January – Sam had a formal photograph made by Rogers & Nelson, London [MTP].

December 31 Wednesday – Sam accepted Brooks’ invitation and spent New Year’s Eve until 2:30 AM with the Brookses, the Burrands, the Hardmans, the Jerrolds, the Yateses, and Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914), among others. Note: Sir William Hardman (1828-1890).

From Shirley Brooks’ diary:

December 30 Tuesday – Sam wrote from the Langham in London to George Fitzgibbon. Sam’s required business of gaining copyright in England was completed. There was nothing keeping Sam in England. He wrote that he would lecture:

December 29 Monday – Sam and Stoddard returned to London. Sam wrote from London to Livy. Sam had taken offense to an innocent remark a man had made about his cable-gramming Livy on Christmas Eve being the sort of thing a man did for a sweetheart not a wife. The man apologized and Sam got to write about it.

December 28 Sunday – Sam felt ill from all the dining over Christmas and went down to Ventnor, a resort on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight [MTL 5: 539n2]. There he “hunted up Miss Florence”—Florence Stark, not further identified, but perhaps a friend of George Fitzgibbon, because Sam mentioned her in his letter of Dec. 30.

December 27 Saturday – George MacDonald wrote to Sam.

My dear Clemens, / The best wishes of this good time be yours and all its plentiful hopes.

Since it seems unhappily so doubtful whether you will be able to come and see us, can you tell me where you would be to be found in London any day between the 13th & 16th of January. We shall be up then, and I would bring to you the things you are so kind as [to] offer to take.

December 26 and 27 Saturday – Probably more sightseeing and wining and dining courtesy of Blackmore and friends. No record of specifics

December 25 Thursday – Christmas – Sam and Stoddard went to church services in the morning at the Salisbury Cathedral. After lunch they drove to Stonehenge. Before dinner Sam wrote from Salisbury, England to Livy.