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paper were a desirable finish to the number； and that the
substitutes of occasional essays by occasional contributors somehow
fail to fill the bill。 Should you differ with me on this point； no
more is to be said。 And what follows must be regarded as lost
words。
2nd。 I am rather taken with the idea of continuing the work。 For
instance； should you have no distaste for papers of the class
called RANDOM MEMORIES； I should enjoy continuing them （of course
at intervals）； and when they were done I have an idea they might
make a readable book。 On the other hand； I believe a greater
freedom of choice might be taken； the subjects more varied and more
briefly treated； in somewhat approaching the manner of Andrew Lang
in the SIGN OF THE SHIP； it being well understood that the broken
sticks method is one not very suitable （as Colonel Burke would say）
to my genius； and not very likely to be pushed far in my practice。
Upon this point I wish you to condense your massive brain。 In the
last lot I was promised； and I fondly expected to receive； a vast
amount of assistance from intelligent and genial correspondents。 I
assure you； I never had a scratch of a pen from any one above the
level of a village idiot； except once； when a lady sowed my head
full of grey hairs by announcing that she was going to direct her
life in future by my counsels。 Will the correspondents be more
copious and less irrelevant in the future？ Suppose that to be the
case； will they be of any use to me in my place of exile？ Is it
possible for a man in Samoa to be in touch with the great heart of
the People？ And is it not perhaps a mere folly to attempt； from so
hopeless a distance； anything so delicate as a series of papers？
Upon these points； perpend； and give me the results of your
perpensions。
3rd。 The emolument would be agreeable to your humble servant。
I have now stated all the PROS； and the most of the CONS are come
in by the way。 There follows； however； one immense Con （with a
capital 'C'）； which I beg you to consider particularly。 I fear
that； to be of any use for your magazine； these papers should begin
with the beginning of a volume。 Even supposing my hands were free；
this would be now impossible for next year。 You have to consider
whether； supposing you have no other objection； it would be worth
while to begin the series in the middle of a volume； or desirable
to delay the whole matter until the beginning of another year。
Now supposing that the CONS have it； and you refuse my offer； let
me make another proposal； which you will be very inclined to refuse
at the first off…go； but which I really believe might in time come
to something。 You know how the penny papers have their answers to
correspondents。 Why not do something of the same kind for the
'culchawed'？ Why not get men like Stimson； Brownell； Professor
James； Goldwin Smith； and others who will occur to you more readily
than to me； to put and to answer a series of questions of
intellectual and general interest； until at last you should have
established a certain standard of matter to be discussed in this
part of the Magazine？
I want you to get me bound volumes of the Magazine from its start。
The Lord knows I have had enough copies； where they are I know not。
A wandering author gathers no magazines。
THE WRECKER is in no forrader state than in last reports。 I have
indeed got to a period when I cannot well go on until I can refresh
myself on the proofs of the beginning。 My respected collaborator；
who handles the machine which is now addressing you； has indeed
carried his labours farther； but not； I am led to understand； with
what we used to call a blessing； at least； I have been refused a
sight of his latest labours。 However； there is plenty of time
ahead； and I feel no anxiety about the tale； except that it may
meet with your approval。
All this voyage I have been busy over my TRAVELS； which； given a
very high temperature and the saloon of a steamer usually going
before the wind； and with the cabins in front of the engines； has
come very near to prostrating me altogether。 You will therefore
understand that there are no more poems。 I wonder whether there
are already enough； and whether you think that such a volume would
be worth the publishing？ I shall hope to find in Sydney some
expression of your opinion on this point。 Living as I do among …
not the most cultured of mankind （'splendidly educated and perfect
gentlemen when sober'） … I attach a growing importance to friendly
criticisms from yourself。
I believe that this is the most of our business。 As for my health；
I got over my cold in a fine style； but have not been very well of
late。 To my unaffected annoyance； the blood…spitting has started
again。 I find the heat of a steamer decidedly wearing and trying
in these latitudes； and I am inclined to think the superior
expedition rather dearly paid for。 Still； the fact that one does
not even remark the coming of a squall； nor feel relief on its
departure； is a mercy not to be acknowledged without gratitude。
The rest of the family seem to be doing fairly well； both seem less
run down than they were on the EQUATOR； and Mrs。 Stevenson very
much less so。 We have now been three months away； have visited
about thirty…five islands； many of which were novel to us； and some
extremely entertaining； some also were old acquaintances； and
pleasant to revisit。 In the meantime； we have really a capital
time aboard ship； in the most pleasant and interesting society； and
with （considering the length and nature of the voyage） an excellent
table。 Please remember us all to Mr。 Scribner； the young chieftain
of the house； and the lady； whose health I trust is better。 To
Mrs。 Burlingame we all desire to be remembered； and I hope you will
give our news to Low； St。 Gaudens； Faxon； and others of the
faithful in the city。 I shall probably return to Samoa direct；
having given up all idea of returning to civilisation in the
meanwhile。 There； on my ancestral acres； which I purchased six
months ago from a blind Scots blacksmith； you will please address
me until further notice。 The name of the ancestral acres is going
to be Vailima； but as at the present moment nobody else knows the
name； except myself and the co…patentees； it will be safer； if less
ambitious； to address R。 L。 S。； Apia； Samoa。 The ancestral acres
run to upwards of three hundred； they enjoy the ministrations of
five streams； whence the name。 They are all at the present moment
under a trackless covering of magnificent forest； which would be
worth a great deal if it grew beside a railway terminus。 To me； as
it stands； it represents a handsome deficit。 Obliging natives from
the Cannibal Islands are now cutting it down at my expense。 You
would be able to run your magazine to much greater advantage i