April 8 Wednesday – Sam went to New York on his way to Philadelphia, a trip which he’d expected to take Livy. She had a bad cold and a headache, so she did not go. Sam wrote late from New York to Livy of his disappointment on leaving her home. He went to General Grant’s in the evening. Grant’s son, Colonel Fred Grant, conveyed that the General was “restful & happy, exceedingly pleased” at the “expressions of sympathy from rebel soldiers of all ranks in the South. His last hours are among the happiest of all his life.”

As for the book, Sam’s good news offset Livy’s initial worries about him taking all the risks for a small portion of the profits:

General Grant’s book is not in type—indeed, the work on it is only fairly begun, & not a scrap of advertising has been done; & yet 20,000 sets are already in effect sold—they have been ordered by two responsible general agents; 20,000 sets is 40,000 volumes, for it is a 2-volume work. This affords a clear profit to us of $13,000—& over $26,000 to Mrs. Grant. You were a little afraid to have me venture on the book & take all the risks for so small a share as 30 per cent of the profits. I did not think there was any risk. These 40,000 books are ordered for only 2 States—Michigan & Iowa—wait till you hear from the other 37! [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Charles Webster, that Webster & Co. should be the general agents for “New York & a fair area of territory around it, & receive the general agent’s commission.” Such a commission would be a “handsome addition to the firm’s assets” [MTP].

David Gray wrote from Buffalo to thank him for HF, but that they’d rec’d the copy addressed to “Mother Fairbanks” so she probably had theirs [MTP].

W.W. Taylor for Rockwood Pottery Co. wrote about “tiger eye” bowl sent and Mr. Burt being there to consult [MTP].