Your cordially devoted
F. Liszt
January 22nd, 1864
To Kahnt my best thanks for having sent the last parcel of music correctly. Postage and dues cost over 13 Prussian thalers. By the way, do not offend me any longer by franking your letters. I on my part frank my letters only when I send you a letter-parcel containing copies, etc.
Last postscript. .—. Do me the one other favor of seeing that my enclosed answer safely reaches Herr B. I do not know his address- -and, although we may have met in Weimar, as he once wrote to me, I have scarcely any recollection of the fact.
Do not be vexed at the apparent presumption and vain-glory of this last communication for today…My modesty will sufficiently come to my rescue to prevent my putting too many feathers in my cap! [The German proverb of which Liszt makes use is "allzugrosse Rosinen im Kopfe tragen." Besides, thank God, I am too honest and truth-loving to fall a victim to vanity.
27. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear Friend,
Excuse an intermezzo on music-publishers today. I have received from Julius Schuberth and from Peters' Bureau de Musique contradictory letters about some right or unrighteous edition of my arrangement of Beethoven's "Septet". Schuberth's communication is many-sided, the other very one-sided, but neither of them enlightens me in the least, for it is a question of long since, and I scarcely remember where and for whom I arranged the "Septet", now more than 20 years ago. And although Schuberth has given me but little cause to be satisfied with his editions, still I should not wish to do him any injury by this piece of business, [An untranslatable pun on the words Handel and Handel] and hence I have not sent him any reply. For the same reason I shall leave Peters' communication unanswered, and must get you, dear friend, to make these two gentlemen understand that I cannot mix myself up with any of their disputes as publishers. And in order that you may obtain an insight into the matter I send you, herewith, Peters' letter, with regard to which I can only say that I have no recollection of having made a duet arrangement of Beethoven's "Septet"…Yet this is precisely what I do not wish to say. Let the two gentlemen settle the matter amicably between themselves and ignore my existence altogether.
As Bulow is happily back, the programmes of the Carlsruhe Musical Festival will now soon be finally drawn up. Remenyi, who has played here some half-dozen times in the Teatro Argentina with extraordinary success, has a decided inclination to appear at the Musical Festival; I told him, however, that Conzertmeister Singer had probably already been engaged. Should Singer not be able to come, I would recommend Remenyi with absolute confidence. Of all the violinists I know, I could scarcely name three who could equal him as regards effect. Tell Bulow of Remenyi's friendly offer, and let me know at your convenience whether it is accepted.—