As George Sand and her party were obliged to stop at Marseilles, she had Chopin examined by Dr. Cauviere. This celebrated physician thought him in great danger, but, on seeing him recover rapidly, augured that with proper care his patient might nevertheless live a long time. Their stay at Marseilles was more protracted than they intended and desired; in fact, they did not start for Nohant till the 22nd of May. Dr. Cauviere would not permit Chopin to leave Marseilles before summer; but whether this was the only cause of the long sojourn of the Sand party in the great commercial city, or whether there were others, I have not been able to discover. Happily, we have first-hand information—namely, letters of Chopin and George Sand—to throw a little light on these months of the pianist-composer's life. As to his letters, their main contents consist of business matters—wranglings about terms, abuse of publishers, &c. Here and there, however, we find also a few words about his health, characteristic remarks about friends and acquaintances, interesting hints about domestic arrangements and the like—the allusion (in the letter of March 2, 1839) to a will made by him some time before, and which he wishes to be burned, will be read with some curiosity.
An extract or two from the letter which George Sand wrote on March 8, 1839, to Francois Rollinat, launches us at once in medias res.
At last we are in Marseilles. Chopin has stood the passage
very well. He is very weak here, but is doing infinitely
better in all respects, and is in the hands of Dr. Cauviere,
an excellent man and excellent physician, who takes a paternal
care of him, and who answers for his recovery. We breathe at
last, but after how many troubles and anxieties!...Write to me
here to the address of Dr. Cauviere, Rue de Rome, 71.
Chopin charges me to shake you heartily by the hand for him.
Maurice and Solange embrace you. They are wonderfully well.
Maurice has completely recovered.
Chopin to Fontana; Marseilles, March 2, 1839:—
You no doubt learned from Grzymala of the state of my health
and my manuscripts. Two months ago I sent you from Palma my
Preludes. After making a copy of them for Probst and getting
the money from him, you were to give to Leo 1,000 francs; and
out of the 1,500 francs which Pleyel was to give you for the
Preludes I wrote you to pay Nougi and one term to the
landlord. In the same letter, if I am not mistaken, I asked
you to give notice of my leaving the apartments; for were this
not done before April, I should be obliged to retain them for
the next quarter, till July.
The second batch of manuscripts may have now reached you; for
it must have remained a long time at the custom-house, on the
sea, and again at the custom-house.
I also wrote to Pleyel with the Preludes that I give him the
Ballade (which I sold to Probst for Germany) for 1,000 francs.
For the two Polonaises I asked 1,500 francs for France,
England, and Germany (the right of Probst is confined to the
Ballade). It seems to me that this is not too dear.
In this way you ought to get, on receiving the second batch of
manuscripts, from Pleyel 2,500 francs, and from Probst, for
the Ballade, 500 or 600 francs, I do not quite remember, which
makes altogether 3,000 francs.
I asked Grzymala if he could send me immediately at least 500
francs, which need not prevent him from sending me soon the
rest. Thus much for business.
Now if, which I doubt, you succeed in getting apartments from
next month, divide my furniture amongst you three: Grzymala,
Johnnie, and you. Johnnie has the most room, although not the
most sense, judging from the childish letter he wrote to me.
For his telling me that I should become a Camaldolite, let him
take all the shabby things. Do not overload Grzymala too much,
and take to your house what you judge necessary and
serviceable to you, as I do not know whether I shall return to
Paris in summer (keep this to yourself). At all events, we
will always write one another, and if, as I expect, it be
necessary to keep my apartments till July, I beg of you to
look after them and pay the quarterly rent.
For your sincere and truly affectionate letter you have an
answer in the second Polonaise. [FOOTNOTE: See next foot-
note.] It is not my fault that I am like a mushroom that
poisons when you unearth and taste it. I know I have never in
anything been of service to anyone, but also not of much to
myself.
I told you that in the first drawer of my writing-desk near
the door there was a paper which you or Grzymala or Johnnie
might unseal on a certain occasion. Now I beg of you to take
it out and, WITHOUT READING IT, BURN IT. Do this, I entreat
you, for friendship's sake. This paper is now of no use.
If Anthony leaves without sending you the money, it is very
much in the Polish style; nota bene, do not say to him a word
about it. Try to see Pleyel; tell him I have received no word
from him, and that his pianino is entrusted to safe hands.
Does he agree to the transaction I proposed to him?
