F. D. & E. (Field, Dungeon and Escape) and are now printing 41,000, of “Beyond the Mississippi,” and large orders ahead.  If you have any thought of writing a book, or could be induced to do so, we should be pleased to see you; and will do so.  Will you do us the favor to reply at once, at your earliest convenience. 
                                   Very truly, &c.,
                                                  E. Bliss, Jr. 
          
                                             Secty.

     Clemens had already the idea of a book in mind and welcomed this
     proposition.

To Elisha Bliss, Jr., in Hartford: 

Washington, Dec. 2, 1867. 
E. Bliss, Jr.  Esq. 
Sec’y American Publishing Co.—­

Dear sir,—­I only received your favor of Nov. 21st last night, at the rooms of the Tribune Bureau here.  It was forwarded from the Tribune office, New York, where it had lain eight or ten days.  This will be a sufficient apology for the seeming discourtesy of my silence.

I wrote fifty-two (three) letters for the San Francisco “Alta California” during the Quaker City excursion, about half of which number have been printed, thus far.  The “Alta” has few exchanges in the East, and I suppose scarcely any of these letters have been copied on this side of the Rocky Mountains.  I could weed them of their chief faults of construction and inelegancies of expression and make a volume that would be more acceptable in many respects than any I could now write.  When those letters were written my impressions were fresh, but now they have lost that freshness; they were warm then—­they are cold, now.  I could strike out certain letters, and write new ones wherewith to supply their places.  If you think such a book would suit your purpose, please drop me a line, specifying the size and general style of the volume; when the matter ought to be ready; whether it should have pictures in it or not; and particularly what your terms with me would be, and what amount of money I might possibly make out of it.  The latter clause has a degree of importance for me which is almost beyond my own comprehension.  But you understand that, of course.

I have other propositions for a book, but have doubted the propriety of interfering with good newspaper engagements, except my way as an author could be demonstrated to be plain before me.  But I know Richardson, and learned from him some months ago, something of an idea of the subscription plan of publishing.  If that is your plan invariably, it looks safe.

I am on the N. Y. Tribune staff here as an “occasional,”, among other
things, and a note from you addressed to
                                   Very truly &c. 
                                             Sam L. Clemens,

New York Tribune Bureau, Washington, will find me, without fail.