g his case not hopeless, but urged him to try some complete
change of climate, surroundings, and mode of life. His wife's
connections pointing to the West, he thought of the mountain
health-resorts of Colorado, and of their growing reputation for the
cure of lung patients. Having let his house at Bournemouth, he
accordingly took passage on board the S.S. _Ludgate Hill_, sailing for
New York from London on August 21st, 1887, with his whole party,
consisting of his wife, his widowed mother, whom they had persuaded to
join them, his young stepson, and a trusted servant, Valentine Roch. The
concluding letters of the present section tell of the preparations for
this departure.

TO MR. AND MRS. THOMAS STEVENSON

_Wensleydale, Bournemouth, Sunday, 28th September 1884._

MY DEAR PEOPLE,--I keep better, and am to-day downstairs for the first
time. I find the lockers entirely empty; not a cent to the front. Will
you pray send us some? It blows an equinoctial gale, and has blown for
nearly a week. Nimbus Britannicus; piping wind, lashing rain; the sea is
a fine colour, and wind-bound ships lie at anchor under the Old Harry
rocks, to make one glad to be ashore.

The Henleys are gone, and two plays practically done. I hope they may
produce some of the ready.--I am, ever affectionate son,

R. L. S.

TO ANDREW CHATTO

During the earlier Bournemouth days were firmly established
Stevenson's cordial relations with the several English publishers
Cassell & Co., Chatto & Windus, and Longmans, and a little later with
C. Scribner's Sons in America.

_Wensleydale, Bournemouth, October 3, 1884._

DEAR MR. CHATTO,--I have an offer of L25 for _Otto_ from America. I do
not know if you mean to have the American rights; from the nature of the
contract, I think not; but if you understood that you were to sell the
sheets, I will either hand over the bargain to you, or finish it myself
and hand you over the money if you are pleased with the amount. You see,
I leave this quite in your hands. To parody an old Scotch story of
servant and master: if you don't know that you have a good author, I
know that I have a good publisher. Your fair, open, and handsome
dealings are a good point in my life, and do more for my crazy health
than has yet been done by any doctor.--Very truly yours,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO W. E. HENLEY

There is no certain clue to the date of the following; neither