2110-5-11-16

[F.R. Earp]

23, Sheen Park, Richmond.

March 20. 32

Dear Buchan,

(I hope we may drop titles) having written to tell the Press to forward a copy of my book to you, I wish to say that you are not required or expected to say anything polite about it. To expect that in such cases is unfair, & I do not wish to put any one to the invidious task of combining sincerity with politeness. On the other hand, if there is anything that you strongly disagree with, you can

mention it when next we meet, & I shall be grateful, for disagreement often brings new light.

I can hardly expect that you will enjoy my effort as much as I have enjoyed some of your works. The first I came across was a story in Blackwood called 'The Lemnian' many years ago, & I jumped for joy, for I saw at once it was 'my kind of the picturesque' and I was pleased to find that a writer I knew, now dead, had spotted it too, when we met a few days later. I may add that I rather fancy my own powers of spotting anything good in the way of books, and painting. That is a brag, but you told me that Fellows of King's were distinguished & intellectual arrogance & will not be surprised.

Yours sincerely

F.R. Earp

P.S. If the name of a good fishing river in Scotland should occur to you, & you put it on a post-card, it would be a noble act. I don't mind going fairly far North.