March 28 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote a short note to Richard Watson Gilder, asking again for the proofs of “English As She Is Taught” — Rush! Sam wrote, as he needed them on Mar. 31 [MTP].
Sam also wrote, per Franklin G. Whitmore to Charles Webster about evaluating possible books to publish. He thought Paul Boynton’s book “of rather questionable value.” (Powers writes that Sam rejected Boynton’s memoir in spite of his offer to swim 100 miles at sea on the day of publication [MT A Life 518] ).
I think this would be a good plan to get an epitomized public opinion of the Tichborne book; and in fact on all books. The opinion of an expert is not particularly valuable for our market is not made up of experts, but of other sorts. The Tichborne story written as it ought to be written is worth more than a good many Boynton books, but we must see the manuscript before giving an answer.
On the matter of the embezzler, Whitmore wrote:
Mr. Clemens agrees with you in regard to the Scott matter — 5 years in States Prison at least — if you can bring it about. Also take the house & complete it, & when completed sell it.
Sam also noted he’d received James Russell Lowell’s Mar. 27 letter in the morning; he would discuss “that proposition” with Sam at the Boston authors’ readings on Mar. 31 [MTP]. (See June 10, 1873 entry on the Tichborne case.)
Sam also telegraphed Charles Webster on the matter of obtaining the Edmund Stedman plates from another publisher. He advised Webster to let Stedman “arrange the trade himself” [MTP].
Sam also wrote a short note to Webster about the Scott matter. If a detective were put on the case it might be found that Scott hadn’t spent all the money. Sam thought he may have hidden the original greenbacks away and the effort was worth trying to retrieve such monies [MTP].
Orion Clemens wrote acknowledging receipt of $155 check; he told of James Lampton’s death (Col. Sellers), and a connection with some Lamptons in Texas [MTP].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
3630 Mr L Thurn 30.50
3631 Mssrs Hawley Goodrich & Co 4.00 Newspaper
3632 Madame Fogarty 202.50 Dressmaker