Item D28 - Typescript letter signed from Prof. Henry Commager, Rye New York, to Benians

C and his wife's thoughts and affections never far from Cambridge. C writing about Pitt Chair - may be that it decided to give Chair permanently to English scholar, which C would regret. C went to annual meeting of American historians in Washington and talked with several people about American history in England. Sounded out 2 of most distinguished scholars in country about Cambridge and Oxford and both eager to go over. First is John D. Hicks, whose Populist Revolt B may know, one of 8 or 10 outstanding American historians in country, leading Turner disciple, with long and brilliant academic record. He dean of graduate faculties at Wisconsin then Professor of History and dean of graduate school at California. He now writing - finishing book on California, then do volume for C's history series. As professor and author of perhaps most widely used text book in country Hicks has no financial worries. Still in fifties, vigorous, delightful companion, man of great intellectual integrity. He free 1950-51 and be happy to go to Cambridge. Second is Dixon Wecter, director of research at Huntingdon Institution - author of more books than you could read in a month and few hundred articles, tremendous worker. Rhodes scholar in 20s, author of book on Burke, on American society, the hero in America, Depression decade, problems of demobilisation, editor of Mark Twain papers, biographer to be of Twain and Howells. He's the man C and Nevins wanted at Columbia. He an Anglophile and happy to go to Cambridge or Oxford. He's going to California so he and Hicks couldn't both leave at same time - could get Wecter for 1951-52. C almost willing to offer himself as candidate for 1952-53. C thinking of sending his son Steele to Cambridge then, and C has sabbatical that year. Hopes B's wife feeling fit again - Evan (C's wife) misses her. They be back to see them - B knows C can't stay away from Cambridge for long and he'll find some excuse to visit in year or so.