Dated in Timelessness, but with you it may be some such day as Dec. 4, and I fancy that cent. XIX may still be persisting. Dated also nominally at Hotel Quiney in Las Palmas where I preserve address for service, but de facto in the garden of a messuage or finca called or known by the name of Bateria in the pueblo of Sᵗᵃ Brigida--a fort-like structure which I hold as a monthly tenant--windows on four sides all with fine views--on ground floor lives major domo, a hard-worked peasant savouring of the soil--first and only other floor inhabited by me and mine, including our one servant, a Germano-Swiss treasure acquired as we left England--furniture a minimum and no more would be useful--small boy coatless comes to clean boots, run errands and the like, Pepé to wit--much bargaining at house door with women who bring victuals round and would rather have a chat than money. Madame's mastery of their jargon surprises me daily--I can rarely catch a word. One might fall into vegetarianism here, such is the choice of vegetals. Lies in the garden on a long chair mostly--has there written for _Encyclop. Brit._ article on Hist. Eng. Law--space assigned 8 only of their big pages: consequently tight packing of centuries: work of a bookless imagination--but dates were brought from England. Qu. whether editor will suffer the few lines given to J. Austin: they amount to j.a. = o°. Now turning to translate Gierke's chapt. on "Publicistic Doctrine of M.A.[25]"--O.G. has given consent--will make lectures (if I return) and possibly book--but what to do with "Publicistic"? Am reading Creighton's _Papacy_ and Gardiner's _History_--may be well-informed man some day. Harv. L. Rev. and King's Peace came pleasantly--Alphabet not yet presented to babes but reserved for approaching birthday when it will delight. Meanwhile parents profit by it and are very grateful. Influence of climate on epistolary style--a certain disjointedness. Can live here or rather can be content to vegetate. A tolerable course for the Lea Francis--some 5 miles long--lies not far away, but must shoulder her and climb a rocky path to reach it. No puncture yet. The alarums and the excursions of horrid war are but little heard here. Interesting talk last night at hotel with German Consul in Liberia much travelled in Africa--very unboerish but thinks we are in for a large affair--all good (says he) for (German) trade. Much that we buy here made in Germany,--they spread apace. TO FREDERICK POLLOCK. CASA PEÑATE, MONTE, LAS PALMAS. _5 Jan. 1900._