April 26 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Werra, Sat. Apl. 26, 10. a.m.” [NB 33 TS 7].

At the Murray Hill Hotel in New York, Sam, in a rather crabby mood, wrote to Orion Clemens:

All I wanted Whitmore to do, was to get consent of the royalty holders. What in hell and damnation he wanted with the royalties themselves is more than I can guess. He has your own fatal fault: he never can obey an order as he gets it: — he must always add something to it….I have telegraphed Whitmore to come down here and explain this incredibly idiotic piece of business to me….

I have gone to bed again — now don’t write me any letters of any kind; I don’t want to hear anybody or see anybody till I get smoothed out. I’ve a mind to stay right in New York till I sail May 6 — I’m in no condition to travel [MTP]. Note: Whitmore had asked owners of the Paige royalties to send them to him, which involved some risk of loss.

Sam also wrote to his sister, Pamela Moffett, explaining his inability to visit, even though Orion wrote that he ought to visit her, though he failed to say where she was. Sam concluded she was with her daughter Annie Webster in Fredonia:

I have been very close to the pneumonia for a week in Chicago, & then the doctor kept me in bed 4 days longer before he would let me start east. He told me to do no railroading that I could avoid. Therefore I hardly expect to leave this room before I sail — May 6.

I have exceedingly important business in Elmira & in Hartford, but unless I get into very good condition I shall not go to either place. I had 35 days of pneumonia in Berlin a year ago, & my right lung is still damaged from it.

…I have worn myself out with the exhausting Chicago trips, & it makes me shudder to think of adding one; the trip from Elmira to Fredonia is a terror to a well man, let alone a sick one. I meant to be in Chicago only two days — it was plenty for my business there; losing nine days has crippled all the rest of my business & made my visit to America almost useless [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Annie E. Trumbull in Hartford, saying the last thing Livy did was give him a list of Hartford folks to visit, she being the first on the list. Sam explained his illness, and added:

And meantime tell your Uncle Henry [Henry Clay Trumbull of Phila.] not to come to New York without looking in on me. I expected to dine with him this evening, & came very near telegraphing him so [MTP]. Note: Trumbull (1830-1903) was a noted clergyman and author.