August 20 Thursday – The New York Times printed on page 5 “GENERAL GRANT’S BOOK / A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERS,” Dated Aug. 18, with a note from the late General dated July 4. The letter addressed rumors of the Grant contract, that Mrs. Grant would “receive nearly three-fourths of the profits arising from the sale of the book, and upon some sales even more.” Grant’s note advised simply letting the public know about unscrupulous and cheap imitations of the Memoirs. Note: Sam was constantly irritated during this period by rumors that Grant was not the true author; or that there wasn’t enough material for two volumes. Also, other publishers, including American Publishing Co., brought out rival biographies.
Sam’s notebook contains an entry that Paige reminded him on Aug. 20 that the $3,000 sent was $1,000 too much [MTNJ 3: 180]. Note: there are many undated entries in the notebook during this period about the Paige typesetter. Sam was getting in deeper, buoyed by the success of Grant’s book.
James W. Paige wrote “Upon my return from Block Island I find your two favors. One with a check for three thousand dollars enclosed, which, please let me remind you is one thousand more than it should have been” [MTP].
Dean Sage wrote expecting Sam & Livy to stay with them Monday night at Albany [MTP].
Webster & Co per Frederick J. Hall wrote, enclosing copy of a circular which made unsubstantiated claims about royalties the Grant book was paying the family. Whitford advised putting this with a private detective to discover the source; they suspected the Am. Pub. Co. [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “A singularly villainous circular”
William Hamersley wrote after having “a long talk” with James Paige about the typesetter stock [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Paige gives H & me 1/10 each”
Daniel Whitford for Alexander & Green wrote: “I waited for some response from you as late as I dared and then let the letter go. So far as we have been able to ascertain it is very well received indeed and is not looked upon as an advertisement” [MTP]. Note: the letter was an explanation about publishing the Grant Memoirs.