Edward Taylor an Louis Spohr in Kassel

paid

D^r. Louis Spohr
Hesse Cassel
Germany


6 Queen Street Place
Upper Thames Street
London

My dear and honoured Friend

I was rejoiced once more to see your hand writing and to find it as fine and vigorous as ever: though grieved for the contents of your letter.
I fear you must have thought me neglectful of your request, and I have delayed wrtiting in the hope that I might have some good news to communicate, but, alas, I have not.
When I saw that your Sinfonia ”The Seasons“ was to be performed at these falsely called ”National Concerts“ I had a misgiving that you would be cheated. As for your correspondent Williams, I never heard of him, and it was a long while after your letter came that I was able to make out where he lived. I then wrote to him, stating the purpose of your letter, and asking him to fix a day when I should call for the money and give him your receipt. To this I received no answer. I then called at his lodgings, when I found every appearance of poverty. The door was opened by a ragged Irish girl, and the floor seemed never to have been washed, broken windows and a rotten staircase were indications too plain that I had but little chance of obtaining ₤ 12 – or 12 Shillings from the inhabitant of such a dwelling. The girl said he was not at home. (probably a lie) I then inquired about his character, and was informed that I had no chance of obtaining any money from him – that, in fact, he was only the agent for other parties, whose names never appeared, that the whole undertaking has failed, and that probably your Score (Partitur) was sold.
Our law will not obtain the money for you, since your correspondence was with Williams alone, who was only a agent, and to sue him for the money could be a fruitless waste of money, he evidently having none.
I have now applied to our head Commissioner of Police and requested him to see if any step can be taken to trace & revover the Score. These the matter, at present, stands. I am truly grieved that you should have fallen into such bad hands, and you may be assured that if any further means can be employed to obtain justice for you I will employ them.
Your first Sinfonia was performed at the last Philharmonic Concert. It was finely played and very much admired. London is thronged with foreigners to see the great Exhibition, which is, indeed, a wonderful affair. Such a building¹ – such an assemblage of the wonder of Nature & Art, such a congregation of all nations I think the world never saw. I only wish that you & Madame Spohr were here.
I most sincerely sympathize with you about the state of your country. Never was a greater display of high minded feeling and respect for the laws than your countryman displayed, and never a grosser exhibition of brute force & unblushing tyranny than that of your oppessor.
But the struggle is not ever. Mankind cannot unlearn, and the love of freedom which nature has implanted in the human breast will, in time, triumph ever the machination of those who seek to hold enlightened & civilized nations in bondage.
With best compliments to Madame Spohr,

Believe me, my dear & honoured Friend
Yours most sincerely
Edw. Taylor