Whether intentionally or from her inexperience as a writer of fiction, this is the
only occasion in the entire novel where Mary Shelley fully names Walton. The first
letter he signs "R. Walton: and the third, indicating its hasty composition at sea
to take advantage of encountering a ship on its return to England, is simply initialed
"R. W." Thereafter, he does not name himself, and Victor, following the English convention
of the day, always calls him by his surname.