To George Bentley
26 April 1876 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: ViU, UCCL 01326)
(SUPERSEDED)

Connecticut,
U. S. A.,
April 26/76.

Dear Sir:

You remember a c visit which Joaquin Miller & I paid you once.1 You asked me then to send you advance sheets of such sketches as I might write for magazines here, & I always per purposed doing it, but continually forgot [it. This] time it happens that I have a sketch which missed issue in the May Atlantic because it could not be was not ready in time to occupy the first page of the Atlantic (where Mr. Howells wished to put it), so I forward it upon the chance that it may reach you in time for the June No. of Temple Bar (in case you wish to use it.)2

Very Truly Yours

Samℓ. L. Clemens

[letter docketed:] Letter of Mark Twain

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

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1 Although Clemens had never met the Richard Bentley (1794–1871) who gave his name to the family publishing house of Richard Bentley and Son, certainly he met his son, George (1828–95), in 1873 while in London and in the company of Joaquin Miller. George was head of the firm and editor of Temple Bar: A London Magazine for Town and Country Readers. Most likely Clemens also met George’s son, Richard (1854–1936), who was associated with the firm and became its head in 1895. Understandably, Clemens may have been confused about the names. This letter addressed to Richard is clearly written to the editor of Temple Bar and must therefore have been intended for George (L5, passim; Turner 1975, 1–3; Gettmann 1960, 26–27).

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2 “The Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime in Connecticut” appeared in June 1876 in the Atlantic Monthly and also, set from Atlantic proofs, in Temple Bar (SLC 1876, SLC 1876). For Bentley’s letter of acceptance, see 6 July 76 to Bentley,n. 2.

Description of Texts and Provenance

Copy-text:

MS, Clifton Waller Barrett Library, Alderman Library, ViU.

Previous publication: MicroPUL, reel 1.

Provenance:Deposited at ViU by Clifton Waller Barrett on 17 December 1963.

Emendations and textual notes:

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