The letters from home reached me all three together, with
yours, before going on board the vessel. I again send you one.
I thank you for the friendly help you give me, who am not
strong. My love to Johnnie, tell him that I did not allow
them, or rather that they were not permitted, to bleed me;
that I wear vesicatories, that I am coughing a very little in
the morning, and that I am not yet at all looked upon as a
consumptive person. I drink neither coffee nor wine, but milk.
Lastly, I keep myself warm, and look like a girl.
Chopin to Fontana; Marseilles, March 6, 1839:—
My health is still improving; I begin to play, eat, walk, and
speak, like other men; and when you receive these few words
from me you will see that I again write with ease. But once
more of business. I would like very much that my Preludes
should be dedicated to Pleyel (surely there is still time, for
they are not yet printed) and the Ballade to Robert Schumann.
The Polonaises, as they are, to you and to Kessler. If Pleyel
does not like to give up the dedication of the Ballade, you
will dedicate the Preludes to Schumann.
[FOOTNOTE: The final arrangement was that Op. 38, the
"Deuxieme Ballade," was dedicated to Robert Schumann; Op. 40,
the "Deux Polonaises," to Julius Fontana; the French and the
English edition of Op. 28, "Vingt-quatre Preludes," to Camille
Pleyel, and the German editon to J. C. Kessler.]
Garczynski called upon me yesterday on his way back from Aix;
he is the only person that I have received, for I keep the
door well shut to all amateurs of music and literature.
Of the change of dedication you will inform Probst as soon as
you have arranged with Pleyel.
From the money obtained you will give Grzymala 500 francs, the
rest, 2,500 francs, you will send me as soon as possible.
Love me and write.
Pardon me if I overwhelm you too much with commissions, but do
not be afraid, these are not the last. I think you do
willingly what I ask you.
My love to Johnnie.
Chopin to Fontana; Marseilles, March 10, 1839:—
Thanks for your trouble. I did not expect Jewish tricks from
Pleyel; but if it is so, I beg of you to give him the enclosed
letter, unless he makes no difficulties about the Ballade and
the Polonaises. On the other hand, on receiving for the
Ballade 500 francs from Probst, you will take it to
Schlesinger. If one has to deal with Jews, let it at least be
with orthodox ones. Probst may cheat me still worse; he is a
bird you will not catch. Schlesinger used to cheat me, he
gained enough by me, and he will not reject new profit, only
be polite to him. Though a Jew, he nevertheless wishes to pass
for something better.
Thus, should Pleyel make the least difficulties, you will go
to Schlesinger, and tell him that I give him the Ballade for
France and England for 800 francs, and the Polonaises for
Germany, England, and France for 1,500 francs (should he not
be inclined to give so much, give them for 1,400, 1,300, and
even for 1,200 francs). If he mentions the Preludes, you may
say that it is a thing long ago promised to Pleyel—he wished
to be the publisher of them; that he asked them from me as a
favour before my departure from Paris—as was really the case.
You see, my very dear friend, for Pleyel I could break with
Schlesinger, but for Probst I cannot. What is it to me if
Schlesinger makes Probst pay dearer for my manuscripts? If
Probst pays dear for them to Schlesinger, it shows that the
latter cheats me, paying me too little. After all, Probst has
no establishment in Paris. For all my printed things
Schlesinger paid me at once, and Probst very often made me
wait for money. If he will not have them all, give him the
Ballade separately, and the Polonaises separately, but at the
latest within two weeks. If he does not accept the offer, then
apply to Probst. Being such an admirer of mine, he must not
pay less than Pleyel. You will deliver my letter to Pleyel
only if he makes any difficulties.
Dear me! this Pleyel who is such an adorer of mine! He thinks,
perhaps, that I shall never return to Paris alive. I shall
come back, and shall pay him a visit, and thank him as well as
Leo.
I enclose a note to Schlesinger, in which I give you full
authority to act in this matter.
I feel better every day; nevertheless, you will pay the
portier these fifty francs, to which I completely agree, for
my doctor does not permit me to move from here before summer.
Mickiewicz's "Dziady" I received yesterday. What shall you do
with my papers?
The letters you will leave in the writing-desk, and send the
music to Johnnie, or take it to your own house. In the little
table that stands in the anteroom there are also letters; you
must lock it well.
My love to Johnnie, I am glad he is better.
Chopin to Fontana; March 17, 1839:—