17 December 1873 • London, England (MS: NHi, UCCL 01009)
London, Dec. 17.
I shall go to the provinces about ten days hence, & lecture 2 or 3 times each in Glasgow, EdinburghⒶemendation, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Manchester, Liverpool, &c—that is if we can get halls upon dates that suit us—otherwise we’ll talk in other big towns.
I sail for home in the Abysinnia ⒶemendationJan 17.1explanatory note I find I don’t like the idea of buckling in on another long siege in New York after this heavy one. So what I want to do, is, to talk in Steinway Hall on a Thursday, & Friday evenings, Saturday afternoon (& possibly ) Saturday night. Then talk possibly Monday & Tuesday in Boston & retire permanently from the platform—for it is my very last. Any time in February will suit me. How does it strike you?2explanatory note
Your answer can’t reach me here, I think. Send it to Hartford.
letter docketed: boston lyceum bureau. james redpath jan 22 1874 and Twain Mark | London | Eng. | Dec. 17 1873
Clemens ultimately changed both his lecture plans and his departure date: see 30 Dec 73 to Fitzgibbonclick to open link.
Clemens appeared on the platform only once in early 1874, on 5 March in Boston (“Roughing It—Lecture by Mark Twain,” Boston Evening Transcript, 6 Mar 74, 8).
MS, New York Historical Society, New York City (NHi).
L5 , 523.