February 8 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote two notes to Charles Webster. The first concerned Jesse Grant’s desire to buy into Webster & Co. Sam valued the firm at a half-million dollars. He would entertain a visit and an offer from Grant “toward the end of February (for Clara will not be out of bed before that.)” The second short note asked what sum had been paid to Julia D. Grant (Mrs. Grant). Sam had seen various sums mentioned in the newspapers, “clear up to $275,000” [MTP].

Orion Clemens wrote that he’d been reading the Grant Memoirs to Ma, and had reached the Vicksburg section. “Wonderfully absorbingly interesting.” Ma was well and was taking a hack to church this evening to hear a singing evangelist. He also had written Ella Hunter Lampton, a cousin of Ma’s [MTP].

William Beattie (Val Vernon) wrote to Sam from Peterboro, Ont. About his attempts at publication and other literary matters, and included several poems. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Merde!”[MTP].