January 3 Monday – Charles Webster wrote to Sam that Henry Ward Beecher was contemplating a biography:

Beecher seemed to think that it might be a pretty good thing to do, and he also seemed to think that other things being equal, he would rather have us publish it than any one else….I do not love Beecher any more than you do, but I love his money just as well, and I am certain that the book would sell [MTNJ 3: 272n156]. Webster expressed a desire to “switch off War books if we can” [MTLTP 212n1].

Orion Clemens wrote from Keokuk and enclosed the history work he’d done so far. “Ma was out with us Saturday to a new-year’s dinner. Her itching is some better” [MTP].

Check#  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3520  Mrs K S Cook  3.52  Millinery