Tuesday, January 14:
Bad night for R.; he feels weary. I again pay some calls (Frau v. Marenholtz, E. Krockow) and, in passing, look in on the collection of engravings. R. exchanges some words with the orchestra players and finds them all well disposed toward him. He says one can certainly still see something of the old tradition in the orchestra.
Visit from Weber’s young grandson and from our nieces. At 8 o’clock, banquet in the Belvedere, a very nice company of women and men. Dr. Pusinelli welcomes R., and R. replies, referring in his speech to his memories of Dresden, Tichatschek, all the powers who had protected him, friends (Wesendonck), the King; the power to which he is now appealing, the friends of his art; but not yet a national undertaking. This it could become, as the creation of his friends, of whom he now has many in various towns. Great impact; R. also pays tribute to the orchestra players, to whom he cannot say Auf Wiedersehen since they have been refused leave of absence. Thus are they divided in spite of their love, but united through eternal art. Home around one o’clock.