“Well, then, I will write.” He gave me a pen, and subsided into an armchair in fits of laughter, while my incoherent, despairing letter was composed. I sent it, but no reply came. When next I go to Grenoble I mean to see her. * * * * * In May 1851 I was commissioned by Government to judge instruments at the London Exhibition, and wrote to Joseph d’Ortigue in June 1851-- “I want to tell you of the extraordinary impression made on me by the singing of six thousand Charity School children in St Paul’s Cathedral. It is an annual affair, and is, beyond compare, the most imposing, the most _Babylonian_ ceremony I ever witnessed. “It was a realisation of part of my dreams, and proof positive of the unknown power of vast musical masses. “This fact is no more understood on the Continent than is Chinese music. “By-the-bye, France is easily first in the manufacture of musical instruments. Erard, Sax and Vuillaume lead; all the others are of the reed-pipe and tin-kettle tribe.” _To_ LWOFF. “_January 1852._--It is impossible to do anything in Paris, so next month I shall go back to England, where, at least, the _wish to love music_ is real and persistent. If I can be of the least use to you in my newspaper articles, commend me, dear master. It will be a pleasure to tell our few earnest French readers of the great and good things that are done in Russia. It is a debt I shall gladly pay, since I never shall forget the warmth of my reception and the kindness of your Empress and your great Emperor’s family. “What a pity he himself does not like music!” _To_ J. D’ORTIGUE. “LONDON, _March 1852_.--Just a line to tell you of my colossal success. Recalled I know not how often, and applauded both as composer and conductor. This morning, in the _Times_, the _Morning Post_, the _Advertiser_, and others, such effusions as never were written before about me! Beale is wild with joy, for it really is an event in the musical world. The orchestra at times surpassed all that I have heard in _verve_, delicacy and power. “All the papers except the _Daily News_ puff me, and now I am preparing Beethoven’s _Choral Symphony_, which, so far, has been sadly mutilated here. “But can you believe that all the critics are against the _Vestal_, of which we performed the first part yesterday? “I am utterly cast down at this _lapsus judicii_--am I not weak?--and am ashamed of having succeeded at such a cost. Why can I not remember that the good, the beautiful, the true, the false, the ugly, are not the same to everyone?” * * * * *