June 3 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood.

“Have written to ask Spofford [Librarian of Congress] if my copyright is perfect on my several books.”

Sam needed to know if any of his copyrights were faulty, as he considered a Chicago lawsuit against Belford and Clarke on the Sketches, New and Old (1875).

“There must be copyrighted articles in that pirated volume of Sketches—for some of them must have appeared in the Atlantic or Galaxy. I could tell if I had the book [the pirated edition]—and if proving that would answer our needs” [MTLTP 156].

Sam also wrote to Charles Webster.

I return Buckland’s letters unread—I don’t feel interest enough to read them. He is well got rid of.

You are right, as to Dennison, I judge [See May 29 letter to Webster].

The more I think of Ahern’s bill [plumber] the more it enrages me [MTP].