and wound up my affairs there and dined with a 

 dear old lady of whom I have been very fond ever since my student 

 days, when she and her husband were extremely kind to me. Tuesday 

 at noon I took the special train for Liverpool and sailed shortly after 

 five. 



If anything could reconcile me to a sea voyage, it would be this ship, 

 which is by far the most luxurious and comfortable I have ever been in. 

 It is my incredible good fortune to have my cabin to myself; the man 

 who had the other berth came aboard at Queenstown, but fled incon- 

 tinently at sight of me, demanding another room, which the purser gave 

 him. 



There, I have actually taken time from my absorbing and exacting 

 occupations to write you this brilliant letter and I hope you will be 

 duly grateful for your privileges. 



With kindest remembrances to Mrs. Smyth and your Mother, I am. 



Very sincerely yours, 



W. B. Scott. 



My stay in England was only about a fortnight in length and yet in 

 that short time I was greatly struck by the venomous hatred of nearly 

 all the people of the upper classes with whom I talked toward Lloyd 

 George, in particular, and the whole Asquith government, in general. 



C 295 3 



