Sunday, April 7:
Feustel sends 900 certificates of patronage for signature; R. had already signed 200 in Bayreuth. Reinhart Schafer also announces 4 certificates in Munich. Clemens sends me the poem for R.’s birthday. R. writes Feustel a letter which both moves and perturbs me, so truthful is it with regard to our position and the King.
The children write letters; I to my mother. Family lunch without Fidi, because he sleeps through it. R. has done a little work. Spring day, a short while in the garden.
In the evening talked about Italian melody and music. “The Italians knew what it was all about, only they were too poor in invention and technique. But one can also discern the spirit of their painting in their music.” He comes back to the impression Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient made on him. “I owe many of my life’s impressions solely to her.”