Wednesday, February 8:
Frau Wesendonck sends me her Friedrich der Grosse. R. is utterly opposed to women's venturing into the market in this way; he sees it as a sign of lack of taste.
From London he receives an invitation to write a cantata for the opening of the industrial exhibition. Naturally he does not accept; he says he has enough trouble already with the coronation march. He has a tremendous number of themes, but he lacks the concentration to select.
Overcast weather; our sun is Fidi. R. writes a fine letter to the young author of Die Propheten. He is somewhat depressed by the weather and Councilor Duflipp!