November 8 Thursday – Thomas Sharp, an Army officer, wrote a longish letter to Sam. His brother was the brother in law of Gen. Grant and U.S. Marshall of the District of Columbia, and he thought Sam possibly had met him. He was prompted to write after a re-reading of LM, and sketched his life story, asking only if Sam were in California to look him up [MTP].

Frederick J. Hall for Webster & Co. wrote to Sam enclosing a letter from Daniel Whitford to him, and Whitford’s Nov. 5 letter to the firm. “I have just had a long talk with Mr. Howe, the photograph man who took the photograph of General Grant sitting in his chair at Mt. McGregor as he appeared writing ‘Memoirs’. …The enclosed letter explains itself. Mr. Howe says he is willing to sell the negative, and all his right, title and interest to the photograph for $300.00, or he will give us the exclusive right to use the photograph in book form…for $200.00.” Hall awaited Sam’s decision [MTP].