January 12 Sunday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Ira F. Hart, secretary for the Elmira YMCA. Sam declined to lecture in Elmira or Towanda [MTL 5: 267]. He was determined to finish The Gilded Age before leaving for England in May. Sam also wrote to John M. Hay of the New York Tribune, telling of the tempting offers he’d had to lecture in New York. Sam also relayed Bliss’ agreement to send a book of “Roughing It” to the Tribune for their review [MTL 5: 268].

A bill was paid to George Curtis, Hartford druggist for ale, $6 [MTP].