To Moncure D. Conway
per Fanny C. Hesse
10 January 1877 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: NNC, UCCL 01400)

Hartford Jany 10th 1877

slc

Dear Conway

You did not enclose me the decision you speak of, but no matter about that.1 I see I am not so well situated here to fight Belford as you & Chatto are. The English [copywright] stands in your name[—]or Chatto’s—so you & C. go to work & prosecute Belford and collect that royalty. I couldnt do it without having your [copywright] transferred to me.2 Commercially speaking, Toronto is twice as far from Hartford as it is from London, & you & Chatto can prosecute Belford more conveniently than I can. The lawyer that won that other decision, is the very lawyer to conduct this suit for my [benefit: royalties]. Therefore I wish Chatto & you would go ahead & prosecute Belford in my interest & send the bill to me.3

Can you do it?

Ys Ever

Samℓ. L. Clemens

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS, signed and with a note by SLC: NNC.

Previous publication:

MicroPUL, reel 1.

Provenance:

The Conway Papers were acquired by NNC sometime after Conway’s death in 1907.

Emendations and textual notes:

copywright • [sic]

— • —

copywright • [sic]

benefit: royalties • [possibly a dictated correction by Clemens's self-correction, not Hesse's]