Autograph letter signed : London, to H.G. Hewlett, 1870 June 2.

Declining an invitation owing to his poor health, which, he explains, keeps him at home; discussing his participation in a recent event which has placed him under a great strain ("If I could have thought you would care to hear me p̲r̲e̲a̲c̲h̲, you should have done so, "With a vengeance", as Mendelssohn used to say when any of his own music was in question. It was in fulfillment of a promise made some long time ago-the execution of which was the most difficult feat I ever attempted ... all that can be said of the matter was that I pulled through somehow ... Oddly enough I do not feel the slightest nervousness, in the personal part of the show, in spite of a voice which has great difficulty in making itself heard.The thing, I believe, is going to be published, if so, you shall have a copy of course."; inviting him to visit him at his own convenience.