Carl Maria von Weber an Charles Kemble in London
Dresden, Mittwoch, 22. Juni 1825
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Context
Absolute Chronology
Preceding
- 1825-06-20: to Simrock
- 1825-06-14: from Baermann
Following
- 1825-06-30: to Kemble
- 1825-06-25: from Mosel
Direct Context
Preceding
- 1825-01-06: to Kemble
- 1825-03-16: from Kemble
Following
- 1825-06-30: to Kemble
- 1825-07-20: from Kemble
My dear Sir!
I must crave Your indulgence for the retarded answer to Your kind letter of the 16th of march. But I was at that time very ill, and though I find myself a little better, I am however still under the hands of the Physiccian, who will send me perhaps to the Bath of Ems near Frankfurt.
with respect to your purposed remuneration for the music of “Oberon” I do not doubt the least, but you have thought it sufficiently liberal relatively to your practice in England respecting composers of music. whilest I am acknowledging this with thanks, I take the liberty to make you other proposals, the reasons of which I do not state, because they will be surely clear enough to your Discernment.
At my arrival at London, I will first of all preside at the Piano in Six representations of the “Freyschütz”. For the first five Representations you will give me every night a pecuniary compensation of two hundred Pounds Sterling, and the Sixth night as a Benefitt for me. During this time, we shall prepare “Oberon” and I will preside at the Piano also the first Six Representations of it on the same conditions*. Moreover I must be assured, that all this be settled within three months at farthest, otherwise I should claim an adequate indemnification. I can go to London in conformity of your wishes in March, Aprill or May 1826; if God be pleased. The music of “Oberon” — Partition, and adapted by me for the Pianoforte — is then your Property for England, Scottland and Ireland. The Poeme and the music are mine for all the rest of Europe.
I have received the 8th of this month one hundred Pounds Sterling from London by Mr Bassenge. And the 17th a letter of Mr Simrok at Bonn, who wrote me, that Mr Livius in London demands “Euryanthe”, and that the latter has engaged you my dear Sir, to send me the namend Sum on account. I will consequentely not retard‡ to send “Euryanthe” to Mr Simrock for you*.
Mr Livius has had the goodness, during his presence at Dresden, to call upon me very often, and also to allow me to let him have a copy of “Abu Hassan” and other Works of mine, done for my own monney. He has promised me great advantages in England through his influence, | but, till now, I have only heard that “Abu Hassan” has been performed* — — — as to the rest I do not doubt the least that He has the best intentions for me, and that he will convince me of it surely by and by.
Already in one of my former letters I have had the honor to ask you if the Opera “Silvana” required by Mr Beral, were for Coventgarden? Now, at the personal acquaintance of this polite young gentleman, He has repeated his demand, and I will give him “Silvana” if you do not tell me the contrary*. In general however, let me pronounce the wish, that we may have henceforth our intercourse without undermeddling‡.
Mr Beral give me hopes that you may come perhaps to the continent during this Summer*. It would render me very happy to see you sooner than in England; and for this reason I shall send you‡ word as soon as my physician shall persist in his Idea to send me to Ems where I shall be a good deal nearer you than at Dresden*.
Accept my dear Sir the assurance of the highest regard and esteem of
your most faithful Servant
CMvonWeber.
Dresden 22 of June 1825.*
If going to Ems, I shall be there in the middle of July.
Editorial
Summary
enschuldigt verspätete Antwort mit Krankheit und bevorstehender Kur in Ems; schlägt vor, 6 Auff. des Freischütz und Oberon selbst zu leiten, und äußert finanzielle Wünsche; die durch Livius bestellte Euryanthe soll bald abgehen; betr. andere seiner Opern für England; freut sich, Kemble eventuell im Sommer in Dresden oder in Ems zu sehen
Incipit
“I must crave your indulgence for the retarded”
Responsibilities
- Übertragung
- Eveline Bartlitz; Joachim Veit
Tradition in 2 Text Sources
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1. Text Source: Philadelphia (US), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library (US-PHhs), Wizter Family Papers, Butler Section
Shelf mark: Box 35, Folder 9Physical Description
- 1 DBl.? (3 b. S. einschl. Adr.)
