Edward Taylor an Louis Spohr in Kassel

Red Lion Court
Fleet Street
Aug 19^th 1843

My Dear & valued Friend,

It rejoices me to hear that you & your dear companions have reached home in safety, and that the events of your late visit have caused some treatful recollections in the minds of all. To me it seems like a pleasing dream, when I think of the various situations in which you were placed. One time conversing with the Queen¹ - another withdrawn from all public notice & drinking lemonade in a mess cottage at the foot of a Welsh mountain.² Then welcomed in Exeter Hall by the shouts & admirations of thousands.³ Oh, what a mortificiation it was to me not to be permitted to witness this scene! You see that John Bull⁴ is an animal whom it requires a good deal to excite, but when once caused(???), his ”voice potential“ is sure to be felt & heard. You once enabled to witness the true state of society that exist in this metropolis – the artificial and the natural. The former judges & acts by prescribed rules – never ventures an opinion till it knows what certain ladies of the ”mode“ will say – the other judges & acts for itself. The approbation of the one (if given) is measured, tame & cold – the applause of the other is the impulse of the heart, & is noisy & vociferous. It was not till Handel appealed to the second class – that is to the people – of this country that he found a cordial response, & laid the foundation of permanent fame. His Operas were forgotten in a few months – his Oratorios live.
I remember being present at the first performance of Euryanthe in London, and the house was not half filled. But all the previous reputation of Weber was sufficient to attend a numerous audience. The Boxes were almost empty. Their cruel occupants waited for their signal from certain leaders of fashion before they ventured to give the piece their gracious countenance! Such is the object & degrading bondage in which the Aristocracy of England is held. Verity then is another sphere of despotism beside that which is exercised by Kings & Princes, great & small.
You will easily imagine that the Society⁵ at Exeter Hall excelt in the triumph which they achieve(???). They look back upon the result of this efforts with proud satisfaction, and I trust that the token of this respect & gratitude will sometimes awaken in your mind a welcome recollection of that incident in your visit to England.
I was unable, until I recovered my usual health, to settle all the accounts for your Concert, & I find that, after paying all the expenses, I have left £ 2,, o,, 4. which I shall give you at our next happy meeting. I blush for my country as I write.
There were some unpleasent occurences connected with your late visit, particularly the conduct of the Philharmonic Directors, which has, justly, excited much indignation in the minds of the most respectable(?) part of our profession - but your visit will be long & gratefully remembered by them: & among them, be assured, you will again find us(?) cordial & greeting, admiration as deep, & affection as strong as in any part of the world.
I add nothing about my faimily, as they will, doubtless, reply to the kind & welcome letters they received.
I beg my best & most friendly regards to Mad. Spohr & Madame de Malsburg – with the assurances of my warmest friendship to yours all from

My Dear Sir,
Yours most faithfully
Edw. Taylor.