[1] Speaking of this new Constitution, Fox said, “It is a work, in which every friend to reasonable liberty must be sincerely interested.” Burke exclaimed: “Humanity must rejoice and glory when it considers the change in Poland.”—_Translatorʼs Note._ [2] In a letter to the King of Poland, dated May 23rd, he said, “I congratulate myself on having had it in my power to maintain the liberty and independence of the Polish nation, and one of my most pleasing cares will be to support and draw closer the bond which unites us.”—_Translatorʼs Note._ [3] All the foreign biographers of Chopin have mistaken the date of his birth. Even on his monument at Père la Chaise, in Paris, 1810 is engraven instead of 1809, an error which ought to have been rectified long ago. [4] This March was afterwards published in Warsaw, but without the composerʼs name. [5] This story is given by Wladislaus Casimir Wocicki in his work entitled “Cmentarz Powazkowski.” [6] One of these pupils, Casimir Wodzynski, a property owner, who is still living, often tells this story. [7] Chopin generally improvised in the dark, frequently at night, as then the mind is undisturbed by outward impressions. Then he would bury himself in the theme heart and soul, and develope from it tone-pictures full of lofty inspiration and fairy-like poetry. [8] Another kind of national song is the product of the trained musician, and being, from its original, majestic, war-like or sentimental character, easily understandable, it is readily remembered and rapidly diffused. Everyone sings it to the best of his ability; but the less-educated, even when they delight in a work of art, seldom inquire who created it. For example, many people are not aware that Henry Carey was the author and composer of “God Save the King.” [9] Julian Klaczko, a contributor to the _Revue des Deux Mondes_. [10] Brunner and Hoffman were the inventors. [11] Alexander Rembielinski, an excellent pianist, who died young. [12] Julius Fontana, pianist and composer, was born in Warsaw, in 1810, and educated with Chopin at the Conservatoire, under Elsner. In 1830 he entered the army and soon became a lieutenant of artillery. After the insurrection he emigrated to France; some years later settled in America, but in 1850 returned to Paris, where he died in 1870. He was an almost daily guest of Chopinʼs, and knew exactly what compositions were published at that time; the facts that he gives in the preface to his edition of Chopinʼs works are, therefore, trustworthy. Besides many smaller compositions, (Walzes, Studies, Caprices, Fantasias) which he wrote and published in Paris, he published “Polish National Melodies” (London); “Comments on Polish Orthography” (Leipsic, 1866); and “Popular Astronomy” (Posen, 1869.) [13] It appears as op. 73, in Fontanaʼs collection of the posthumous works. [14] Ernemann was a music master, and Bucholtz a pianoforte maker, in Warsaw.