May 12 Saturday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam:

“I have made the corrections in the letter to General Howard, and it will go forward to-day” [MTHL 2: 246n6]. Hall also informed: “The ‘Library of American Literature,’ ten volumes, is going well…. I think this book is going to pan out big eventually, as the results attained so far have come without any particular pushing” [MTNJ 3: 361]. Note: The sales of this work were always disappointing, not offsetting the costs.

Orion Clemens and Jane Clemens wrote to Sam and family. Orion mentioned the Keokuk lawsuit Webster had against R.T. Root, and information he’d mailed to Fred Hall to be given to Whitford. Letters from Jean and Clara were admired; Ma wrote a nonsensical note.  [MTP].