November 4.

Catherine B. Stevenson is correct in correcting the misquotations of

R. L. Stevenson's requiem by Edward N. Robertson and Jack McLean

(November 2).

A strange fact is that the bronze plaque on Stevenson's grave on Mount

Vaea in Samoa bears the same mistake by including an extra definite

article in the penultimate line of the verse.

The R. L. S. version, ''Home is the sailor home from sea'' is much to

be preferred to, ''Home is the sailor home from the sea''.

To have one's requiem misunderstood is understandable, but to have it

misquoted is unforgivable.

David Macpherson,

51 Cresswell Street,

Glasgow.