March 8 Sunday – The New York Times, page 12, ran “Knickerbocker Will Open On March 26,” which announced the reopening of Sam’s bank where he had over $51,000 in deposits. The Knickerbocker Trust Co. bank had suffered a run by frantic depositors and was forced to close shortly after noon on Oct. 2, 1907. It’s likely that Sam received the good news by this day or the next.

(signed) Finlayson:

H.W. Finlayson wrote from Grassy Bay, Bermuda to Sam (John Gay, Capt. Of Cressy; also

Dear Doctor Clemens:  I understand we are cousins and in a closer sense than that you are American and I English. Your dear mother is sister to my (to me) dearer mother!

I am jealous that my Alma Mater was forestalled by Oxford in adopting you.

I regret also that the “exigencies of the service” prevented my being in Oxford—in fact, England—to assist those who desired to do you honour. Think you that we might square yards in some way? May I suggest a way? What if you did us the honour to lunch on board the battleship on Monday or Tuesday? Does that appeal to your sense of humour? If not, will you let it touch that whole-hearted generosity of yours, and come?

We won’t ask you to say anything funny, but will, if you will honour us, show you as much of the ship as you might wish to see, and do our best not to bore you too much.

I have a confession to make—my conscience compels me. Here it is—Fleet-Surgeon F—and I made a pilgrimage yesterday to your present shrine to do you homage. We had one golden opportunity, when you were smoking your after breakfast cigar on the terrace of the hotel, but being the shyest of a shy race, or let me say, the kindest of our kind, we refrained from taking advantage of your only moment of isolation to attack you and achieve the object of our visit. …

I must apologize for the length of this invitation. My excuse is, that it is not so much an invitation as a humble petition from two / GRATEFUL ADMIRERS-IN-CHIEF [MTP: Mark Twain and the Happy Island, p. 65-66].