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LEIPZIG, April 15, 1843.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--Thanks for your letter of March 10, which was anything
but a dry business memorandum, as it announced itself, but one of those
kind and friendly letters which I always most heartily welcome. But
now, do tell me what can have given you the idea that I was appointed
Director of the Leipzig Music School, and that “all plans of our living
together in Germany would vanish into thin air,” etc. I am not
appointed, and I am as anxious to have you here as ever, and confidently
trust our plans will not prove castles in the air. You must have taken
some newspaper paragraph for gospel truth; and you know that in my
opinion they have been known to fall very short of that. These are
really the facts:--
Three years ago I endeavored to found a music-school in Leipzig; and
after endless interviews and exchanges of letters with some prominent
men here, and also with the King, I felt, on my return from Berlin, that
there was no time to be lost, and that it was a case of now or never. My
engagements in Berlin did not allow of my accepting a permanent
appointment here; but I took the matter in hand last November, and,
having got the necessary funds, the school was opened, and I engaged to
act as one of the teachers during the time I should remain here. I wrote
to you then, and expressed my ardent desire to see you eventually at the
head of the institution. Nothing has changed my desire since; only, what
was then a long-cherished plan became four weeks ago a reality, and
promises to bear good fruit.
Now, if we could only persuade you to come! Whether I am here or not,
it would be equally desirable to have you at the head of the
institution. So far the Board of Directors is composed of only five
gentlemen, none of whom are musicians. The six teachers are subordinate
to them, but amongst themselves they are on an equal footing. But I
believe that later on, when the institution develops, as seems very
likely to be the case, a change will be necessary, and a musical man
will have to join the Directors, or even to take the lead independently.
And that is the position which, in connection with the Subscription
Concerts, would be worthy of your acceptance. The difficulty is to get
them to make you a definite proposal, both from a business and a musical
point of view. No doubt, they would all like to have you here; but
liking and wishing and thinking alone will not do it; and how absolutely
necessary it is to come to a clear understanding in such matters, I
should have learnt during the course of my negotiations in Berlin, had I
not already been aware of the fact.
Have you received an offer from Prague to take the directorship of the
Conservatorium there? Spohr’s name was mentioned in connection with it,
and so was yours. That he was asked, and that he refused, I know for a
fact. I am anxious to hear whether there is any foundation for the rumor
connecting your name with it.
I do not know what the appointment is like, but am enough of a patriot
to wish that you lived in Germany rather than in England. The paper is
at an end, so good-by.
Yours ever,