September 13 Monday – In Weggis, Switzerland Sam received a letter (not extant) from H.H. Rogers. He replied that Rogers’ letter “has give us a grand uplift.” The Clemens’ funds invested by Rogers were doing well, and Sam suggested Rogers keep “all the money I can make on the platform” and take the profits Rogers could make it yield, “over and above its own personality.” They both were grateful. As to the debts, he requested Rogers to keep the money “a spell longer” until there might be enough “to sweep off our debts at one wipe.”

I want to pay everybody in full except the Mount Morris [Bank]. I shall be very glad if they can be persuaded to come to the 50 % basis. Then when I paid the rest of the creditors in full, I would pay that bank in full on the basis of an indebtedness of $9,000 less than the claim as allowed by the assignee; and stop there until they explain to my satisfaction what they did with the $9,000 of fraudulent notes.

Pond had repeated his offer of $50,000 for 125 lecture nights, but Sam thought he could pay his debts without going on the platform again. He saw from Rogers’ letter that they were “having very good times” in Fairhaven and that Mrs. Rogers was “able to be in them.” He asked when Harry was going to work on shore, and asked to e remembered to “all the vast household” [MTHHR 300-1].