March 26 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford, again to George Haven Putnam, organizer for the Bayard Taylor farewell banquet. Sam agreed to “talk four or five minutes, or rise in my place & excuse myself…” Sam argued he got more gratitude for an excuse than a speech, which he preferred over applause [MTLE 3: 38].

John Slee, in behalf of Clemens, met with Senator Jones in New York about the $23,000 from the failed insurance investment. Jones made full restitution to Sam at that meeting, which Sam may have attended [MTNJ 2: 54-5n23]. Note: If he did go to the meeting, it was a quick, one-day, round trip, because Sam wrote letters from Hartford on Mar. 26 and 27.