Mr. Salaman said, at a meeting of the London Musical Association (April 5, 1880), in the course of a discussion on the subject of Chopin, that he was present at the matinee at the house of Mrs. Sartoris, and would never forget the concert-giver’s playing, especially of the waltz in D flat.  “I remember every bar, how he played it, and the appearance of his long, attenuated fingers during the time he was playing. [Footnote:  Their thinness may have made them appear long, but they were not really so.  See Appendix III.] He seemed quite exhausted.”  Mr. Salaman was particularly struck by the delicacy and refinement of Chopin’s touch, and the utmost exquisiteness of expression.

To Chopin, as the reader will see in the letter addressed to Franchomme, and dated August 6th and 11th, these semi-public performances had only the one redeeming point—­that they procured him much-needed money, otherwise he regarded them as a great annoyance.  And this is not to be wondered at, if we consider the physical weakness under which he was then labouring.  When Chopin went before these matinees to Broadwood’s to try the pianoforte on which he was to play, he had each time to be carried up the flight of stairs which led to the piano-room.  Chopin had also to be carried upstairs when he came to a concert which his pupil Lindsay Sloper gave in this year in the Hanover Square Rooms.  But nothing brings his miserable condition so vividly before us as his own letters.

  Chopin to Grzymala, London, July 18, 1848:—­

My best thanks for your kind lines and the accompanying letter from my people.  Heaven be thanked, they are all well; but why are they concerned about me?  I cannot become sadder than I am, a real joy I have not felt for a long time.  Indeed, I feel nothing at all, I only vegetate, waiting patiently for my end.  Next week I go to Scotland to Lord Torphichen, the brother-in- law of my Scottish friends, the Misses Stirling, who are already with him (in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh).  He wrote to me and invited me heartily, as did also Lady Murray, an influential lady of high rank there, who takes an extraordinary interest in music, not to mention the many invitations I have received from various parts of England.  But I cannot wander about from one place to another like a strolling musician; such a vagabond’ life is hateful to me, and not conducive to my health.  I intend to remain in Scotland till the 29th of August, on which day I go as far as Manchester, where I am engaged to play in public.  I shall play there twice without orchestra, and receive for this 60 [pounds].  The Alboni comes also, but all this does not interest me—­I just seat myself at the piano, and begin to play.  I shall stay during this time with rich manufacturers, with whom also Neukomm [footnote:  Karasowski has Narkomm, which is, of course, either a misreading or a misprint, probably the former, as it is to be found in all editions of his book.] has stayed.  What I shall do next I don’t know yet.  If only someone could foretell whether I shall not fall sick here during the winter..."Your

Frederick.