leasure I know. It does seem strange that these dependent
arts--singing, acting, and in its small way reading aloud seem the best
rewarded of all arts. I am sure it is more exciting for me to read than
it was for W. W. to write; and how much more must this be so with
singing.

_Friday._--I am going in the yacht on Wednesday. I am not right yet, and
I hope the yacht will set me up. I am too tired to-night to make more of
it. Good-bye.--Ever your faithful friend,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO SIDNEY COLVIN

_[Edinburgh, June 1874], Friday._

MY DEAR COLVIN,--I am seedy--very seedy, I may say. I am quite unfit for
any work or any pleasure; and generally very sick. I am going away next
week on Wednesday for my cruise which I hope will set me up again. I
should like a proof here up to Wednesday morning, or at Greenock,
Tontine Hotel, up to Friday morning, as I don't quite know my future
address. I hope you are better, and that it was not that spell of work
you had that did the harm. It is to my spurt of work that I am
_redevable_ for my harm. Walt Whitman is at the bottom of it all, _'cre
nom_! What a pen I have!--a new pen, God be praised, how smoothly it
functions! Would that I could work as well. Chorus--Would that both of
us could work as well--would that all of us could work as well!--Ever
yours,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

_P.S._--Bob is better; but he might be better yet. All goes smoothly
except my murrained health.

TO MRS. SITWELL

_Swanston [Summer 1874]._

MY DEAR FRIEND,--I am back again here, as brown as a berry with sun, and
in good form. I have been and gone and lost my portmanteau, with _Walt
Whitman_ in it and a lot of notes. This is a nuisance. However, I am
pretty happy, only wearying for news of you and for your address.

_Friday._--_A la bonne heure!_ I hear where you are and that you are
apparently fairish well. That is good at least. I am full of Reformation
work; up to the eyes in it; and begin to feel learned. A beautiful day
outside, though something cold.

R. L. S.

TO SIDNEY COLVIN

Of the projects here mentioned, that of the little book of essays on
the enjoyment of the world never took shape, nor were those
contributions towards it which he printed in the Portfolio ever
re-published until after the writer's death. _The Appeal to the
Clergy of the Church of Scotland_ was printed in 1874, published as a
pamphlet i