March 23 Friday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote two postcards and a letter to John Y. MacAlister.

Postcard #1: “I do not hear from Tatlock. But no matter; if they take the Butters offer, I shall do my best to have him & the other friends over there help Butters in every way they can” [MTP]. Note: Henry A. Butters (d. 1908), capitalist and millionaire who made his money in mining and electrical trains in S. Africa and Europe, would later be the target of Sam’s indictments for alleged theft in the American Plasmon Co. John Tatlock, an investor in Plasmon.

Sam’s letter to MacAlister was a review of contracts concerning copyright and “protection against British cheap editions.” Sam saw the need for the words, “Excepting Canada” to be inserted after “British Empire,” and explained the problem of cheap editions coming over the Canadian border [MTP].

Sam’s Postcard # 2: “O, thunder, I’ve already a luncheon, a tea, & a dinner next Tuesday. … I have no free hour this week except Monday (DAYTIME) 26th” [MTP].

According to Sam’s Mar. 24 to MacAlister, he was “down at the House of Commons last night talking Plasmon to the membership” [MTP].

Fatout lists a dinner speech for Mark Twain at the C.F. Moberly Bell Dinner, London [MT Speaking 666].

Note: Fatout gives no particulars but the following NB entry also cites. Bell was editor of the London Times

Sam’s notebook: “C. Moberly Bell, 8. dinner, Editor ‘Times.’” [NB 43 TS 6].