P.S.—When will the "Gradus ad Parnassum" come out?—You will receive the copy of my Studies, which are dedicated to you, through Mr. Lowy in a few days.
88. To Breitkopf and Hartel
[Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney]
Weymar, October 30th, 1852
My Dear Mr. Hartel,
I have given up to a friend the piano which you have been so good as to lend me for some years, and he (as I have already informed you verbally) asks me to let him defer the payment of it till the end of this month. I therefore take this opportunity of proposing to you either to let you immediately have the sum fixed upon for the piano (400 thalers), or else to make a settlement of reciprocal terms up to now, by which we shall be quits towards each other. The pleasure and advantage which I find in my relations with your house are too valuable to me for me not to do all in my power properly to maintain them, by conforming to your wishes and intentions. Of my works published by your house there are, if I mistake not, five—
12 Etudes d'execution transcendante (2 books), 6 Etudes d'apres Paganini (2 books), Grand Concerto Solo, Fantaisie and Fugue on the Chorale from the Prophete (No. 4 of the "Illustrations du Prophete"), Mass (with Pater Noster and Ave Maria) for four male voices with organ accompaniment
—upon which we have deferred putting a price until now. Without trying to deceive myself as to the moderate returns which these (as it happens, rather voluminous) works may bring to your house, I should venture however to flatter myself that they have not been an expense to you, and that they are even works not unsuited to your catalogue. However things may be, I beg you to be so good as to use towards me the same sincerity that I employ towards you, persuaded as I am that sincerity is the only basis of any lasting connection, especially when one has to do with things which divers circumstances may render more delicate and complicated. Allow me then at last, my dear Mr. Hartel, to propose to you to square our accounts by my keeping your piano in exchange for the above-mentioned five manuscripts, which should also acquit me for the works of Marx and Kiesewetter that you have sent me, so that, if my proposition suits you, we should be entirely quits.
I was glad to hear that Mr. Jahn had had occasion to be satisfied with his journey to Vienna, and I beg you to assure him that I am entirely at his disposal with regard to any steps to be taken to help on his work on Beethoven, for which I am delighted to be of any service to him.
In a fortnight's time I am expecting Mr. Berlioz here. The performances of "Benvenuto Cellini" will take place on the 18th and 20th November, and on the 21st the Symphonies of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Faust" will be performed, which I proposed to you to publish. If your numerous occupations would allow of your coming here for the 20th and 21st I am certain that it would be a great interest to you to hear these exceptional works, of which it is a duty and an honor to me not to let Weymar be in ignorance.