* * * * *
“It is with so much pleasure I see your handwriting, your ideas and
views have so much charm for me (although I occasionally think they may
yet ripen to full maturity), I so fully recognize your genius, and am
personally so much attached to you, that the word ‘friendship’ but
inadequately expresses my feelings. Similarly, it is a source of
happiness to me to know that your thoughts are often with me, aware, as
I am, how constantly you are surrounded by an admiring circle of
friends.”
* * * * *
In reference to the preparations for a performance of “Saint Paul” in
England, he says:--
* * * * *
“I am glad to find that all promises well for your Oratorio in England.
Novello, Sir George Smart, and the whole profession are looking forward
to its production with sympathy and interest. Like Hercules, you have
throttled Envy while still in the cradle.
“Klingemann, Smart, and Novello are busy directing Mr. Ball, the
translator. I have offered to correct the proofs, but have not yet
received them.”
* * * * *
SPEIER, April 6, 1837.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--Forgive my not having written for so long; the fact
that it is a week since I was married, and that this is my first letter
to a friend, must be my excuse. I need not tell you, and could not, if I
tried, how the events of last year have added new prospects of happiness
to my life, how all that is good has become doubly dear to me, all that
is bad easier to put up with, how happy were the last months, how
heavenly the last days! Looking back to the past and planning for the
future, my thoughts have often reverted to you in friendship and
affection, and to the happy hours spent with you. Believe me, I am truly
grateful to you and your wife, and can never forget how many kindnesses
you have at all times heaped on me. I have heard about you, both from
Schumann and Bennett, but more particularly from Klingemann, who in his
last letter describes some of your _soirées_, and your playing of
Scarlatti, Handel, and Bach. It must have been delightful and what is
more delightful still, he drops a word about new “Studies” that you are
going to play on one of these evenings. So you have at last written
some; you cannot fancy how impatient I am to get them, what a treat it
will be to me, and how refreshing to have something new to study. For
really the piano music of the present day is such that I cannot make up
my mind to play it through more than once; it is so desperately empty
and poor that I usually get tired of it on the first page. I positively
dislike Thalberg’s work as regards the composition; and the good piano
passages seem to me of no earthly use, so little soul is there in them.
I could no more play his music than I could ever make up my mind to play
a note of Kalkbrenner’s; it goes against my nature, and I should feel
mean if I attempted such fingerwork with a serious face. Chopin’s new
things, too, I don’t quite like, and that is provoking. So, you see, it
is doubly pleasant to think of the old “Studies” and to look forward to
new ones. When shall we have them, and will there be more than one book?
Your wife, I suppose, I had better not address, for I am sure she is
dreadfully angry; and, to say the truth, I am rather afraid of her.
Nevertheless I do address her, for I want to speak of _my_ wife, and say
I hope she will not visit my sins upon her; on the contrary, she must be
ready to like her and to love her a little when she becomes acquainted
with her; and truly my dear Cécile deserves it, and I think I need not
make any appeal to your wife, but simply introduce her and say, “This
is Cécile,”--the rest will follow naturally. And do you know, it is
quite possible I may bring her to you soon. I have had an invitation
from Birmingham to conduct my “Saint Paul” at the Festival, and feel
much inclined to accept. If I come, it may be in the autumn, or perhaps
sooner, about the middle of August. But shall you be in England then?
That is usually the time when you are away; it would be too great a pity
if we weren’t to meet. I cannot ask you to let me know about your
plans,--for such a correspondent as I am can beg for pardon, but not for
an answer; so send me word through Klingemann. But if you have leisure,
and are disposed to treat me to a few lines, please address, all through
the summer, care of M. T. Herz, Frankfurt.
If we meet this year, as I do hope we shall, I shall have several new
things to show you. I have worked a good deal lately, and mean to be
still more industrious. I shall send your wife a new book of Songs which
is to appear in a few days, as soon as I get it.
And now good-by, my dear, dear friend; best love to your wife, and to
the children if they haven’t forgotten me and the carnations. If you see
Klingemann tell him that I will shortly write to him, perhaps from
Strassburg, where I am going to-morrow, from there to Freiburg and Bâle,
and so back to Frankfurt. And now that I must end, I feel as if
everything yet remained to be said. Forget not
Yours,