to E. L. Burlingame

Vailima Plantation, Nov. 2nd, 1892.

MY DEAR BURLINGAME,—In the first place, I have to acknowledge receipt of your munificent cheque for three hundred and fifty dollars.  Glad you liked the Scott voyage; rather more than I did upon the whole.  As the proofs have not turned up at all, there can be no question of returning them, and I am therefore very much pleased to think you have arranged not to wait.  The volumes of Adams arrived along with yours of October 6th.  One of the dictionaries has also blundered home, apparently from the Colonies; the other is still to seek.  I note and sympathise with your bewilderment as to Falesà.  My own direct correspondence with Mr. Baxter is now about three months in abeyance.  Altogether you see how well it would be if you could do anything to wake up the Post Office.  Not a single copy of the ‘Footnote’ has yet reached Samoa, but I hear of one having come to its address in Hawaii.  Glad to hear good news of Stoddard.—Yours sincerely,

R. L. Stevenson.

P.S.—Since the above was written an aftermath of post matter came in, among which were the proofs of My Grandfather.  I shall correct and return them, but as I have lost all confidence in the Post Office, I shall mention here: first galley, 4th line from the bottom, for ‘AS’ read ‘OR.’

Should I ever again have to use my work without waiting for proofs, bear in mind this golden principle.  From a congenital defect, I must suppose, I am unable to write the word OR—wherever I write it the printer unerringly puts AS—and those who read for me had better, wherever it is possible, substitute or for as.  This the more so since many writers have a habit of using as which is death to my temper and confusion to my face.

R. L. S.