Private.     (New York—flying visit.)

I have been reading all over the country during the past 4 months, & have just finished & am attacking a big accumulation of mail matter. I find your favor of Jan. 8 informing me that 750 francs have been paid for the authorization to translate Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn. Good—I think that that is the Fren first French money I have corraled.

General Grant has written his autobiography—2 vols., octavo; about 500 pages each—& I competed with other publishers, for it—successfully. I shall issue it about Dec. 1st. Necessarily the sale will exceed that of any book that has ever been published in America. General Grant will own his foreign copyrights himself, but Webster will go abroad in August & make the contracts with publishers for him. Webster will necessarily have to make the best trade he can for the General, but I want you to think it over & be prepared to make an offer that will put the book into your hands.

General Grant’s death will strike this country to the heart when it comes; & we are all afraid it is not far away now. He is failing steadily, & the disease is incurable.