September 1 Monday – In Tannersville, N.Y. Sam wrote a short note to Sherrard Clemens II, who evidently had written asking about one of his English ancestors. Sam answered:

…I am wholly ignorant. I knew of the patriot Clemens, & of his execution as one of Charles’s judges, & also that he had at an earlier day been English Ambassador at the Spanish court; but I had not heard until now that he married a Spanish wife [MTP].

He also wrote to Orion Clemens about the matter. Sam told his brother he was ignorant but that Orion could write and tell him what he knew [MTP]. Sherrard was probably not a relative; Sam named him as “a conspicuous member of Congress from Virginia at the opening of the war” because he was a Unionist. See Jan 19? 1878 entry.

Sam also sent a short request to Franklin G. Whitmore not to forward any more Webster & Co. statements as they “lumber up the whole place” [MTP]. Note: This was a curious reversal of his need to stay informed, sometimes daily of the business of the firm.

Carroll Beckwith finished Sam’s portrait [Beckwith’s unpublished papers at the Smithsonian; offered by a MT scholar who wishes to remain unnamed].

C.L. Stillman for J. Langdon & Co. Sent notice they’d sent $3,000 check to the US Bank in Hartford to Sam’s credit [MTP].