Fantasia with Orchestra to the King of Bavaria?~ Do answer me that at once; if you are thereby going to procure me an honorable gift, I will thank you, such a thing is hardly agreeable to me, did you, possibly, dedicate it yourself? what is the connection, one is not permitted to dedicate things to kings without being requested--~and then there was no dedication of the Lebewohl to the Archduke~, why were not the year, day and date printed as I wrote them, in the future you will agree in writing to retain all superscriptions unchanged as I write them. Let whomsoever you please review the oratorio and everything else, I am sorry that I ever said a word about the miserable business, who can mind what such a reviewer says when he sees how the most wretched scribblers are elevated by them and how they treat most insultingly art works to which they cannot at once apply their standard as the shoemaker does his last, as indeed they must do because of their unfitness--if there is anything to be considered in connection with the oratorio it is that it is my first and early work in this form, was composed in 14 days amidst all possible ~tumult~ and other unpleasant alarming circumstances (my brother was mortally ill). Rochlitz, if I am not mistaken, spoke unfavorably concerning the chorus of disciples “Wir haben ihn gesehen” in C major even before it had been given to you for publication; he called it comic, an impression which here at least was not shown by the local public and amongst my friends there are also critics; that I should write a very different oratorio now, than then, is certain--and now criticize as long as you please, I wish you much pleasure, and if it should hurt a little like the sting of a gnat it will soon be over, and then the whole thing is a little joke ~cri- cri- cri- cri- cri- crit- i- i- i- i- size- size. Not in all eternity, that you cannot do~, herewith God be with you....