Autograph Letter Signed

An Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Samuel Clemens regarding his nephew Samuel E. Moffett (1860–1908), with fascinating personal content and notable associations, to Colonel George Brinton McClellan Harvey (1864-1928).

ALS. 2pp. in black ink on a folded sheet of notepaper, dated Feb. 22 with no year present, but circa 1899 (the year that Colonel Harvey acquired the North American Review) to 1908 (the year of Samuel Moffett's death), 11.4cm*14.5cm, near fine.

The letter reads as follows:

"Dear Col. Harvey,

I asked my nephew, Samuel Moffett, some time ago to write something for the North American & I promised to submit it to you & see if you wanted it.

The subject is all right - it is the question which is working its way to the front now - & I am partial enough to think it is a good paper. But you are the final court.

Of course I wish Aldrich would consent, for what he says is grand praise & comes from an authority; but I am afraid to ask him. If I had arrived at it through someone else I should not be afraid, for in that case it would be only a compliment to ask him, & no embarrassment involved for either party. Won't you ask him? Or Munro? Both of you know him well enough. It seems a quite proper thing to do. What do you think?

Sincerely Yours

SL. Clemens"

The recipient of the letter was Colonel George Brinton McClellan Harvey (1864-1928); a publisher, author, diplomat, street Railway Magnate, journalist, and magazine editor. Born in Vermont, Colonel Harvey first worked at the Springfield Republican after completing his high school studies. He then became managing editor of Joseph Pulitzer's New York World at the age of 26. After assembling a great fortune as a street railway magnate, he acquired prestigious literary magazines, including The North American Review in 1899, which published Clemens' Autobiographical segments in 1906 and 1907. He became President of Harper & Brothers in November 1900 with the encouragement of J.P. Morgan who was the company's major creditor. Harvey and H.H. Rogers negotiated long-term contracts for publishing Clemens' works.

Harvey's title of Colonel honoured his service in New Jersey politics as an advisor to Woodrow Wilson when he was the New Jersey Governor, rather than military service. Arthur Link (1920-1998), an American historian and the leading authority on Woodrow Wilson, said of Harvey: "More than any other single individual, he was responsible for Wilson's political career." The two men later fell out as Harvey believed Wilson was damaging the interests of business with the progressive era reforms he implemented. Harvey ultimately gave his support to Conservative Republican causes such as opposition to the League of Nations. Harvey served as United States Ambassador to Great Britain between 1921-1923 under President Warren Harding. He died in New Hampshire in 1928.

Munro who Clemens refers to in the letter is David Alexander Munro (1845-1910); General Manager of the North American Review (1889-96), Editor (1896-99), and later Assistant Editor when Colonel Harvey bought the magazine in 1899.

Aldrich who Clemens refers to in the letter is Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907); a novelist, poet, traveller and editor. Clemens "first met Aldrich, after corresponding for some months, in November 1871. The two enjoyed a lifelong friendship. SLC said he "could not admire" Aldrich's The Story of a Bad Boy (1869) but it is clearly a model for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In his autobiography SLC praised Aldrich's brilliant conversation, remarking that he had no peer for "pithy and witty and humorous sayings." (Mark Twain Project.) At the height of his writing career, Aldrich was even more popular than Clemens and other great Authors such as Walt Whitman. Clemens commented on Aldrich at his memorial service in 1908: "Aldrich's life was cheerful and happy. I knew him 40 years. He was one of the brightest men it has ever been my pleasure to know."

The subject of the letter, Samuel Moffett (1860–1908), was born in St. Louis on 5th November 1860 to William Moffett (1816-1865) and Pamela Moffett (1827-1904), the sister of Samuel Clemens. In his childhood, Moffett displayed an aptitude for literary work. He commenced his university studies at the University of California, and after two years he moved to Columbia University where he finished his studies. Upon graduating, Moffett embarked on a career as a newspaper reporter. He was advised by his uncle to approach newspapers and offer his services for no financial remuneration. This advice came from Clemens' own experience from his pilot training. Moffett and Clemens appear to have had a close relationship as evidenced by the letter where Clemens is trying to help advance his nephew's career. When Clemens started his trip around the world in 1894, Moffett accompanied him as far as San Francisco.

Moffett started his newspaper work in California and quickly progressed to the position of chief editorial writer of The San Francisco Evening Post by 1865. In 1891 he went to Washington as correspondent for The San Francisco Examiner. Two years later he returned to San Francisco and worked as the chief editorial writer for the same paper. The owner of The San Francisco Examiner, William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951), took Moffett with him to New York where he worked for The Journal for four years. In 1902, Moffett became managing editor of The Cosmopolitan. A year later he took up the position of editorial writer for The World, where he stayed for two years before joining Collier's as editor. In addition to his newspaper work, Moffett authored several books on tariffs, currency and government. Some of the books he had published included: The Tariff (1892), Chapters on Silver (1893), and Suggestions on Government (1894). Moffett tragically died in 1908 after having a stroke whilst swimming off the coast of New Jersey.

Pamela Moffett (1827-1904) was Clemens' only sister who survived into adulthood. Eight years older than her famous brother, Pamela was likely the model for Cousin Mary in Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and other works. Pamela played the piano and guitar. Whilst growing up in the 1840s, Pamela provided financial support to her family by giving music lessons. In 1851 Pamela married the St. Louis Merchant, William Moffett, with the couple having two children together: Samuel and Annie. William Moffett loaned Clemens the $100 down payment he had required to become a pilot. During the Civil War, Pamela worked for the United States Sanitary Commission. The Civil War devastated her husband's business and William passed away in 1865. Pamela moved to New York in 1870, to be closer to Clemens, who had recently married and settled in nearby Buffalo.

Provenance: This letter was previously held within the private collection of Fred Bentley Sr. (1926-2019). Mr Bentley was an attorney based in Georgia, USA, and also served as a State Representative and State Senator in his home state. Mr Bentley put together a great private collection of rare books and historical manuscripts during his lifetime. He gave generously to his local community by donating two rare book libraries to Georgia educational institutions: The Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Bentley, Sr. Rare Book Gallery at Kennesaw State University and the Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Bentley, Sr. Rare Book Gallery at Brenau University in Gainseville, Georgia. (Bentley Law.)

(Mark Twain Project.) (New York Times.) (Mark Twain Studies.) (The Willa Cather Archive.) (Mark Twain House.) (Bentley Law.)

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