“We have terraces and trees in Paris. There are sunsets, English heiresses, idiots (they are even more plentiful than at Nice for the population is larger), and gudgeon to be caught with a line. One can be quite as extensively bored as at Nice. It is the same thing everywhere. “Yesterday I had a delightful letter from some unknown man about _The Trojans_. He tells me that the Parisians are used to more _indulgent_ music than mine. “Is not that an admirable epithet? “The Viennese telegraph that they celebrated my birthday by giving _Faust_, and that the double chorus was an immense success. I did not even know I had a birthday!” _To_ H. FERRAND. “PARIS, _8th February 1864_. “DEAR HUMBERT,--It is six in the evening, and I have only just got up, for I took laudanum yesterday and am quite stupefied. What a life! I would bet a good deal that you too are worse. Nevertheless I mean to go out to-night to hear Beethoven’s Septuor; I want it to warm my blood, and my favourite artists are playing it. “The day after to-morrow I ought to read _Hamlet_ at Massart’s. Shall I have strength to go through it? It lasts five hours. Of my audience of five only Madame Massart knows anything of the play. “I feel almost afraid of bringing these artist natures too abruptly face to face with this supreme manifestation of genius. It seems to me like giving sight suddenly to one born blind. “I believe they will understand it, for I know them well; but to be forty-five or fifty and not know _Hamlet_! One might as well have lived down a coal mine. Shakespeare says: “Glory is like a circle in the water Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself Till, by wide spreading, it disperse to naught.” * * * * * “_26th April 1865._--How can I tell you what is cooking in the musical cauldron of Paris? I have got out of it and hardly ever get in again. “I went to a general rehearsal of Meyerbeer’s _Africaine_, which lasted from half-past seven to half-past one. “I don’t think I am likely to go again. “Joachim, the celebrated German violinist, has been here ten days; he plays nearly every evening at different houses. Thus I heard Beethoven’s piano trio in B♭♯, the sonata in A, and the quartett in E minor--the music of the starry spheres. “You will quite understand that after this I am in no mood for listening to commonplace productions praised by the Mayor and Town Council. “If I possibly can, I will see you this summer. I am going to Geneva and Grenoble. _To_ LOUIS BERLIOZ.