★ Keep up to date with the latest news - subscribe to the Transcribe Bentham newsletter; Find a new page to transcribe in our list of Untranscribed Manuscripts
6
de chêne pour la constructions. Nous en avons
eu beaucoup, mais par la neglgence et je ne
scai quoi il est presque tout detruits. Il y a
etè des conflagrations terribles dans plusieurs
forets. Something more of this kind had passed
between us when in this manner our tête à tête
was put an end to by the striking up of the
Music, and we rejoined the company.
In returning to the concert room I perceived an
old hag looking woman bd bowed almost double
with age seated in one of 2 chairs that were placed
in the middle of the room. Before I came up to
her Klopman came to me and told me that was
the old Dutchess and he must introduce me to her.
I found I must kiss her hand too: however it was
tollerably clean. The young Dutchess after having
stoopt down as upon her knees to embrace the Old
one set herself down by her in the other chair.
The Duke and of course all the company stood.
The band or chapelle as it is called consists of about
24 and is altogether most excellent but the first
Violin everybody will have it is the best in Europe
for an Adagio. He is a little hump backed man
and his name is He has had great offers
from England and other countries but the Duke
pays him handsomely & gives him apartments in
the palace and besides he is married to a Courlandish
woman: this the Dutchess told me and that the latter
was the tye by which they kept him.
The first piece was a full piece in which more
particular execution in a single part was very
distinguishable. In the 2d (I believe it was) the Dutchess
herself played a Concerto on the Harpsichord,
a very difficult one and most charmingly She
performed: in short She is a most charming woman
altogether as well in her air and deportment as in
her person. Here is all the appearance of her being
of the mildest disposition imaginable and
She must have had the greatest attention paid
to her Education. D'une bonne fille (me dit le
par l'oncle de Baron Klest) on peut bien faire une
excellente Princesse: mais d'une Princesse on ne
peut pas toujours faire une bonne fille.
---page break---
She told me this was the first time She had play'd sin
as Dutchess for (says she) it is but 5 weeks that we have
been married that I have had the honour of being
Dutchess. After the Dss's Concerto came another full
piece, and which I shall pass over; but then came
next a Violin Concerto by this The D & Dss
and all the company now but the old lady drew as near
as possible and the Baron Medem wheno understand
once more for all is the Dss's father pushed me through
before all to be close to the music stand telling me
that otherwise I should loose a great deal.
The Music was the man's own composing. It began
with I believe a Simphony which had the effect upon
me which you know pleasing music always has.
My spirits were raised up to the tip top and I was
most perfectly delighted. This was with the Symphony
but when he began the Adagio I was scarcely able
to bear it The most exquisite delicacy with which
he played the piano together with the turn of the air,
affected me so much that it was no longer a pleasure
to hear it and I was most heatily glad when
there came a forte to give me a respite. upon
another change to the piano I was so affected that
I pressed my hat which I had under my arm to
a nothing. My hands which I stuffed into my
breeches pockets were as it were so convulsed that
I could not keep them still but clinched my fists
just as cats do their paws when they receive an great
pleasure from being made much of. I pereceived the
eyes of the D & Dss and some of the company upon me, and
was unwilling they should see how I was affected which
encreased the violence of my sensations so that I became
all of a sudden in a perspiration violent perspiration from and was in very great distress for about the space of a minute till the conclusion
restored me to my peace.
Thursday. 15
I am just now returned from dining at the Court,
and as I have 2 or 3 hours to spare before I go again to
attend the concert I would fain employing them in continuing
my narrative but to confess to you the truth and tell
you the re state of my mind, not so much the honour
and attention I have had paid me as the affectionate
behaviour of the old Baron Medem has flattered me so much
and raised my spirits so much that though an hour
and more of the time is elapsed I have not been able to
sit down to continue my said narration in a regular
manner. I am however never idle when I am in such
---page break---
|
Identifier: | JB/538/418/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
1779-12-18 |
|||
|
538 |
|||
|
418 |
|||
|
002 |
|||
|
Correspondence |
|||
|
Samuel Bentham |
|||