if not these words, to this effect:  “My dear countrymen!  The proofs of your attachment and love which you have just given me have truly moved me.  I wish to thank you, but lack the talent of expressing my feelings in words; I invite you therefore to accompany me to my lodgings and to receive there my thanks at the piano.”  The proposal was received with enthusiasm, and Chopin played to his delighted and insatiable auditors till two o’clock in the morning.  What a crush, these forty or more people in Chopin’s lodgings!  However, that is no business of mine.

[Footnote:  After reading the above, Mr. Hipkins remarked:  “I fancy this dinner resembled the dinner which will go down to posterity as given by the Hungarians of London to Liszt in [1886], which was really a private dinner given by Mrs. Bretherton to fifteen people, of whom her children and mine were four.  No Hungarians.”]

The documents—­letters and newspaper advertisements and notices—­ bearing on this period of Chopin’s life are so plentiful that they tell the story without the help of many additions and explanatory notes.  This is satisfactory, for one grain of fact is more precious than a bushel of guesses and hearsays.

  Chopin to Gutmann; London, 48, Dover Street, Piccadilly,
  Saturday, May 6, 1848:—­

Dear friend,—­Here I am at last, settled in this whirlpool of London.  It is only a few days since I began to breathe; for it is only a few days since the sun showed itself.  I have seen M. D’Orsay, and notwithstanding all the delay of my letter he received me very well.  Be so good as to thank the duchess for me and him.  I have not yet made all my calls, for many persons to whom I have letters of introduction are not yet here.  Erard was charming; he sent me a piano.  I have a Broadwood and a Pleyel, which makes three, and yet I do not find time to play them.  I have many visitors, and my days pass like lightning—­I have not even had a moment to write to Pleyel.  Let me know how you are getting on.  In what state of mind are you?  How are your people?  With my people things are not going well.  I am much vexed about this.  In spite of that I must think of making a public appearance; a proposal has been made to me to play at the Philharmonic, [footnote:  “Chopin, we are told,” says the Musical World of May 27, 1848, “was invited to play at the Philharmonic, but declined.”] but I would rather not.  I shall apparently finish off, after playing at Court before the Queen [chez la reine], by giving a matinee, limited to a number of persons, at a private residence [hotel particulier].  I wish that this would terminate thus.  But these projects are only projects in the air.  Write to me a great deal about yourself.  —­Yours ever, my old Gut.,

  Chopin.