Berlioz, Hector. Autograph letter signed ("H. Berlioz") in French, 4 pages (8.12 x 5.25 in.; 206 x 133 mm.), Paris, 9 June 18...

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Berlioz, Hector. Autograph letter signed ("H. Berlioz") in French, 4 pages (8.12 x 5.25 in.; 206 x 133 mm.), Paris, 9 June 1862, to his uncle; on black-bordered stationery. Berlioz, Hector. Autograph letter signed ("H. Berlioz") in French, 4 pages (8.12 x 5.25 in.; 206 x 133 mm.), Paris, 9 June 1862, to his uncle; on black-bordered stationery. A spirited letter defending the provisions of his will and those of his wife, who died suddenly four days later. Berlioz writes in part: Saut has not understood me - I consult no one and have not consulted anyone since my marriage contract I don't know where be can have seen that I bad forgotten what a father owes his children. Was I then to leave nothing to my wife? Reduce her to absolute misery? I have been neither guided nor influenced by anyone at this time... But you could have spared me those hard words, above all at such a time.... Marie leaves all she had to her mother with instruction s for her to hand it on to me or to Louis. Yesterday my lawyer informed me that one could not impose changes of this kind and that my mother-in-law should make arrangements over the matter. Well, she does not wish otherwise, her will will be made this very day, and she will bequeath me all she bas with no exceptions. As for me, I redrafted mine yesterday and am leaving her (my mother-in-law) half of my revenue, which amounts to only 4000 francs. She has no heirs. I do not want her, if I die before her, to be reduced to the little she owns. Louis will have the other half, plus other specified valuables, and her estate. My mother-in-law cannot become a beggar, and moreover, I repeat, it is her wish that everything come to Louis. Your letter greatly pained me. I am neither a fool nor a villain. My friends have again given me new proofs...that they are not so-called friends. And I say again, no one in the world has meddled nor meddles in my financial affairs.... Dear uncle, drop me a few more lines to efface the painful impressions made by those of this morning. Four days after this letter was written. Berlioz's second wife Marie died of a heart attack while she and her husband were spending the day in the country with friends. Though she had been ill for a number of years, her death came unexpectedly; in light of this, Berlioz's discussion in this letter shows an uncanny sense of precognition. One result of the suddenness of Marie's passing was that her mother could not be notified of the event and returned from a trip to find her daughter dead. Berlioz loved Madame Recio like his own mother and lived with her in Paris for the remaining years of his life. His correspondent in this matter may have been his maternal uncle, Felix Marmion. Together with: Berlioz, Hector. Autograph letter signed ("H. Berlioz") 3 pages (5.25 x 4 in.; 133 x 102 mm.), 12 April 1867, to My dear Perrett. I found myself the center of a musical whirl which would have intoxicated me if intoxication were something I could still experience these days. The composer writes in full: I did receive your letter as well as the man you recommended to me. But I won't have any opportunity to be of any help to him or even do anything to please him since, as you know, I gave up all serials and reviews of all kinds three years ago. But after all, he provided you with a pretext for writing to me, and I am quite grateful to him for having made you do so. I am still ill, and I spend three quarters and a half of my life in bed. I don't have any strength left, nor any hope to withstand all the pain. And yet I managed to go to Vienna (Austria) and Cologne where they urged me so ardently to go and conduct two of my works. I got an enthusiastic reception there, which would have made me very happy if I could feel anything now. In Vienna especially, I found myself the center of a musical whirl which would have intoxicated me if intoxication were something I could still experience these days. I haven't heard from Ferrain. I can't write any longer because after only those few lines, my head is spinning already. Good-bye and kindest regards.