January 9 Thursday – Sam wrote from Washington, D.C. to Stephen J. Field (1816-1899), Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, recommending Harvey Beckwith for a government agent post to uncover illicit un-taxed whiskey. Sam had known Beckwith from his Nevada days, when Harvey was the superintendent of the Mexican silver mine at Virginia City [MTL 2: 150].

Sam gave his “Frozen Truth” lecture at Metzerott Hall in Washington, D.C.

He also wrote his mother, and sister Pamela:

That infernal lecture is over, thank Heaven! It came near being a villainous failure. It was not advertised at all. The manager was taken sick yesterday, & the man who was sent to tell me, never got to me till after noon to-day. There was dickens to pay. It was too late to do anything—too late to stop the lecture. I scared up a door-keeper, & was ready at the proper time, & by pure good luck a tolerably good house assembled & I was saved! [MTL 2: 151].

Sam also wrote to Elisha Bliss asking terms he might receive for a book published by Bliss’ company [Powers, MT A Life 232]. Note: see Jan. 18 for Bliss’ reply.