May 7 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall, principally about the Walters art collection book and the possible 700 to 800 thousand profit for a book “infinitely grander and finer than any ever issued in any country in the world.” Sam figured the book would sell 600 in American and 600 in Europe at $1,000 a copy. William Mackay Laffan was to be the sole canvasser, making $100 per sale.

Sam liked the General Oliver O. Howard book idea “pretty well,” and wanted Hall to write Sam as if Sam were Howard, making him a formal proposition [MTLTP 245]. Webster & Co. did not publish the book .

Note: No outgoing letters from Sam are extant from this date until a telegram on May 21.