To Richard M. Milnes (Lord Houghton)
18 October 1875 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: UkCu, UCCL 11621)

slc

Hartford, Oct. 18.

My Lord:

In New York, on Friday, I learned of your presence at the Brevoort House,1 & made my plamns to call & pay my respects to you, but was persistently delayed until it was plainly too late to venture to intrude a visit at the hour that at last offered, so I was forced to give up the idea, greatly to my regret & my wife’s. We had to return home the next morning, & so lost all opportunity of seeing you.

We do greatly wish that you may be moved to come to Hartford & give us the opportunity to testify how much your kindnesses & courtesies contributed to the pleasure of our sojourn in London.

I am right glad to see by your speech that you seem to have been enjoying your visit to our country.2

[Truly ]Yours
‸With great respect‸

Samℓ. L. Clemens

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

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1 The Brevoort House, on Fifth Avenue at Washington Square, was “a quiet and aristocratic hotel that has long been in favor with English tourists. The cuisine of the Brevoort has always been considered one of its attractions” (Moses King, 230).

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2 The New York Tribune of 18 October reported that Houghton attended a breakfast at the Century Club on Saturday, 16 October, to meet a number of “authors, artists, publishers, and men of professional reputation.... Moncure D. Conway, who has returned to this country after more than thirteen years of absence from his native land, was also present, by special invitation.” In response to a toast to his health, Houghton expressed his “pleasure in being among you” and his “regret at not having been here before,” and talked about the importance of fostering literary talent:

There is no better preservative than the exercise of the poetic faculty from religious hallucinations, from political delusions, and I would say even from financial extravagances. Therefore through the whole vast range of this new world be on the watch to look out for and to encourage this great gift to man.

Conway also spoke, remarking on

his delight in being once more at home, his wonder at the signs of progress in all directions which strike him after so long an absence, and closed with a warm acknowledgement of Lord Houghton’s liberal views as an English statesman, and his generosity toward all forms of struggling merit. (“Lord Houghton’s Visit,” 5)

Clemens presumably read the Tribune report of Houghton’s speech. No other account that he is likely to have seen by 18 October has been identified.

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS, Houghton Papers, Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge University (UkCU). Published courtesy of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College.

Previous publication: L6, 558–559.

Provenance:The Houghton Papers were donated by the widow of the second Marquess of Crewe in 1959.

Emendations and textual notes:

Truly • [‘ly’ over miswritten ‘ul’]