[On board ship between Sydney and Apia, Feb. 1891.]

My Dear Colvin, — The Janet Nicoll stuff was rather worse than I had looked for; you have picked out all that is fit to stand, bar two others (which I don’t dislike) — the Port of Entry and the House of Temoana; that is for a present opinion; I may condemn¹ these also ere I have done. By this time you should have another Marquesan letter, the worst of the lot, I think; and seven Paumotu letters, which are not far out of the vein², as I wish it; I am in hopes the Hawaiian stuff is better yet: time will show, and time will make perfect. Is something of this sort practicable for the dedication³?

Terra Marique
per pericula per ardua
amicae comiti
D.D.
amans viator

’Tis a first shot concocted⁴ this morning in my berth⁵: I had always before been trying it in English, which insisted on being either insignificant⁶ or fulsome⁷: I cannot think of a better word than comes, there being not the shadow of a Latin book on board; yet sure there is some other. Then viator (though it sounds all right) is doubtful; it has too much, perhaps, the sense of wayfarer⁸? Last, will it mark sufficiently⁹ that I mean my wife? And first, how about blunders? I scarce wish it longer.

Have had a swingeing sharp attack in Sydney; beating the fields for two nights, Saturday and Sunday. Wednesday was brought on board, Tel Quel, a wonderful wreck¹⁰; and now, Wednesday week, am a good deal picked up, but yet not quite a Samson, being still

分享到：