The Stevenson Circle Archer, William (1856-1924), journalist and critic. He was dramatic critic for Figaro, and later for the World and the Star. An admirer of Ibsen's work, he was instrumental in introduc- ing Ibsen's plays to the British public. Archer and RLS fre- quently corresponded, and Archer wrote a perceptive obituary, 'In Memoriam R.L.S.' (New Review, January 1895). Balfour, Dr Lewis (1777-1860), grandfather of RLS. RLS took his middle name of Lewis (later Louis) from his grandfather. As a boy RLS delighted in visiting Colin ton Manse, the home of his grandfather from 1823 to 1860. In his essay 'The Manse', included in MP, he gives an affectionate tribute to his recol- lections of the house and of his grandfather. Balfour, Sir Thomas Graham (1858-1929). One of RLS's many cousins, Balfour made his home at Vailima during the last two and a half years of RLS's life. His biography, published in 1901, is an extremely readable, competent and well-researched account. It suffers, however, from having been prepared so soon after Stevenson's death and is insufficiently detached from the protective influence of his widow. It remains an in- dispensable account of RLS and his circle, though inevitably some of Balfour's judgements have been superseded by later scholarship. Barrie, Sir James Matthew (1860-1937), novelist and playright. His first novel The Little Minister (1891), was much admired by RLS. Barrie was also the author of A Window in Thrums, Margaret Ogilvy, and Sentimental Tommy. His plays include The Admirable Crichton, Peter Pan and What Every Woman Knows. After meeting briefly when students in Edinburgh, Barrie and RLS never met again, though RLS invited him to Vailima on several occasions. 82 The Stevenson Circle 83 Baxter, Charles (1848-1919), lawyer. Fellow students at Edinburgh University, their friendship and correspondence continued throughout RLS's life. For some years Baxter took over the responsibility of RLS's business affairs and it was he, together with Colvin, who arranged the Edinburgh edi- tion of the collected works. RLS dedicated Kidnapped to Baxter. Boodle, Adelaide. Miss Boodle was a friend of the Stevenson family during their years at Bournemouth (1884-7) and re- corded her impressions of the Skerryvore menage in her book R.L.S. and his Sine Qua Non (1926). Burlingame, Edward L. (1848-1922), editor. He was the edi- tor of Scribner's Magazine from 1886 to 1914, and from 1887 onwards was continually in correspondence with RLS on matters connected with the publication of books and articles. Colvin, Sir Sidney (1845-1927), critic and scholar. Slade Pro- fessor of Fine Art at Cambridge, and later Curator of Prints at the British Museum, Colvin was a lifelong friend of RLS. Fol- lowing RLS's death he did much to protect the literary repu- tation of his friend and edited a collected edition of RLS's letters (1899, revised and enlarged in 1911). He was also the author of Robert Louis Stevenson: His Work and Personality (1924). He married Fanny Sitwell in 1903. Crockett, Samuel Rutherford (1860-1914), novelist. The author of The Raiders, The Lilac Sunbonnet and The Men of the Moss Hags, his work was greatly admired by RLS. A regular corre- spondent, he was familiar with the scenes of RLS's early life and understood his fascination with Scottish history. Cunningham, Alison (Cummy) (1822-1913), RLS's nurse. She remained for many years a devoted friend of the Stevenson family and RLS corresponded with her until shortly before his death. Most biographers regard her as the most important single influence on RLS's early life. CGV is dedicated to her. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930), novelist. Doyle was the 84 A Robert Louis Stevenson Chronology author of a series of historical novels including The White Company and Sir Nigel but his chief fame rests on his Sherlock Holmes stories. These were much admired by RLS and led to a correspondence between them. Holmes was based upon the surgeon Dr Joseph Bell (1837-1911), a professor at Edinburgh University who was known to both Doyle and RLS. Doyle in turn admired RLS's 'The Pavilion on the Links' and discusses it in his Through the Magic Door (1907). Ferrier, James Walter (1850-1883), boyhood friend and fellow student. RLS described Ferrier as 'the best and gentlest gentle- man' he had ever known. His early death due to alcoholism grieved RLS who paid a moving tribute to his friend in 'Old Mortality' . Gosse, Sir Edmund William (1849-1928), critic and scholar. A lifelong friend .of RLS and fellow member of the Savile Club, Gosse was the author of numerous works of literary criticism including Critical Kitcats (1896), in which he presents an inti- mate portrait of RLS. A frequent correspondent, Gosse