Edward Bellasis, London, 17. Februar 1879
H.M. Herald's College
London E.C.
17. Feb. 1879
Dear Sir,
I have the exclusive copyright of "Cherubini", and I make no conditions. I am only too glad you shd. undertake it. I know your name now well, and I am much honoured, and you write English well! I want and I mean to send you a copy with M.S. corrections and additions. Some of the authorities being German you will only have to turn to them. Herr von Billow has called my attention to the work of the Florence Cherubini Society, and I must have something more to say about it to do justice to Mme. Laussot, the foundress, whom I do not even name. Herr Hiller has written an interesting notice of Cherubini of which I am now availing myself in the copy I mean to send you.
The little Leipsic life (anonymous) of Cherubini which, you see, I mistook for Arnold's work, has partly disappeared, and I have only a few pages (which I enclose with Arnold's life, since discovered after my book was printed).
I do not know German and I had to be very imperfectly helped, so you might get the Leipsic life again and look at it. I wished to make my life as complete as possible, so I ommited nothing, at the cost of what may look like repetition now and then. Now, shd. this Arnold's life (which please return when done with) contain any new things omitted, will you kindly put them in the book? I am not a scientific musician, and think very little of my few criticisms which must appear shallow to deep Germans, but my love, admiration and enthusiasm for this noble man and genius is unbounded. I have had some correspondence with his daughter Mm. Rosselini at Pisa, but she added little to what is known of her father already.
Alas! there are so few letters and not much to show the "man", as he lived, but I suppose there is no help for it. Count d'Orczy is here now. He seems a profound musician, but his theories are too advanced? He will have nothing much to say for Bach, Händel, Mozart, Meyerbeer, or Mendelssohn. Is it not strange? or am I wrong, and behind the age?! Liszt and Wagner are his gods (and perhaps himself!).
The copy will come soon.
With much esteem and thanks,
I am, dear sir,
Yours truly,
Edward Bellasis
(Bluemantle)
Herr Rheinberger
etc. etc.
P.S. Lamara's life was corrected by Mme Rosselini. It is in German. You might see it, but I have an Italian copy here, and I will inspect it before I send the additions and book. Meanwhile you can go on without delaying, as the mass of the text remains unaltered. Some sentences I would have you put in notes instead of in the text, as you will see when my copy comes.
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