only produces, but also represents.  Whatever formerly, as a pianist, you might play, it was always the personal communication of your beautiful individuality which revealed entirely new and unknown things to us, and he only was able and competent to judge you to whom you had played in a happy mood.  This new and indescribably individual element was still dependent on your personality, and without your actual presence it did, properly speaking, not exist.  On hearing you one felt sad, because these marvels were to be irretrievably lost with your person, for it is absurd to think that you could perpetuate your art through your pupils, as some one at Berlin boasted lately.  But nature, by some infallible means, always takes care of the permanent existence of that which she produces so seldom and only under abnormal conditions; and she showed you the right way.  You were led to perpetuate the miracle of your personal communication in a manner which made it independent of your individual existence.  That which you played on the piano would not have been sufficient for this purpose, for it became only through means of your personal interpretation what it appeared to us to be; for which reason, let me repeat it, it was frequently indifferent what and whose works you played.  You, therefore, without any effort, hit upon the idea of replacing your personal art by the orchestra, that is, by compositions which, through the inexhaustible means of expression existing in the orchestra, were able to reflect your individuality without the aid of your individual presence.  Your orchestral works represent to me, so to speak, your personal art in a monumental form; and in that respect they are so new, so incomparable to anything else, that criticism will take a long time to find out what to make of them.  Ah me! all this seems very awkward and open to misunderstanding in a letter; but when we meet I think I shall be able to tell you many new things which you have made clear to me.  I hope I shall have the necessary leisure and sufficient lucidity of expression.  For that purpose I want good health; for, failing this, I always lapse into that fatal irritability which frustrates everything, and always leaves the best things unsaid.  For the same reason, and because our meeting is to me, as it were, the goal for which I strive as the one desirable end, my only care now is the perfect recovery of my health.  Let us hope that my efforts and many sacrifices will lead me to it.  I shall take care to send you accounts at frequent intervals.  My amnesty is of importance to me for this reason only, that in the case of success my way to you would always lie open; if it is granted to me you will have to put up with me for some time next winter.

Franz Muller has congratulated me on my birthday in a very touching manner.  I cannot write to him today, but I ask you to give him the news I send you, and to assure him that his friendship is a great boon to me.  In case he cannot accompany you when you visit me, I hope to become thoroughly acquainted with him at your house in the autumn, if only the Saxon Minister of Justice will listen to reason.  Even his intention of visiting me has made me very happy.