In five or six days I shall visit Joachim at Hanover; he was here
all last week, and showed me a very remarkable overture. Joachim
is making a considerable step in advance as a composer; and if he
goes on like this for a few years, he will do something out of
the way.

God bless you, dearest friend, in joy and sorrow!

Write soon to

Your

F. L.

MAY 20TH, 1854.



155.

DEAR FRIEND,

In a very few days I shall write to you at length, and at the
same time explain to you why this letter is so short. For the
present only this, because it must not be delayed: ROYALTIES,
nothing else. If these royalties are to be lucrative--I.E., if my
operas are to be given FREQUENTLY--the manager must be well and
sincerely inclined to the cause. Therefore we will treat him
nobly. You have written MOST EXCELLENTLY.