January 5 Monday – Sam spent “a good part of the day browsing through the Royal Academy Exhibition of Sir Edwin Henry Landseer’s” (1802-1873) paintings. He thought the work “wonderfully beautiful!” [MTL 6: 11].

Sam wrote a letter of apology from London to Tom Taylor, successful playwright and adaptor of dozens of works for the stage. Sam had sought advice about putting The Gilded Age on stage. He had repeatedly missed Taylor, the last time calling on Jan. 1 when only Taylor’s wife was at home. Since Sam was leaving London on Jan. 7, he regretted not being able to see Taylor [MTL 6: 10].

Sam wrote a short note to Livy about counting letters and claimed to have “averaged a letter every day” to her since he sailed, which would have totaled about 59 letters. Only 29 from this period are known to survive [MTL 6: 13].

Sam also wrote to Joseph Twichell of Landseer’s hundreds of paintings in “four or five great salons” and his excitement at getting home in 20 days. Sam had read The Gilded Age in book form and said he liked it, but added: “My interest in a book ceases with the printing of it.” Also, he scolded Twichell on one count:

“I knew you would be likely to graduate into an ass if I came away; & so you have—if you have stopped smoking. However, I have a strong faith that it is not too late, yet, & that the judiciously managed influence of a bad example will fetch you back again” [MTL 6: 11].

A bill dated Mar. 24, ’73 was paid this date to Chas. A. Wright, doors, sash, blinds, and moldings, Hartford [MTP].