The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson – Swanston Edition. Volume 24

We are at Chabassière’s, for of course it was nonsense to go up the hill when we could not walk.

The child’s poems in a far extended form are likely soon to be heard of – which Cummy I dare say will be glad to know. They will make a book of about one hundred pages. – Ever your affectionate,

R. L. S.

To Sidney Colvin

I had reported to Stevenson a remark made by one of his greatest admirers, Sir E. Burne-Jones, on some particular analogy, I forget what, between a passage of Defoe and one in Treasure Island.

[Hotel Chabassière, Royat, July 1884.]

… Here is a quaint thing, I have read Robinson, Colonel Jack, Moll Flanders, Memoirs of a Cavalier, History of the Plague, History of the Great Storm, Scotch Church and Union. And there my knowledge of Defoe ends – except a book, the name of which I forget, about Peterborough in Spain, which Defoe obviously did not write, and could not have written if he wanted. To which of these does B. J. refer? I guess it must be the history of the Scottish Church. I jest; for, of course, I know it must be a book I have never read, and which this makes me keen to read – I mean Captain Singleton. Can it be got and sent to me? If Treasure Island is at all like it, it will be delightful. I was just the other day wondering at my folly in not remembering it, when I was writing T. I., as a mine for pirate tips. T. I. came out of Kingsley’s At Last, where I got the Dead Man’s Chest – and that was the seed – and out of the great Captain Johnson’s History of Notorious Pirates. The scenery is Californian in part, and in part chic.

I was downstairs to-day! So now I am a made man – till the next time.

R. L. Stevenson.

If it was Captain Singleton, send it to me, won’t you?

Later.– My life dwindles into a kind of valley of the shadow picnic. I cannot read; so much of the time (as to-day) I must not speak above my breath, that to play patience, or to see my wife play it, is become the be-all and the end-all of my dim career. To add to my gaiety, I may write letters, but there are few to answer. Patience and Poesy are thus my rod and staff; with these I not unpleasantly support my days.

I am very dim, dumb, dowie, and damnable. I hate to be silenced; and if to talk by signs is my forte (as I contend), to understand them cannot be my wife’s. Do not think me unhappy; I have not been so for years; but I am blurred, inhabit the debatable frontier of sleep, and have but dim designs upon activity. All is at a standstill; books closed, paper put aside, the voice, the eternal voice of R. L. S., well silenced. Hence this plaint reaches you with no very great meaning, no very great purpose, and written part in slumber by a heavy, dull, somnolent, superannuated son of a bedpost.

To W. E. Henley

I suppose, but cannot remember, that I had in the meantime sent him Captain Singleton.

[Hotel Chabassière, Royat, July 1884.]

DEAR BOY, – I am glad that – has disappointed you. Depend upon it, nobody is so bad as to be worth scalping, except your dearest friends and parents; and scalping them may sometimes be avoided by scalping yourself. I grow daily more lymphatic and benign; bring me a dynamiter, that I may embrace and bless him! – So, if I continue to evade the friendly hemorrhage, I shall be spared in anger to pour forth senile and insignificant volumes, and the clever lads in the journals, not doubting of the eye of Nemesis, shall mock and gird at me.

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1

For many years fellow of and historical lecturer at Trinity College, Cambridge.

2

Paillon.

3

The name of the Delectable Land in one of Heine’s Lieder.

4

Silverado Squatters.

5

The allusion is to a specimen I had been used to hear quoted of the Duke of Wellington’s table-talk in his latter years. He had said that musk-rats were sometimes kept alive in bottles in India. Curate, or other meek dependent: “I presume, your Grace, they are small rats and large bottles.” His Grace: “No, large rats, small bottles; large rats, small bottles; large rats, small bottles.”

6

Croûtes: crude studies from nature.

7

Mr. J. Comyns Carr, at this time editing the English Illustrated Magazine.

8

A favourite Skye terrier. Mr. Stevenson was a great lover of dogs.

9

The essay so called, suggested by the death of J. W. Ferrier. See Memories and Portraits.

35

Originally printed upside-down.

36

Originally printed upside-down.

37

Originally printed sideways.

38

Originally printed sideways.

39

Originally printed sideways.

40

Originally printed sideways.

41

Originally printed sideways.