WeGA, Briefe, Digitale Edition
author: Weber, Carl Maria von
language: en
availability: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Barham Livius Esq:re
Theatre Royal, Coventgarden.
London

Sir!

I have received in due time your honored letter of the 14th of this month, and hasten to inform you of a little confusion which has resulted by your own arrangements. Instead of requiring me, via recta Euryanthe, you have adressed your demands to Mr Simrok at Bonn, and only after the answer of this very honest man, you have had the goodness to advise him to require Euryanthe from me [Zum diesbezügichen Briefwechsel zwischen Livius und Simrock vgl. Simrocks Schreiben an Weber vom 9. Juni 1825.]. This he has now done in a letter of the 9th June, in which he writes me that the Sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling — which I have received of Mr Bassenge without Knowing the Sender — was remitted to me at your Request by Mr Kemble. — In consequence of all this I have announced to Mr Kemble the receipt of this Sum and that I shall send him Euryanthe by Mr Simrok. Now, I am obliged to tell him the contrary; and this is not my fault, but only the consequence of your contradictory Dispositions.

I can not conceal my dear Sir, that I am very sorry, to see your works correspond not with all the Kind things which you have lavished upon me by word of mouth as well as now in your honored Letter. But I may be in the wrong, and some things resulte perhaps more from a certain pleasing confusion which often accompanies lively minds in matters of bussiness, and I am perhaps too severe relatively to those who name themselves friends of me. I hope you will not be out of humour on account of my sincerity, which will only exhibit my way, few words, and accuracy in bussiness. — —.

According to your Request, I shall deliver in a few days the text and the Partition of Euryanthe and also the little Ballet of Preciosa — to Mr Bassenge for Mr Hawes in London. Whilest I am acknowledging with thanks that this honored gentleman is determined to have Euryanthe performed in its perfect and entire state [Eine Einstudierung kam nicht zustande; die Oper erklang in London erstmals 1833 vollständig; vgl. Weberiana 18, S. 145–149.], I must own, that I can not promise to myself any success of it, after all I was told — also by yourself — of the taste of the public in London.

With regard to your wishes to purchase any manuscripts of mine which have not yet been published in Germany, I can not do so, even with the best will, not having any of them. Yet must I remark hereat, that none of my Partitions have been printed, and that consequentely all those who have not received them by me, are not entitled to their possession.

You write me. the Theatres have reaped an abundant harvest from your labours, and those of your translators — and every body has been delighted and profitted but the composers and the poor authors, who have been at most overlooked pp.

Was I not entitled to hope that you my dear Sir would fight my cause? and does it agree with the renowned brittish Rightcousness and generousity to overlook entirely such an object? and is not it natural that the composer finds himself still more grieved than overreached by it? and is not it pardonable that he confess his feelings? — — But — let us pass over it — —. My health is yet so bad, that I am obliged to go the 3rd July to the Bath of Ems near Coblenz, where I shall remain till the middle of August. there your letters can find me. [im Entwurf ursprünglich: there an find me your letters; durch Ziffern Reihenfolge umgestellt; danach:]

I beg you, to tell Mr Planché many kind things from my part, and that I am occupied with nothing, than with his beautiful Poetry.

I hope to see you the next Season in London, and there we can come better to an explanation by word of mouth, than by the weak surrogate of writting, the more so on my parte in a foreign language. Mistress Weber returns you your good wishes with thanks and I am with esteem Sir your most obedient Servant CMvonWeber.
Dresden June 30th 1825.