How much I thank you for your remembrance of me, little as I deserve it, or have sought to deserve it; and yet you are so kind that you allow nothing, not even my unpardonable neglect, to discourage you, always remaining the same true, good, and faithful friend.  That I can ever forget you or yours, once so dear and precious to me, do not for a moment believe.  There are times when I find myself longing to see you again, and wishing that I could go to stay with you.  My father-land, that lovely region where I first saw the light, is still as distinct and beauteous in my eyes as when I quitted you; in short, I shall esteem the time when I once more see you, and again greet Father Rhine, as one of the happiest periods of my life.  When this may be I cannot yet tell; but at all events I may say that you shall not see me again till I have become eminent, not only as an artist, but better and more perfect as a man; and if the condition of our father-land be then more prosperous, my art shall be entirely devoted to the benefit of the poor.  Oh, blissful moment!—­how happy do I esteem myself that I can expedite it and bring it to pass!

You desire to know something of my position; well! it is by no means bad.  However incredible it may appear, I must tell you that Lichnowsky has been, and still is, my warmest friend (slight dissensions occurred occasionally between us, and yet they only served to strengthen our friendship).  He settled on me last year the sum of 600 florins, for which I am to draw on him till I can procure some suitable situation.  My compositions are very profitable, and I may really say that I have almost more commissions than it is possible for me to execute.  I can have six or seven publishers or more for every piece, if I choose; they no longer bargain with me—­I demand, and they pay—­so you see this is a very good thing.  For instance, I have a friend in distress, and my purse does not admit of my assisting him at once; but I have only to sit down and write, and in a short time he is relieved.  I am also become more economical than formerly.  If I finally settle here, I don’t doubt I shall be able to secure a particular day every year for a concert, of which I have already given several.  That malicious demon, however, bad health, has been a stumbling-block in my path; my hearing during the last three years has become gradually worse.  The chief cause of this infirmity proceeds from the state of my digestive organs, which, as you know, were formerly bad enough, but have latterly become much worse, and being constantly afflicted with diarrhoea, has brought on extreme weakness.  Frank [Director of the General Hospital] strove to restore the tone of my digestion by tonics, and my hearing by oil of almonds; but alas! these did me no good whatever; my hearing became worse, and my digestion continued in its former plight.  This went on till the autumn of last year, when I was often reduced to utter despair.  Then some medical asinus