This seems the most likely explanation but requires a typo or 
mis-identification on somebody's part; Nathaniel is not Richard.

On 10/9/23 15:33, Barbara Schmidt wrote:
> Scott,
>
> This is likely in reference to the Webster & Co. publication of this book
> in 1888 -- listed in my article online at
>
> http://twainquotes.com/websterco.html
>
> Burton, Rev. Nathaniel J., *Yale Lectures on Preaching and Other Writings*
>
> Barb
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 9, 2023 at 5:14 PM Scott Holmes<[log in to unmask]>  wrote:
>
>> There is an entry in Day By Day for May 17, 1788 that has me
>> puzzled:*May 17 Thursday* – *Frederick J. Hall** for Webster &
>> Co.* wrote to Sam: “Your favor received, also the watch. We will pay the
>> Burton bill, the bill for composition and electrotyping on the Burton
>> book, and also send you invoice for the watch. We have forwarded a copy
>> of ‘The Library of Humor’.” Other finances were discussed [MTP]. /Note/:
>> *Richard E. Burton*.
>>
>> Who is this Burton and what book did he write?  This cannot be Richard
>> F. Burton, who figures so much in my treatment of Sam Clemens' travels
>> to Carson City.
>> --
>> /Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/
>>
-- 
/Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/