November, early – As evidenced by a notebook entry: (S & I meet the others in Webster’s office at 11.30), General Philip Sheridan signed a contract for Webster & Co., to publish his Personal Memoirs, which would be completed in 1888.
October 29 Friday – Sam returned to Hartford in the afternoon [Oct. 26 to Livy].
October 28 Thursday – Sam was in New York, attending to business.
Frederic G. Kitton (1856-1904) wrote from London in preparation of a book on impressions of Charles Dickens. “I have no record that you ever knew Charles Dickens, or had even met him, but on the mere possibility of your having done so during the great Novelist’s stay in America, I venture to ask if you will kindly contribute a few lines to my forthcoming book….” Sam wrote on the envelope, “Can’t” then “Did”.
October 27 Wednesday – Sam was in New York, attending to business.
Dora Wheeler wrote from Cleveland, Sam’s letter having been forwarded from N.Y. “You are more than good to be willing to sit for me.” Dora intended to go to Hartford after Nov. 15. “Do you think Mr. Warner will let me do the same by him? Your letter to Mr Howells I know is alright — tho I have not yet seen it. I am very much obliged” [MTP].
October 26 Tuesday – In Washington, General Philip H. Sheridan wrote a letter of introduction for Sam to Maj. Gen. J.M. Schofield. “You will find him a clever nice fellow and an interesting gentleman.” It was not discovered if Sam used the letter and met with Schofield [MTP].
Sam left Washington at about 3 or 4 P.M. and returned to New York. He wrote to Livy at 10 P.M.:
October 25 Monday – Sam was in Washington, where he didn’t sleep well this night [Oct. 26 to Livy].
October 24 Sunday – Sam was in Washington, D.C. He met with General Sheridan this day or the next.
October 23 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote a one-liner to Sarah Knowles Bolton (1841-1916), American writer and associate editor of the Boston “Congregationalist” (1878-81), saying that he was “called away from town ten days,” but he would be happy to see her on his return [MTP]. Bolton was working on Famous American Authors (1887), and wanted biographical information on Sam.
October 22 Friday – Charles Webster wrote from N.Y. that he’d sent two copies of Uncle Tom’s Cabin to Hartford for Harriet Beecher Stowe to inscribe. One of the books was for Julia Grant, the other for himself. (See Dec. 16 entry for a third book she inscribed.)
I think this is the first instance where I have bothered you on the autograph question, and it will be the last [MTNJ 3: 262].
October 21 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Rollin M. Daggett, his old friend from Virginia City days. Daggett had written earlier when Sam was in Elmira, advising that he was writing a book about the legends of Hawaiian natives with the help of David Kalakaua, the last king of the islands whom Sam met in 1866.