A pleasing diversion in the uniform sameness of his everyday life, was afforded to him in the first days of October by a visit to the princess Anna, wife of prince Frederick, the heir apparent to the Hessian throne, at the express invitation of that princess, during a residence of some days at Cassel in the Bellevue palace. Upon his return he related with feelings of pleasure the amiable anticipatory attentions of the princess, who, in consideration of Spohr’s greater convenience, had descended with her husband and child, prince Wilhelm, then five years old, to an apartment on the ground-floor, where he was received, and where after a lengthened pleasing conversation with the princely pair, she, at the conclusion, besought him with the most winning kindliness of manner, to write a few lines by way of souvenir in her album. In satisfaction of this request, on the 7th. October, he wrote, though indeed with a weak and tremulous hand, yet with his usual readiness, a particularly requested passage of the well-known duett in “Jessonda,” in the costly album that had been forwarded to his house.
On Sunday the 16th. October, a change, at first scarcely observable, evinced itself in his condition: an expression of calm contentment such as not had been seen for a long time, settled on his features; in spite of the preceding restless night, of the obvious continual bodily sufferings and increasing debility no more complainings were heard to fall from his lips; yet he was more than usually silent, and though he replied in a kind tone to every inquiry adressed to him, it was as short as possible. In the afternoon, on rising from the dinner-table, he stood for a long time at the open door of the house, musing as he gazed upon the rich autumnal beauties of his flower-garden,—but upon the proposition of his wife to take his coffee outside under the bower, he replied, that he wished to take it that day in his room, and that she with her sister would play something to him. This of course was with pleasure immediately complied with. After he had listened to some symphonies arranged for four hands,—apparently as though half-lost in a dream, yet as might be inferred from many remarks that fell from him, with much attention, he requested further by way of conclusion, his newest quintet (Op. 144, G-minor) with the piano-forte arrangement of which for four hands he had but shortly before become acquainted; to this also he listened with full interest and obvious satisfaction. After the last theme he inquired: “How long ago may it be that I wrote that?” and when his wife, who could not immediately remember the year, replied it might be perhaps three or four years ago,—he said with a sigh: “Then there I did still succeed in effecting it! and now I can no longer do so!” With these words he rose from his chair, to prepare for his customary evening walk to the reading rooms, which, despite all his weakness and some admonitions from his wife, he nevertheless slowly, and supported by her, still persevered in. But feeling exceedingly anxious at home respecting him, she despatched a devotedly attached servant to see after him, much earlier than he had been ordered to bring him back: upon which, in a condition of extreme debility, he immediately permitted himself to be led home, and shortly after his frugal supper to be put to bed. After the usual parting evening kiss, he said to his wife: “he hoped from being so tired he should at length have a good night’s rest,”—and thereupon sank into a soft slumber from which he did not awake till the next morning and then with a cheerful mien. He had found the much-desired repose, he felt no longer any bodily suffering, the serene expression of his countenance betokened it from that moment to his last breath! To rise he refused; neither would he take breakfast; but requested his wife to sit on the bed beside him; took her hand, and kissed it tenderly, with an affectionate expression in his kindly beaming eyes that spoke to her more eloquently than could a thousand words. Shortly afterwards his attentive physician arrived, and immediately perceived that a higher power had granted to him the long-desired rest. His family was already prepared for the approaching heart-rending separation. His children and nephews, near and distant friends, hastened to his couch, all desirous to look as long as possible on his loved and honoured face, each glad to snatch one look more from his truthful loving eyes! In this manner he lay, surrounded by all that were most dear to him in life, in calm repose; from day to day with decreasing consciousness of existence; in spirit mayhap, already appertaining to a higher world,—until the evening of the 22nd. Oct. (1859), when at half-past ten his weary eyes closed for ever!——
The pious tones which once with a holy inspiration had gushed from the pure fount of his soul—tones to which he had himself listened in silent devotion but a few weeks before,—resounded now in mourning over his grave; and sad and sorrowful, though at the same time sweetly consolatory, still echo far and wide to the hearts of all:
“Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, now and for ever. They repose from their labours, and their works follow them!”
Finis.
Alphabetical list of the most notable persons, adverted to in the two volumes.
| Page | |
| Beethoven | I. [184], [199] |
| Bott, Jean | II. [232], [313], [336] |
| Boucher | II. [68] |
| Catalani | II. [25] |
| Cherubini | II. [133] |
| Clementi | I. [39] |
| Curschmann | II. [158], [161] |
| Dingelstedt | II. [211] |
| Dussek | I. [79], [86] |
| Eck | I. [13] |
| Feska | I. [193], [225] |
| Field | I. [40] |
| Goethe | I. [102], [116] |
| Grabbe | II. [190] |
| Grund, Edward | II. [103], [336] |
| Hauptmann, Moritz | I. [169] II. [137], [241] |
| Hesse, Adolph | II. [196], [209], [299] |
| Hermstedt | I. [123], [140], [156], [159] II. [135] |
| Hiller, Ferdinand | II. [324] |
| Holmes, Alfred and Henry | II. [320] |
| von Humboldt, Alex. | II. [269] |
| Immermann | II. [189] |
| Joachim | II. [278], [289], [317] |
| Kömpel, Augustus | II. [300] |
| Körner, Theodor | I. [177] |
| Kreutzer | I. [250], II. [108], [119] |
| Laube, Heinrich | II. [277] |
| Liszt, Franz | II. [239], [271] |
| Mendelssohn | II. [189], [210], [277], [290] |
| Methfessel | II. [59] |
| Meyerbeer | I. [80], [312], II. [266], [270] |
| Molique | I. [212] |
| Moscheles | II. [294], [313] |
| Müller, Brothers | II. [228] |
| Napoleon | I. [117] |
| Owen, Professor | II. [304] |
| Ole Bull | II. [213] |
| Paganini | I. [279], II. [168] |
| Pott, Augustus | II. [262], [273] |
| Prutz, Robert | II. [278] |
| von Raumer | II. [2] |
| Raupach | II. [184] |
| Ries, Ferdinand | II. [75], [161] |
| Ries, Hubert | II. [269] |
| Rochlitz | I. [75], II. [159], [186] |
| Rode | I. [61], [161] |
| Romberg, Andreas | I. [135], [210] |
| Romberg, Bernard | I. [78] |
| Schmidt, Aloys | I. [159] |
| Schumann, Robert | II. [210], [296] |
| Schwenke | I. [135] |
| Spontini | II. [156] |
| Taylor, Prof., Ed. | II. [216], [249], [253] |
| Tiek, Ludwig | II. [269] |
| Wagner, Richard | II. [245], [276] |
| von Weber, C. Maria | I. [109], [140] |
| Wichmann, Professor | II. [269] |
| Wieland | I. [102], [116] |
| Winter | I. [105] |
FOOTNOTES
[1] The house is still standing, and, as Number 7, forms the corner of the Aegydian churchyard in Monk street. For several years it has been given up to the Military musical institution, since the parish was abolished during the Westphalian times.