January 10 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford per Fanny Hesse to Moncure Conway. Sam wanted Andrew Chatto to prosecute the Belford Co., since the copyright belonged to Chatto and not to Sam.

“Toronto is twice as far from Hartford as it is from London, & you & Chatto can prosecute Belford more conveniently than I can. The lawyer that won that other decision is the very lawyer to conduct this suit for my royalties. Therefore I wish Chatto & you would go ahead …& send the bill to me. Can you do it?” [MTLE 2: 6].

On or about this day, the artist Francis Davis Millet (1846-1912) came to stay for a week and paint Sam’s portrait. Millet was a successful journalist and war correspondent, but perhaps an even better artist. His technique was one of almost photographic precision rather than impressionism. Millet’s 1877 portrait of Samuel L. Clemens was later donated to the Hannibal, Missouri Free Public Library. It shows a serious Clemens at the height of his mental and literary powers glaring out of a dark background. Millet gave the Clemens family “a week of social enjoyment, for his company is a high pleasure. We have to lose him tomorrow” [MTLE 2: 7].

Clemens inscribed a copy of TS to Francis Davis Millet: “To F.W. Millet from his sincere friend Samuel L. Clemens, Hartford, Jan. 1877” [ABE Books; Argosy Book Store, NYC; 12/14/2011]. Note: the difference in initials with Millet’s name is unexplained.