January 19 Monday – In Elmira, Sam wrote to Moncure Conway. He acknowledged receipt of funds from Chatto. “Dod-rot the new book—as John the Baptist would say—it hangs along drearily.”
Sam had proofread to the middle of A Tramp Abroad. Sales by subscription were big, and so popular was the name Mark Twain that Sam figured he’d be “twelve or fifteen thousand dollars better off” though he noted he didn’t have the money yet. Evidently, Conway included news of their new home they named “Inglewood,” and Sam hoped to visit when they traveled again. He told of Livy’s slow recovery and their need to stay perhaps another fortnight. Sam ended with a note that Elmira would be the site for the “Adam monument” [MTLE 5: 12].