December 19 Friday – Sam lunched with Mrs. Thomas Owen, a widow, and went to Westminster Abbey to see the monument to Thomas Owen, who built Condover Hall [MTL 5: 521].

In the evening, Sam gave his “Roughing It on the Silver Frontier” lecture at the Queen’s Concert Rooms, London [MTPO].

George and Louisa MacDonald wrote from Halloway House, Hastings to Sam in London:

My dear Mr Clemens, / Is there no chance of seeing you down here before you go? Anytime would do for us. Why not eat your Christmas Dinner with us? We are a merry party, & I don’t think you would find it very dull. The shortest notice of your coming, or no notice at all will suffice.

      Tell me, please, when you think of returning: I want to ask you to take out a watch for a friend of mine, if it would not be troublesome to you.

      I long to see the novel—yours and Warner’s: it is not out here yet. If you were living in London, or I in Hartford, I think we could make a good western play together. There are such elements in that book of yours!

      All the best wishes of the season to you from us— / Yours most truly / George MacDonald.

 Punch has frightened [us] as to your going away so soon. I want you to take two bits of crockery for me to the dear Wife. / Yrs truly / Louisa McD [MTPO]