October 21 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Edward House about P&P and the delay of his planned visit due to the “unholy decorators” and House’s attack of gout.

“I am mighty glad your first judgment of the book still holds good. The approval of competent minds is the main thing; I strongly want the book to achieve that; that it should sell well is a very much less important matter” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to James R. Osgood. He informed his publisher about Ned House’s discovery of an error in P&P—that is, Sam “made Miles Hendon a Baronet, some sixty years before Baronets were invented.” Sam suggested Osgood “jam in that little note at the bottom of the page” to explain the error [MTP]. 

Sam also wrote to Osgood & Co.: Please send me “Elizabeth, or the Exile[s] of Siberia” [MTP]. Note: 1872 by Madame Sophie Ristaud Cottin (1770-1807), French writer. Not in Gribben.

Sam “lost the bulk of” his sleep on this night [Oct. 24 letter to Whitney, MTP].

Sam also wrote to Bruce Weston Munro, a 21-year-old writer in Ontario, Canada, who had sought his advice about writing.

I do not see how any but a colossal genius can write a readable prose-book before he is 30 years old. Such books have been written, but never by any but gigantic geniuses—like those Bronte sisters, for instance. And yet even they were enabled to do it only because they had a capital of experience to draw from which was nearly as prodigious as their genius [MTP].

Charles Webster wrote from NYC to Sam. More about plates and the engravings for the new book, and putting Mr. Marsh to work [MTP]. Note: George N. Marsh