Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/112

 HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S "ELIJAH."

to me that I should not have enjoyed so great a treat as thoroughly and intensely as I did, if it had not been for your kindness and continued friendship, and for the comfortable home which you offered to me during those days of excitement. Our quiet morning and evening conversations with Mr. Ayrton and Mr. Webb are to my mind quite connected with the performances at the Town Hall, and form an important part of my Musical Festival at Birming- ham ; and while I should certainly never have assisted at one of them if it had not been for our very old acquaintance, and while I accordingly owe to you the whole of the treat which this first performance of you no less heartily and sincerely for the quiet and comfortable stay, and the friendly reception at your house, which enhanced all those pleasures so con- siderably. That your health may now be quite restored again after the fatigues you have undergone, and that we may soon meet again (either in your country, or once more in mine), and that you will continue the same kindness and friendship which you have now shown to me, and which I always met with from you since so many years, is the most earnest wish and hope of
 * Elijah' afforded me, I must at the same time thank


 * Yours very truly and gratefully,

" Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy."

��In spite of Mendelssohn's protest, " Elijah " was immediately followed by two Italian " selections " ( 92 )

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