To-day we bought Mr. Chamberlain’s greenhouse & 100 feet of land adjoining our east line (to stop Mr. C. from building a dwelling house there); we have also set architect & builder to work to tear down our kitchen & build a bigger one; in June we shall tear out the reception room to make the our front hall bigger; & at the same time the decorators will decorate the walls & ceilings of our whole lower floor. Now also I am putting up a building in New York for my brass-casting works (Twain-Sneider patent.) TheseⒶemendation things, taken together, require quite a generous pile of money—added to which, high-priced artists & engravers are already at work on my new book (which I am going to issue at my sole & heavy expense & take all the profit myself—if any.) Wherefore, much as I like the watch-making scheme, I’ve got to stay out of it, for the reason that the enterprises above mentioned are going to call for the most of our ready money.

All our tribe are well & happy & send love & greeting to you all.