February 7 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote again to Livy in Philadelphia. She evidently had written suggesting he come to spend Tuesday night (Feb. 10) with her in New York so they might both return to Hartford the next day. He wrote of the two daughters at home, of the weather, and his rheumatism:

Jean has gone to dancing school in great trouble, without her ticket, & half fearing non-admission. She would not allow me to write a note. But Ben [Clara] says she won’t have any trouble.

At last the sun is trying to shine; but if I couldn’t make a better fist at it I would join another system. However, I am not rheumaticked anywhere but in the shoulder, now, so I don’t seriously mind the weather [MTP].

Sam also wrote to John Russell Young in New York, accepting their request to visit Hartford.

Look in on me when you come — I’m abed with rheumatism these last two weeks [MTP].

Sam’s notebook:

Saturday night, 10 o’clock / Feb. 7. ’91. Wrote a note to Paige saying I had seen & talked with Batterson but had not seemed to convince him that the proposed plan was the best & safest. Had done my best to sow fruitful seed with him, aware that this was to be my last appearance upon any stage in the character of negociator & promoter of commercial enterprises — & made an appointment with him for Sunday night with Paige.

(This was quite plain notice, that, having earned my 9/20 interest & paid for it many times over (as often heretofore confessed by Paige), I now hold myself as released from all or any further effort on behalf of the machine. I told him to-day that this was going to be my last negotiation, & then I was done; that I should not renew the insurance or pay out any more money.) [MTNJ 3: 601-2].

Sam also sent a note (not extant but referred to in Paige’s Feb. 9 to SLC) to James W. Paige.