1843-1847.

Chopin’s pecuniary circumstances, and business experiences with
publishers.—­Letters to Franchomme.—­Publications from 1842-7.—­
SOJOURNS at Nohant.—­Liszt, Matthew Arnold, George sand, Charles
Rollinat, and Eugene Delacroix on Nohant and life at Nohant.—­
Chopin’s mode of composition.—­Chopin and George sand take up
their Paris quarters in the cite D’ORLEANS.—­Their way of life
there, particularly Chopin’s, as described by his pupils Lindsay
sloper, Mathias, and Madame Dubois, and more especially by Lenz,
Madame sand herself, and professor Alexander Chodzko (domestic
relations, apartments, manners, sympathies, his talent for
mimicry, George Sand’s friends, and her estimate of Chopin’s
character).

Chopin’s life from 1843 to 1847 was too little eventful to lend itself to a chronologically progressive narrative.  I shall, therefore, begin this chapter with a number of letters written by the composer during this period to his friend Franchomme, and then endeavour to describe Chopin’s mode of life, friends, character, &c.

The following fascicle of letters, although containing less about the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and doings than we could wish, affords nevertheless matter of interest.  At any rate, much additional light is thrown on Chopin’s pecuniary circumstances and his dealings with his publishers.

Impecuniosity seems to have been a chronic state with the artist and sometimes to have pressed hard upon him.  On one occasion it even made him write to the father of one of his pupils, and ask for the payment of the fees for five lessons (100 francs).  M. Mathias tells me that the letter is still in his possession.  One would hardly have expected such a proceeding from a grand seigneur like Chopin, and many will, no doubt, ask, how it was that a teacher so much sought after, who got 20 francs a lesson, and besides had an income from his compositions, was reduced to such straits.  The riddle is easily solved.  Chopin was open-handed and not much of an economist:  he spent a good deal on pretty trifles, assisted liberally his needy countrymen, made handsome presents to his friends, and is said to have had occasionally to pay bills of his likewise often impecunious lady-love.  Moreover, his total income was not so large as may be supposed,