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house to see a siva。 Finally； all the guests were packed off in a
trackless black night and down a road that was rather fitted for
the CURACOA than any human pedestrian； though to be sure I do not
know the draught of the CURACOA。 My ladies one and all desire to
be particularly remembered to our friends on board； and all look
forward； as I do myself； in the hope of your return。 … Yours
sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
And let me hear from you again！
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
1ST DEC。 '92。
。 。 。 I have a novel on the stocks to be called THE JUSTICE…CLERK。
It is pretty Scotch； the Grand Premier is taken from Braxfield …
（Oh； by the by； send me Cockburn's MEMORIALS） … and some of the
story is … well … queer。 The heroine is seduced by one man； and
finally disappears with the other man who shot him。 。 。 。 Mind you；
I expect the JUSTICE…CLERK to be my masterpiece。 My Braxfield is
already a thing of beauty and a joy for ever； and so far as he has
gone FAR my best character。
＇LATER。＇
Second thought。 I wish Pitcairn's CRIMINAL TRIALS QUAM PRIMUM。
Also； an absolutely correct text of the Scots judiciary oath。
Also； in case Pitcairn does not come down late enough； I wish as
full a report as possible of a Scotch murder trial between 1790…
1820。 Understand； THE FULLEST POSSIBLE。
Is there any book which would guide me as to the following facts？
The Justice…Clerk tries some people capitally on circuit。 Certain
evidence cropping up； the charge is transferred to the J。…C。's own
son。 Of course； in the next trial the J。…C。 is excluded； and the
case is called before the Lord…Justice General。
Where would this trial have to be？ I fear in Edinburgh； which
would not suit my view。 Could it be again at the circuit town？
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MRS。 JENKIN
DECEMBER 5TH； 1892。
MY DEAR MRS。 JENKIN； … 。 。 。 So much said； I come with guilty speed
to what more immediately concerns myself。 Spare us a month or two
for old sake's sake； and make my wife and me happy and proud。 We
are only fourteen days from San Francisco； just about a month from
Liverpool； we have our new house almost finished。 The thing CAN be
done； I believe we can make you almost comfortable。 It is the
loveliest climate in the world； our political troubles seem near an
end。 It can be done； it must！ Do； please； make a virtuous effort；
come and take a glimpse of a new world I am sure you do not dream
of； and some old friends who do often dream of your arrival。
Alas； I was just beginning to get eloquent； and there goes the
lunch bell； and after lunch I must make up the mail。
Do come。 You must not come in February or March … bad months。
From April on it is delightful。 … Your sincere friend；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO HENRY JAMES
DECEMBER 5TH； 1892。
MY DEAR JAMES； … How comes it so great a silence has fallen？ The
still small voice of self…approval whispers me it is not from me。
I have looked up my register； and find I have neither written to
you nor heard from you since June 22nd； on which day of grace that
invaluable work began。 This is not as it should be。 How to get
back？ I remember acknowledging with rapture the … of the MASTER；
and I remember receiving MARBOT： was that our last relation？
Hey； well！ anyway； as you may have probably gathered from the
papers； I have been in devilish hot water； and （what may be new to
you） devilish hard at work。 In twelve calendar months I finished
THE WRECKER； wrote all of FALESA but the first chapter （well； much
of）； the HISTORY OF SAMOA； did something here and there to my LIFE
OF MY GRANDFATHER； and began And Finished DAVID BALFOUR。 What do
you think of it for a year？ Since then I may say I have done
nothing beyond draft three chapters of another novel； THE JUSTICE…
CLERK； which ought to be shorter and a blower … at least if it
don't make a spoon； it will spoil the horn of an Aurochs （if that's
how it should be spelt）。
On the hot water side it may entertain you to know that I have been
actually sentenced to deportation by my friends on Mulinuu； C。 J。
Cedercrantz； and Baron Senfft von Pilsach。 The awful doom；
however； declined to fall； owing to Circumstances over Which。 I
only heard of it （so to speak） last night。 I mean officially； but
I had walked among rumours。 The whole tale will be some day put
into my hand； and I shall share it with humorous friends。
It is likely； however； by my judgment； that this epoch of gaiety in
Samoa will soon cease； and the fierce white light of history will
beat no longer on Yours Sincerely and his fellows here on the
beach。 We ask ourselves whether the reason will more rejoice over
the end of a disgraceful business； or the unregenerate man more
sorrow over the stoppage of the fun。 For； say what you please； it
has been a deeply interesting time。 You don't know what news is；
nor what politics； nor what the life of man； till you see it on so
small a scale and with your own liberty on the board for stake。 I
would not have missed it for much。 And anxious friends beg me to
stay at home and study human nature in Brompton drawing…rooms！
FARCEURS！ And anyway you know that such is not my talent。 I could
never be induced to take the faintest interest in Brompton QUA
Brompton or a drawing…room QUA a drawing…room。 I am an Epick
Writer with a k to it； but without the necessary genius。
Hurry up with another book of stories。 I am now reduced to two of
my contemporaries； you and Barrie … O； and Kipling … you and Barrie
and Kipling are now my Muses Three。 And with Kipling； as you know；
there are reservations to be made。 And you and Barrie don't write
enough。 I should say I also read Anstey when he is serious； and
can almost always get a happy day out of Marion Crawford … CE N'EST
PAS TOUJOURS LA GUERRE； but it's got life to it and guts； and it
moves。 Did you read the WITCH OF PRAGUE？ Nobody could read it
twice； of course； and the first time even it was necessary to skip。
E PUR SI MUOVE。 But Barrie is a beauty； the LITTLE MINISTER and
the WINDOW IN THRUMS； eh？ Stuff in that young man； but he must see
and not be too funny。 Genius in him； but there's a journalist at
his elbow … there's the risk。 Look； what a page is the glove
business in the WINDOW！ knocks a man flat； that's guts； if you
please。
Why have I wasted the little time that is left with a sort of naked
review article？ I don't know； I'm sure。 I suppose a mere
ebullition of congested literary talk I am beginning to think a
visit from friends would be due。 Wish you could come！
Let us have your news anyway； and forgive this silly stale
effusion。 … Yours ever；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO J。 M。 BARRIE
＇VAILIMA； DE