explaining all my ideas of getting new material in Formosa, and my belief that it would add to the value of the book, although a postponement would be necessary. I asked for his opinion about the matter, but have never heard from him since. I can’t tell whether to think he didn’t like the postponement, and concluded to push the whole affair aside, or that he may have written and I not have received his letter. I’m all uncertain in the business, and have shut off work, because I can’t go ahead in such a state of indecision. Have you heard him say anything about it? I was very explicit, and of course thought I was quite convincing, but perhaps I wasn’t, and it may be that Bliss took a totally different view from mine, and got mad because I wanted to extend the contract time. Anyway, I am all in the dark at present. You don’t say anything on the subject, either. Can it be possible that all my letters failed to reach their destination? I hardly think that, since those I sent to the N.Y. Herald were all, or nearly all published. I do wish I could get some word about it, for I am completely at a loss and at a standstill. (CU-MARK)

During the five years which have elapsed since the issue of “The Innocents Abroad,” the aggregate sale of our author’s works has reached two hundred and forty-one thousand copies, representing a money-value of nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Though a large sale is by no means the only or even the best measure of literary excellence, the above-mentioned fact is so remarkable as to be almost unparalleled. (Ferris, 17)