August 16 Friday – The Kanawha was nearing Bath, Maine at noon on its return leg to N.Y.C. when Sam wrote to Livy. The letter was postmarked Aug. 17 from Bath.

Livy darling, only a line to say I love you. One can’t write, there is too much motion. But the sea & the sun are incomparable, after this dull week of lying at anchor in the eternal fog. A while ago we had a fleet of yachts spinning by us—19 of them, with their white wings towering into the sky.

The glory & flash & splendor of the sea is a picture to look at, to-day.

I telegraphed you yesterday & to-day [neither extant], & am expecting to hear from you this afternoon.

I hope to find a letter at the Grosvenor when I get there—I don’t know when that will be, as we do not run in fog or darkness [MTP]. Note: the yacht also stopped in Boothbay, near Bath [MTHHR 468n1].

Sam’s Ship log: August 16, Friday. Rockland.

Splendid weather, fresh & sunny. Met fleet of 19 yachts.

Reached Bath at 2.30.

Went up the charming Kennebec river a few miles in the launch; then back, & the garrison went ashore for nothing; got it, & returned to the ship.

We could have had a happy time in Bath but for the interruptions caused by people who wanted the ex-Speaker [Reed] to explain votes of the olden time or give back the money. Mr. Rogers recouped them [MTP]

Dias adds this passage:

Another anvil missed. The descendant of Captain Kidd is the only person who does not blush for these incidents. Harry and Mr. Clemens blush continually. It is believed that if the rest of the garrison were like these two, the yacht would be welcomed everywhere instead of being quarantined by the police in all ports. Mr. Clemens and Harry have attracted a great deal of attention, and men have expressed a resolve to turn over a new leaf and copy after them from this out.

Evening. Judge Cohen came over from another yacht to pay his respects to Harry and Mr. Clemens, he having heard of their reputation from the clergy of these coasts. He was invited by the gang to play poker, apparently as a courtesy and in a spirit of seeming hospitality, he not knowing them and taking it all at par. Mr Rogers lent him clothes to go home in [Dias, Odd Couple 103].