Weymar, April 3rd, 1853
100. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear Friend,
Good advice is seldom cheap, and I must honestly confess that in my present very fluctuating circumstances I am not rich enough to help you efficaciously by lending you a helping hand, however much I might wish to do so. Stahr's refusal is very much to be regretted, for, in order to attain your end and to influence the world of literature, you positively require more literary men of great note to join you. Next to the money question the formation of the nucleus of management is the most important matter in this undertaking. However zealous and self-sacrificing you and Schlonbach [Arnold Schlonbach, journalist, died long ago.] may be in devoting your talents and powers to the paper, yet I doubt whether you will be able to keep it going unless you get some further capable men of talent as co-operators. This brings us, however, again to the money question, which I unfortunately am not in a position to solve. To be obliged to give it up after six months would be a far worse fate than not to begin it at all. Therefore, before everything, the moral guarantee must be forthcoming for its continuance, and for the constantly increasing spread of the paper, and these depend principally on the guarantee which the first five or six co-operators warrant. You remark quite truly that, if Wagner would take an interest in the matter, it would be of the greatest help. Perhaps he might be persuaded to do so, and I will willingly start the subject to him.
The title, size (as well as the limits of the paper, and cover), and fortnightly issue give me thorough satisfaction, and according to my opinion nothing more need be altered in these three particulars. A weekly issue has its advantages— nevertheless I have always thought that two papers per month are on the whole better than four. But whether it is possible and advisable to make the first start as early as July I much question. "Tout vient a point a qui sait attendre," says the French proverb. It certainly is important to seize the right moment, and that must be decided by you. Let me only beg you not to give too much weight to passing and local influences, and only to come forward when you can hold your ground with quiet, deliberate courage. Retreat belongs to the enemy. For us it is "Gradatim vincimus."
The matter of the security remains as promised. If you should not be ready by July, October would be just as favorable, if not more so—only, in Heaven's name, no backward step when once started!— Some articles of provision and ammunition seem to me to be absolutely necessary before you begin. Two months are a short time to get them ready, and I scarcely think it will be possible for you to be ready for action by July. Have you written yet to Wagner? You must not expect much from Hettner without Stahr. But, through Hinrichs or Franz, Hauenschild might perhaps be won over. I advise you to stick fast to Schwind. One of his last pictures, "Beethoven's Fancy," bought by the King of Greece, points to him above all others as the representative of painting in your paper.
May I beg you also to send a few lines to Kurnberger to tell him that I have given you his manuscript? It would be discourteous if I were to leave him without any answer, and, as I cannot say anything further to him, we should save useless circumlocution if you would be so good as to correspond with him direct.
Incidentally you would also save me another letter about nothing, if you would write to Lenz (on the subject of this conference).
Whilst I am talking with you, Senora Pepita Oliva is doing her favorite tricks at the theater, which are more prized and rated higher than they deserve, so I am assured. "J'aime mieux y croire qu'y aller voir." [I would rather take it for granted than go and see it.] The brothers Wieniawski have also been here some days. The violinist is a virtuoso of importance,—that is to say, in the ordinary, but not quite correct, sense of this word; for Virtuoso comes from Virtu, and should neither be so falsified nor so misapplied.
Yours very truly,