February 20 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Howells. Sam could not go to Boston; he’d “have to give up the river trip, too.” Howells had written that he could not take the long-planned New Orleans trip. Sam would finish a few more river sketches for the Atlantic and then start on another book for Bliss, then make the river trip “or drop it indefinitely.” Sam discovered that his mother-in-law could not stay with Livy as he’d planned, due to pressing improvements on the Langdon house. Still, Sam looked forward to a March visit by the Howellses [MTL 6: 390].

Sam wrote to James R. Osgood that his Boston trip and dinner at the Nautilus Club was:

“…knocked in the head. It would take so long to explain why, that I’ll not attempt it, but only send regrets, do some private cussing, & wish the dinner party a happy time & Aldrich & family godsend & a glorious tour.”

The Aldriches were sailing to Europe on Mar. 24. They returned in October [MTL 6: 391-2].

Hurd & Houghton, Riverside Press, Boston wrote to Sam: “We had only your esteemed favor of the 12th, but are unwilling to regard it as closing the correspondence between us….We should be glad if we could see you the next time you come to Boston.” They proposed a small novel from him [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Novels”