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.