* * * * *
In answer to this and the preceding letter from Mendelssohn’s father,
Moscheles advises Felix to begin his projected tour with a visit to
London.
* * * * *
BERLIN, March 26, 1829.
DEAR SIR,--I sincerely thank you for your kind letter of the 23d of last
month, which has quite settled my plans. I shall follow your advice and
go to London first. Do not take it amiss if I now recall your kind
offers and take you at your word. If I am indiscreet, you have but your
own kindness and friendliness to blame; and so I trust you will make
allowances for my boldness, and will moreover grant my requests. Your
description of London is so attractive, and the way you meet my wishes
so friendly, that it is no wonder I made up my mind at once.
According to your advice, I have made inquiries about the boats between
Hamburg and London. The first sails on the 4th of April, and after that,
one every week. It will be impossible for me to leave by the first or
second, as I have hitherto not been able to make any preparations.
I have been very busy lately conducting, for the benefit of a charitable
institution, two performances of Sebastian Bach’s Passion according to
Saint Matthew, with the aid of the Sing-Akademie and the Royal Band; and
now the public is loud in its demands for a third performance, which,
however, is quite out of the question.
The whole thing has so interfered with the completion of some of my own
compositions, and with various business, that I shall require at least a
fortnight to prepare for my departure; then I want to stay a few days in
Hamburg, so I shall leave only by the third steamer, on the 18th of
April, due in London on the 20th. If all goes well, I leave Berlin on
the 10th of April, arrive in Hamburg on the 12th, and shall call upon
you at your house on the 20th. You cannot fancy how delighted I am at
the prospect of seeing you in the midst of your own happy surroundings
and in the brilliant position you occupy, and how anxious I am too to
hear your latest compositions, especially the new symphony you speak of.
Paganini is here; he gives his last concert on Saturday, and then goes
direct to London, where I believe he will meet with immense success, for
his never-erring execution is beyond conception. You ask too much if you
expect me to give a description of his playing. It would take up the
whole letter; for he is so original, so unique, that it would require an
exhaustive analysis to convey an impression of his style.
Now, to my great requests; I put them, trusting to your kind indulgence.
Can you really take rooms for me, as you suggest in your letter?
Anything would be welcome, however small, if in your neighborhood. If
so, please let Klingemann know; he would have time to send me the
address to Berlin. Secondly, I want your advice as to whether I should
really bring the scores of some of my compositions, and if so, which
would be the best to select? I was thinking of my Overture to “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream;” do you think that suitable? And if I pack
manuscripts in my portmanteau, shall I be able to pass the custom-house
without difficulty? In that case I would bring several of my
compositions, and submit them to your judgment previous to making a
selection.
I by no means expect you to answer all my questions yourself, for I know
how precious every single moment of your time in London is; but if you
will give Klingemann the desired information and your decisions on the
above, you will again oblige me, and add one more claim to my sincere
gratitude.