“In your letter you express a wish to see my sketches. Will you accept the original sketch for my opera _Eugene Oniegin_? As the pianoforte score will be published in the autumn, it might interest you to compare the autograph sketches with the completed work. If so, I will send you the manuscript as soon as I return to Moscow. I suggest _Oniegin_ because none of my works has been written with such fluency; therefore the manuscript is easy to read, as it contains few corrections.” _To N. F. von Meck._ “VERBOVKA, _July_ 4_th_ (16_th_), 1878. “ ... My work progresses slowly. The sonata is finished, however, and to-day I have begun to write out some songs, composed partly abroad and partly at Kamenka, in April. I have heard from Jurgenson that four great Russian concerts, conducted by N. Rubinstein, are to take place in Paris. My Pianoforte Concerto, _The Tempest, Francesca_, and two movements from _our_ Symphony are to be given. I will let you have further particulars, in case you care to time your visit to Paris so that it coincides with the concerts. Among those engaged to take part in them is Lavrovsky.” _To N. F. von Meck._ “_July_ 25_th_ (_August_ 6_th_), 1878. “I write to you, dear friend, with a light heart, happy in the consciousness of having finished a work (the Liturgy).... People who go to work in feverish haste (like myself) are really the laziest folk. They get through their work as fast as possible in order to enjoy idleness. Now I can indulge to the full my secret delight in doing nothing.” _To P. I. Jurgenson._ “VERBOVKA, _July_ 29_th_ (_August_ 10_th_), 1878. “DEAR FRIEND,--My manuscripts will have been taken to you. You will find plenty of material for your engravers. I send you five pieces, and besides these I shall shortly despatch three pieces for violin. “I should like to receive the following fees:--[63] £ _s.__d._ “1. Sonata (50 roubles) 5 0 0 2. Twelve pieces (at 25 roubles each) 30 0 0 3. The Children’s Album (240 roubles) 24 0 0 4. Six songs (at 25 roubles) 15 0 0 5. Violin pieces (at 25 roubles each) 7 10 0 6. The Liturgy 10 0 0 ____________ 91 10 0 “In a round sum 900 roubles; but having regard to the fact that I have written such a quantity at once, I will let you have the lot for 800 roubles.” _To N. F. von Meck._ “_August_ 4_th_ (16_th_), 1878.