part I

had and have no doubt that the thing had been enskyed and constellated--like Ariadne's Crown, Berenice's Locks, Cassiopeia's Chair, and a whole galaxy of other now celestial objects--to afford a special place to my dead friend then, and to my live one when (may the time still be far distant) he is ready for it.

As for the more serious subject of the letter, I must refer curious readers to an essay of mine on Lockhart, originally published in 1884 and reprinted in _Essays in English Literature_ some years later. To this reprint I subjoined, _before_ I got this letter from R. L. S., a reasoned defence of Lockhart from the charge of cowardice and "caddishness": but it is evident that Stevenson had not yet seen it. When he did see it, he wrote me another letter chiefly about my

## book itself, and so of no interest to the public, but

touching again on this Lockhart question. He avowed himself still dissatisfied: but said he was sorry for his original remark which was "ungracious and unhandsome" if not untrue, adding, "for to whom do I owe more pleasure than to Lockhart?"

54.

My dear Saintsbury,

Thanks for yours. Why did I call Lockhart a cad? That calls for an answer, and I give it. "Scorpion"[131] literature seems at the best no very fit employment for a man of genius, which Lockhart was--and none at all for a gentleman. But if a man goes in for such a trade, he must be ready for the consequences; and I do not conceive a gentleman as a coward; the white feather is not his crest, it _almost_ excludes--and I put the "almost" with reluctance. Well, now about the duel? Even Bel-Ami[132] turned up on the _terrain_. But Lockhart? _Et responsum est ab omnibus, Non est inventus._[133] I have often wondered how Scott took that episode.[134] I do not know how this view will strike you;[135] it seems to me the "good old honest" fashion of our fathers, though I own it does not agree with the New Morality. "Cad" may be perhaps an expression too vivacious and not well chosen; it is, at least upon my view, substantially just.

Now if you mean to comb my wig, comb it from the right parting--I know you will comb it well.

An infinitely small jest occurs to me in connection with the historic umbrella: and perhaps its infinite smallness attracts me. Would you mind handing it to Rudyard Kipling with the enclosed note?[136] It seems to me fitly to consecrate and commemorate this most absurd episode.

Yours very sincerely,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

[_Enclosure_]

This Umbrella purchased in the year 1878 by Robert Louis Stevenson (and faithfully stabled for more than twelve years in the halls of George Saintsbury) is now handed on at the suggestion of the first and by the loyal hands of the second, to Rudyard Kipling.

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO. LTD. THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, GLASGOW.

FOOTNOTES:

[130] Of this _moratorium_ I believe I duly advised R. L. S. and I don't think he objected. There was, if I remember rightly, a further reason for it--that I was living in two places at the time and the subject was not immediately at hand.

[131] Lockhart's (self-given) name in the "_Chaldee MS._" was "the Scorpion that delighteth to sting the faces of men."

[132] Maupassant's ineffable hero and title-giver.

[133] Hardly any school-boy of my or Stevenson's generation would have needed a reference to the _Essay on Murder_. But I am told that De Quincey has gone out of fashion, with school-boys and others.

[134] We know now: also what "The Duke" said when consulted. They did not agree with Stevenson, but then they knew all the facts and he did not.

[135] I should have held it myself, if the facts had been what R. L. S. thought them.

[136] Which of course is Mr. Kipling's property, not mine. But he has most kindly joined in, authorising its publication, and that of the rest of the letter as far as he is concerned.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

The Peace of the Augustans

A Survey of Eighteenth Century Literature as a Place of Rest and Refreshment

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"No one living," according to the _Times_, "knows English eighteenth century literature as well as Mr. Saintsbury knows it.... If you do not know and like your eighteenth century, then he will make you; and if you do, he will show you that even what you thought the dullest parts are full of rest and refreshment."

In the opinion of the _Spectator_, "Mr. Saintsbury in his new book has given to the world a singularly delightful gift. _The Peace of the Augustans_ is in no sense written down. Yet every page is so subtly seasoned with amusing comment, and the whole book is so charmingly garnished that none but a dullard could fail to find delight in its perusal, however little he knew of the spirit which animated the eighteenth century. One can hardly imagine better reading after a day of hard or uncongenial work."

"No bush is necessary to proclaim where good wine may be had," says the _Glasgow Herald_, "and no author's name was required to indicate the source of this always fresh and in some respects original treatment of the Augustan literature.... In literature there are many mansions, and Mr. Saintsbury is at home in them all.... A book it has been very pleasant and very profitable to read."

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+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Notes | | | | Page 108: full stop inserted after "Duke of Burgundy" | | Page 125: Second opening parenthesis from before "Cambridge | | University Press" removed | | Page 245: Removed closing parenthesis following "the Valley | | of the Shadow of Frederick" | | Page 260: "sunday" _sic_ | | | | Generally spelling, capitalization and punctuation in | | letters has been retained as per the book, with the | | following exceptions: | | | | Page 305: Removed closing quote marks following "terrain" | | (Letter 54) | +--------------------------------------------------------------+