March 20 Friday – Sam went to New York City for the weekend and stayed at the Everett House [Mar. 14 to Pond; Mar. 16 to Webster]. At about 2:30 PM, Sam and Karl Gerhardt went to the home of General Grant. Sam suggested “several days previously” that Gerhardt make a life-size bust of the General that could be photographed for use as a frontispiece in Grant’s reminiscences. Gerhardt carried a clay bust he’d completed from photographs of Grant. Col. Fred Grant and Jesse Grant were there. With the aid of Julia Dent Grant, Gerhardt worked over the bust in a few areas while Grant sat for the work [Perry 168-70; Mar. 21 telegram to Livy]. (See MTB p.808 for a detailed account of the visit to Grant’s.)

He probably met Webster after 6 PM as intended by his letter of Mar. 16.

A new contract with Webster was drawn on this day, providing with the same salary ($2,500 a year), and 1/3 of the net profits up to $20,000, with 1/10th thereafter. Sam was given 8% on capital he put in [AMT 2: 495]. See notes connected with this contract and later sources of conflict between the two.