The score of the first act of the “Valkyrie” will soon be ready; it is wonderfully beautiful.  I have done nothing like it or approaching it before.  My complaint that you seldom answer me in the proper sense of the word you have misunderstood.  It did not refer to external matters, like Dresden and Berlin, but exclusively to internal ones, for which I thought I had given you plenty of material.

After having been in Paris together, should we not try to meet in London also?  How can we manage it?  And how about the translation?  I am looking forward to it with immense pleasure, and shall use it for learning English after all.  Shall I receive it here?

I start on the 25th.  If you find it necessary to write to me at once at London, address to Ferdinand Prager, 31, Milton Street, Dorset Square.  I shall stay with him till I have found a convenient lodging.  Could you give me an introduction to the London Erard and ask him to put a nice grand piano in my room?  I shall be glad to see Klindworth.  Farewell for today.  Give me another pleasure soon, and remember me at home.

Your

R. W.

174.

Pardon me, dearest Franz, for writing a few lines to ask you a favour.  I did not communicate with you before because I waited for the copy of my “Faust” overture to be ready.  I expect it in a few days, and shall send it you at once, together with a proper letter.  For today only the following:—­

The French ambassador is going to give me his vise [i.e. the French term for “visa”] of my passport through France after repeated applications in Paris, but this is subject to all manner of chicanery, which is disgusting to me, and must be got out of the way, so that in future I may be able to pass without difficulty and at any time through and into France.  I shall therefore pay a visit to the Minister of the Interior in Paris, and see whether I can succeed in putting a stop to these vexations.  It would, no doubt, be very useful if some one of the court of Weimar (no one better than the Grand Duke himself, perhaps through his minister in Paris) could give me an introduction which would make me favourably known to the people there and teach them a little reason.  I am prepared to make every necessary promise in return.  Do see what you can achieve.

I start in a fortnight; therefore no delay, please.

You will hear in a few days from

Your

R. W.

February 9th, 1855.

175.

Dearest Richard,

The Grand Duke has been in bed for several weeks, and I shall probably not be able to see him for a fortnight.  Apart from this, it will not be quite so easy to settle offhand the matter you have entrusted to me, but I promise that I shall not fail to take the proper steps, and I hope to send you satisfactory news within twelve days or a fortnight.  Berlioz has been here since Sunday, and is busily engaged conducting rehearsals for the performance of his “Trilogie Sacree” ("L’Enfance du Christ”) and his “Symphonic Phantastique,” including the second part thereof, which he calls a monodrame lyrique.  I send you programme and libretto.