Typed Letter Signed to [Brian?] Mercer, [Secretary,?] Royal Society of Arts; together with a carbon of the Typed Letter to which it is a reply.

British Poet Laureate (1904-72). Day-Lewis's letter, 1 page, 8vo. On grey paper. Good, but lightly creased and with a few staple holes. Thanks Mercer for the 'kind invitation'. 'I am afraid I could not manage to prepare the paper you suggest for January 24, since I have to be busy till near the end of this year on a play.' Suggests deferment to February or March. Signed 'C. Day Lewis'. Docketed by '' on 24 July 1961, 'We can offer other times, I think, in March.' and with 'Mar 21 | 2.30' beneath this in pencil. The unsigned carbon of Mercer's letter (one page, 4to, on yellow paper) explains the context. He invites Day-Lewis to deliver the Peter Le Neve Foster Lecture, 'which frequently covers some aspect of literature'. The Society's Council have asked him 'to write and ask if you would do them the honour of delivering this Lecture next Session on "Poetry for the Public".' Suggests date and fee (ten guineas) and explains that a 'typescript of not more than 5,000 words for publication in our Journal' is required at least a fortnight in advance. Two items,