December 10 Saturday – Sam arrived in New York City and stayed at the Albemarle Hotel. He talked with Sheldon & Co. about the proposed pamphlet, not published until March 1871 with a title of Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance. He also met with Charles Henry Webb, either this day or soon after, to smooth over differences in connection with the Jumping Frog book. Sam purchased back the copyright from Webb, who had tried to do Sam a favor when George W. Carleton had rejected the book [MTL 4: 268-9].

Sam’s article, “Dogberry in Washington,” which also appeared in the December edition of the Galaxy, was reprinted in the Buffalo Express [McCullough 266].

December 10–16 Friday – While in New York, Sam visited friends Dan Slote, Whitelaw Reid, John M. Hay (1838-1905) and perhaps John Rose Greene Hassard (1836-1888), all of the New York Tribune. Sam also saw Horace Greeley. On Dec. 19 Sam wrote Twichell that he “smoked a week, day & night” while in the City [MTL 4: 269].