July 5 Wednesday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England, Sam wrote to an unidentified man (likely a photographer) asking him not to “risk the photos by sending them here,” as he was leaving England for the summer. He directed they be sent to Chatto & Windus and gave their address [MTP].

Note: A photograph taken of SLC on 4 July 1899 by Russell & Sons (also made into a cabinet card as per example recently offered for sale by Bob Slotta, eBay item #180517316533), this photograph taken by Russell & Sons was then published in McClure’s Magazine for October 1899, in Moffett’s “Mark Twain. A Biographical Sketch,” p. 523-9

Sam also wrote to William Manning, thanking him “most heartily” for the book The Year-Boke of the Odd Volumes, etc. inscribed by Manning on July 4. “It will always keep green in my memory that pleasant night [July 1] that I spent with the Odd Volumes” (club) [MTP]. Note: See July 1 and 4 entries.

Sam also wrote to Francis H. Skrine.

It is exceedingly generous of you & Mrs. Skrine to make us such an offer, but we don’t dare! We are a h— alifax of a family, & have ways! Ways that are not curable. Our present idea is, to live at the Queen Anne Mansions when we return in the autumn, & we have already selected a suite there & shall cherish the hope that we can have it when we come [MTP]. Note: he added the date of their return was not certain.

Sam’s notebook: “Wed. [July] 5 Campbell-Bannerman 8.15” [NB 40 TS 57]. Note: Fatout lists this as a dinner speech for Twain. Henry Campbell-Bannerman (1836-1908) was an old line British parliamentarian and Liberal party leader. He would become Prime Minister in 1905.