was a guest of the Stevensons at Braemar during the writing of Treasure Island and was one of RLS's closest confidantes. Gosse is best remembered today for his moving portrait of his father, Father and Son (1907). Haggard, Bazett M. British Land Commissioner in Samoa and brother of Sir Henry Rider Haggard, he was a friend of the Stevenson family and a frequent visitor at Vailima. Haggard, Sir Henry Rider (1856-1925), novelist. The corre- spondence between Haggard and RLS began when the latter wrote to express his appreciation of King Solomon's Mines (1885). RLS had a keen admiration for Haggard's African romances and sent him some perceptive letters of criticism. Hardy, Thomas (1840-1928), novelist and poet. RLS visited Hardy at his home at Dorchester in August 1885, being keen to dramatise The Mayor of Casterbridge. Hardy's response, how- ever, was lukewarm. Fanny considered Hardy 'modest, gentle The Stevenson Circle 85 and appealing' but regarded Mrs Hardy as plain and 'quite underbred'. Henley, William Ernest (1849-1903), editor and poet. Henley was successively the editor of London, the Magazine of Art, the Scots Observer, the National Observer and the New Review. His volume of poetry Hospital Verses (1875) won him RLS's friend- ship. The two collaborated in a series of plays including Dea- con Brodie (1880), Admiral Guinea (1884), Beau Austin (1884) and Macaire (1885), but none of these was commercially success- ful. Henley and RLS were close friends for many years but quarrelled over Henley's accusation that a short story written by Fanny, 'The Nixie', was in fact by Katharine de Mattos. A lifelong victim of tuberculosis, he was the 'original' of Long John Silver in Treasure Island and of 'Burly' in 'Talk and Talkers'. As an editor Henley published important work by Hardy, Kipling, James and Wells in addition to RLS, and for some years acted as RLS's unpaid literary agent in dealing with London publishers. James, Henry (1843-1916), novelist. A close friend from 1885 onwards, James was a frequent visitor to the Stevenson house- hold at Bournemouth and corresponded with RLS until the latter's death. RLS's essay' A Humble Remonstrance' (included in MP) is a riposte to James's essay 'The Art of Fiction' (1884) and defines his differing approach to the craft of fiction. RLS had a strong appreciation of James's work and friendship. James paid his own tribute in Partial Portraits (1888) and Notes on Novelists (1914). Jenkin, Henry Charles Fleeming (1833-85). Professor of En- gineering at Edinburgh University from 1868 to 1885, Jenkin and his wife befriended RLS from student days onwards. Jenkin was a keen promoter of amateur theatricals and involved RLS in a number of productions. He employed RLS as his private secretary when serving as a juror at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. After Jenkin's death RLS paid his tribute to him in MFJ; Jenkin also figures as 'Cockshot' in 'Talk and Talkers'. 86 A Robert Louis Stevenson Chronology Lang, Andrew (1844-1912), critic and poet. Lang and RLS met at Mentone in 1873 and their friendship continued through- out RLS's life. Lang prepared an introductory essay to the Swanston edition of Stevenson's works (1911). Low, Will H. (1853-1932), American artist. Low met RLS in France in 1875 and shared in many of his visits to Paris and Fontainebleau during the ensuing years. The Epilogue of TW is dedicated to him. Mattos, Katharine de (1851-1939). Katharine, sister of RLS's cousin Bob, and RLS were childhood friends and she became a frequent visitor at his Bournemouth home. Her unfinished short story 'The Nixie' was rewritten by Fanny who then pub- lished it under her own name. Henley regarded this as pla- giarism and the accusation led to a heated quarrel between him and RLS. McClure, Samuel Sidney, editor. As editor of McClure's Magazine and an influential figure in the American journalistic scene McClure published much of RLS's fiction in serial form. He visited RLS at Saranac in 1887 and again in 1888, and agreed to serialise BA, illustrated by W. H. Low, in his newspaper syndicate. Meredith, George (1828-1909), novelist and poet. Author of The Ordeal of Richard Feverel (1859), The Egoist (1879), Diana of the Crossways (1885) and many other novels, Meredith held RLS in high regard. The two writers met frequently at Meredith's home at Box Hill, Surrey. RLS figures as 'Gower Woodseer' in Meredith's novel The Amazing Marriage (1895). Moors, H. J. A prominent American trader in Apia who be- friended RLS and his family. The Stevensons stayed with Moors for some weeks before the building of Vailima and RLS re- mained on terms of close friendship with him. Moors recorded his own memoirs in With Stevenson in Samoa (1910).