Charles Hodges an Louis Spohr in Kassel

An Herrn
Wohlgeboren
Capellmeister Spohr
in
Cassel

frei.¹


8 Große Gallen Gasse. Frankfurt am Main
D 14 Sept. 1846

Sir

The laudable object I have in view with I trust excuse my intruding upon your valuable time.
M^r Haupt violinist in the Frankfurt orchestra is a gentleman for whom I feel greatly interested – his modest demeance and real musical talent claim a much better reward than he has, I repet to lay, met with here – for ten long years he has had the attitude to remain – with a miserable salary of 450 fl. Your own judgement and feelings with I am confident at once perceive that no man of talent can be expected to plad on with such a poor pittance in a land where true musical genius is on ought to be better patronized - after years of suffering patience he at last by extraordinary efforts was enabled to give a public concert – his compositions were received with enthusiasm and the musical Aut.(???) of the journals² spoke highly of his performance – one man alone, whose name may perhaps be familiar to your ear, Capellmeister Guhr, bid every thing to render his attempts about me(?), giving an opera at the Theatre on the very evening his Concert took place, and in many other very unfair ways placing impediments in Mr Haupt’s way – so that he has lost all hope and has no energy left – having become melancholic and dissattisfied – He has not the consafe to make an attempt to better his situation – it is therefore that I and some of his kind friends here determined, without his knowlege to write to you. – I have no doubt if you had the goodness to write a line to Mr. Haupt, that he would be happy to send you some of his compositions, from which you would be immediately able to pidge(???) as to their merits and, should you, as I have no doubt, find that a man possessing real musical talent ought to be patronized that you would afterwards give him a written recommendation, that his performances might be succesfully presented to the Harmonic Society at London or elsewhere, as may be most likely to answer(???) – You cannot but be aware, that aspiring talent must, as the world is constituted, meet with some friendly recommendation, and to whom should the German look to meet to yourself as one of loftiest geniuses in music his country has produced -
You will pardon my writing in my own language – not that I am ignorant of the German – but that thought, as you have been much in England, you would perfectly understand me –
Once again, allow me to beg of you to interest yourself to the Gentleman for whom I have pleaded and to pardon my tresspassing for your time.

I am Sir
With every respect
Your very obedient Servant
Charles Hodges.