told (see above, p.
338). "Gray" and "Keats" are volumes in the _English Men of Letters_
series.

[_Chalet am Stein, Davos, March 23, 1882._]

MY DEAR WEG,--And I had just written the best note to Mrs. Gosse that
was in my power. Most blameable.

I now send (for Mrs. Gosse)

BLACK CANYON

Also an advertisement of my new appearance as poet (bard, rather) and
hartis on wood. The cut represents the Hero and the Eagle, and is
emblematic of Cortez first viewing the Pacific Ocean, which (according
to the bard Keats) it took place in Darien. The cut is much admired for
the sentiment of discovery, the manly proportions of the voyager, and
the fine impression of tropical scenes and the untrodden WASTE, so aptly
rendered by the hartis.

I would send you the book; but I declare I'm ruined. I got a penny a cut
and a halfpenny a set of verses from the flint-hearted publisher, and
only one specimen copy, as I'm a sinner. ---- was apostolic alongside of
Osbourne.

I hope you will be able to decipher this, written at steam speed with a
breaking pen, the hotfast postman at my heels. No excuse, says you.
None, sir, says I, and touches my 'at most civil (extraordinary
evolution of pen, now quite doomed--to resume--) I have not put pen to
the Bloody Murder yet. But it is early on my list; and when once I get
to it, three weeks should see the last bloodstain--maybe a fortnight.
For I am beginning to combine an extraordinary laborious slowness while
at work, with the most surprisingly quick results in the way of
finished manuscripts. How goes Gray? Colvin is to do Keats. My wife is
still not well.--Yours ever,

R. L. S.

TO DR. ALEXANDER JAPP

"The enclosed" means a packet of the Davos Press cuts.

[_Chalet am Stein, Davos, March 1882._]

MY DEAR DR. JAPP,--You must think me a forgetful rogue, as indeed I am;
for I have but now told my publisher to send you a copy of the _Familiar
Studies_. However, I own I have delayed this letter till I could send
you the enclosed. Remembering the nights at Braemar when we visited the
Picture Gallery, I hoped they might amuse you. You see, we do some
publishing hereaway. I shall hope to see you in town in May.--Always
yours faithfully,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO DR. ALEXANDER JAPP

The references in the first paragraph are to the volume _Familiar
Studies of Men and Books_.

_Chalet am Stein, Davos, April 1, 1882._

MY DEAR