Saturday, January 14:
Victory of Prince Friedrich Karl at Le Mans; the French, on the other hand, are still reporting brilliant triumphs. I said to R. that the relationship between the Germans and the French reminded me of the relationship between an intelligent man and a foolish woman in an unhappy marriage. The latter always full of new fabrications, vexations, coquetries, etc., etc. Meanwhile our splendid Germans continue to make good progress, Heaven's blessings on them!
Our string quartet should have arrived today, but canceled their visit, to the very great sorrow of the children. Yesterday Richard exclaimed to me: "The children in Augsburg, you sent them to me. Later you did not send them, but preferred to bring them yourself. What touching memories we have between us!"
Today he said how his heart laughed to hear the children going up and down the stairs fiddling. Boni recites us a fable by Gellert and afterward R. says he feels like writing a history of the German character.
Royalties from Berlin; Lohengrin maintains its position as Richard's most profitable opus, not opera. An unknown poet in Dresden asks R. to set his "Hymn to Peace" with tableaux to music! Nothing from Munich, nothing from the King. From Copenhagen, 1,000 francs for Die Meistersinger.
R. says, "Today I am Successianus, only in my relations with you am I Verforianus," for he thought he had displeased me in something. Still reading Gibbon and still with great enjoyment.