Madame Kalergi’s intercession in your concert affair gives me great joy.  Beautiful and noble traits of that kind are, unfortunately, seldom met with.  Will you kindly forward the enclosed lines to my gracious lady protectress?  I do not know her present address.  You are once more in the old “Tannhauser” birth throes.  Much luck!  You will have to suffer much at the rehearsals, and have perhaps never undergone so hard a trial of patience as the re-writing and studying of this work, which to you is partly “ein uberwundener Standpunkt,” as friend Brendel says.  Through means of the “Presse Theatrale”, which is kindly sent to me, I remain au courant of your exertions.  Be not too much annoyed at being an immortal poet and composer; there is nothing worse in this world to which one should apply the following modified version of Leibnitz’s well-known axiom:  Tout est pour le mieux, dans un des plus mauvais mondes possible!

Alas!  I lately again had a great misfortune.  One of my few friends, the bravest and most self-sacrificing of all, is dead.  Her name was Clara Riese, and she lived as pianoforte teacher at Leipzig, where, on Tuesday, I accompanied her to her last place of rest in the old Johannes cemetery.

Up to the last day I was in hopes that her incredible strength of character would keep her alive; but in vain.

Excuse this mournful message, but I am still so full of her death that I cannot help thinking of it.

Nothing is happening here.  D. showed me your letter about “Rienzi”, and I am thankful to you for having behaved in so accommodating and generous a manner.  The opera will be taken in hand at the commencement of the season (September), and after the first performance I intend to have some conversation with His Serene Highness.  Before that it would be useless.

Have you heard anything from Seebach?  Madame Kalergi will be the best and most useful intercessor you could employ in this matter.

May everything succeed to your heart’s desire.

Your

F. Liszt.

From the Princess I continue to have very good news; she will probably remain in Rome for some time to come.

In October Hartel will publish the last two of my twelve Symphonic Poems, “Hamlet”, and “The Battle of the Huns.”  As soon as I have an opportunity I shall send you my medley of songs to Paris.

307.

My dear Richard,

It will be quite right and proper for you to pay a call of thanks to the Princess Regent at Baden-Baden.  Considering the well-known favour in which you stand with the Princess, and the sterling quality of her sympathy, she will not fail to have a favourable influence on the course your circumstances will take in the immediate future.  Your presenting yourself personally to her is most likely to increase, if possible, her interest in your works.  All this is right, and as it should be; on the other hand, it is a pity that