Robert Louis Stevenson first came to California in 1879 for the purpose of getting married. The things that delayed his marriage are sufficiently set forth in his Letters (edited by Sidney Colvin) and in his Life (written by Graham Balfour). It is here necessary to refer only to the last of the obstacles, the breaking down of his health. It is in connection with the evil thing that came to him at this time that be first makes mention of the sea fogs, that beset a large part of the California coast.