Letter from Edmund Gosse to Thomas Hardy, 28 August 1887

A Chicago friend of mine, who is a great admirer of Barnes desires to contribute to the Memorial. May he send his cheque direct to you, & so have done with it, for he is travelling, & would like to finish the matter straight away?

Robert Louis Stevenson is off to Colorado as at last chance. I saw him the day before he sailed. The only book [Page 2] he seemed to be taking along with him was The "Woodlanders." He spoke with warmth of you.

I hope your spirits have been pretty good this summer. I have been scarcely fit for human society, I have been so deep in the dumps. I wonder whether climate has anything to do with it? It is the proper thing nowadays to attribute [Page 3] to physical causes all the phenomena which people used to call spiritual. But I am not sure. One may be dyspeptic and yet perfectly cheerful, and yet not fit company for a church-yard worm. For the last week I should not have ventured to say unto the louse "thou art my sister."

I [believe] I am going away at last. I am right sick of London. I hope to get into Devonshire on the 10^th. I wish it was Dorsetshire: not merely because of Max Gate, but because of the two counties I vastly prefer the heatherier and breezier one.

Our united kindest regards to M^rs Hardy. I am always, my dear friend

yours sincerely

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