To John L. RoBards
10 June 1876 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: MoHM, UCCL 01341)
(SUPERSEDED)

Hartford June 10.

My Dear Friend—1

I thank you very heartily & sincerely, John, for the kind trouble you have taken, & shall be glad if you will order the marbles you speak of, for Henry’s grave. You may find that there will be some little additional expenses before you have finished—& after paying such, you may send whatever balance remains, to my mother, Mrs. Jane Clemens, Fredonia, N. Y., if you will be so good. She will understand, for she is acquainted with our correspondence & I shall send your present letter to her to let her see what has been accomplished.2

Henry Clemens.

Born June 13, 13, 1838— Died

Died June 19, 1858.

The above is sufficient inscription for Henry’s tomb.3

With many thanks for all your kindnesses I am

Sincerely Yours

Samℓ. L. Clemens

Explanatory Notes

Editorial Signs

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1 Clemens probably replied to the “statement of expenditure” RoBards had promised on 24 April (see 17 Apr 76 to RoBards, n. 3).

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2 RoBards did send Jane Clemens some portion of the $100 that Clemens had sent him on 17 April. She acknowledged it with the following letter (MoHM):

UCLC47138

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3 Henry Clemens died of injuries suffered in the explosion of the steamboat Pennsylvania on 13 June 1858. Family records give his death date as 20 June 1858, but in a telegram dated 21 June 1858, Samuel Clemens, who was at Henry’s bedside, reported that he died that morning (see L1, 80–86).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Copy-text:

MS, MoHM.

Previous publication: Armstrong 1931, 495–96.