- Siegelrest
- PSt: a) DRESDEN | 24. Jun. 25. b) Rundstempel: FPO | JY: 6 | 1825
- Brief einschl. Adresse durchgängig in lateinischer Schrift
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2. Text Source: Draft: Berlin (D), Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung (D-B)
Shelf mark: Mus. ms. autogr. theor. C. M. v. Weber WFN 6 (XVII), Bl. 90b/r u. v.Corresponding sources
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Abschrift: D-B, Weberiana Cl. II B, 2ß, Nr. 4, S. 890-891 (dt. Übers., unter 21.06.)
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Text Constitution
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“ at that”“on” crossed out and replaced with “ at that”
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“though”“if” crossed out and replaced with “though”
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“always”crossed out
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“hands”“orders” crossed out and replaced with “hands”
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“orders”uncertain transcription
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“to”crossed out
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“do not”“dont” overwritten with “do not”
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“the”“at” crossed out and replaced with “the”
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“practice”“cortumers custome /:habit:/” crossed out and replaced with “practice”
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“cortumers”uncertain transcription
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“the man time that”crossed out
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“take”“give me” crossed out and replaced with “take”
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“the […] reasons of which I do not state”“of which I display not all their reasons” crossed out and replaced with “the […] reasons of which I do not state”
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illegible
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“they are sufficiently”crossed out
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“they will be surely”added below
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“Discernment”“Spirit” crossed out and replaced with “Discernment”
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“y”“ine” overwritten with “y”
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“first of all”“firsty” crossed out and replaced with “first of all”
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“on”overwritten
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“at”added inline
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“ For the first five former Representations”“for every night you will give me an” crossed out and replaced with “ For the first five former Representations”
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“former”crossed out
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“for”crossed out
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“Fee”crossed out
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“night”“Represent.” crossed out and replaced with “night”
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“at”“on” overwritten with “at”
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“first Six”“former” crossed out and replaced with “first Six”
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“on”“under” crossed out and replaced with “on”
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“moreover”“Besides” crossed out and replaced with “moreover”
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“within”added in the margin
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“time”crossed out
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“t farthest”“l” crossed out and replaced with “t farthest”
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“claim”“pretend” crossed out and replaced with “claim”
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“ go to”“come to” crossed out and replaced with “ go to”
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“in conformity”added above
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“is yours then”crossed out
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“then”added above
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“for”crossed out
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“is then your Property for”added in the margin
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“Property”added above
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“the 8th of this month”“some days […]” crossed out and replaced with “the 8th of this month”
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“of”“from” crossed out and replaced with “of”
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“at”“on” overwritten with “at”
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“on account”“in reference to our discount” crossed out and replaced with “on account”
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“… I will consequentely not retard”im Entwurf: not retard consequentely; durch Ziffern Reihenfolge korrigiert
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“the”crossed out
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“the”crossed out
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“to also”crossed out
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“done”added in the margin
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“has me”crossed out
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“through”deleted text illegible
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“at”crossed out
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“the”added in the margin
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“intentions”“will” crossed out and replaced with “intentions”
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“[…]”deleted text illegible
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“by and by”“in few time” crossed out and replaced with “by and by”
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“yet”crossed out
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“re”deleted text illegible
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“polite”added in the margin
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“do”added above
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“[…]”deleted text illegible
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“[…]”deleted text illegible
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“… henceforth our intercourse without undermeddling”undermeddling korrigiert aus unddermedling
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“ly”crossed out
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“may”“might” crossed out and replaced with “may”
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“henceforth”added above
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“our”added below
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“together”crossed out
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“undermedling”“any other mediation” crossed out and replaced with “undermedling”
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“give”deleted text illegible
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“during this summer”added above
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“o”crossed out
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“… reason I shall send you”im Entwurf: you send; durch Ziffern nachträglich Reihenfolge umgestellt
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“shall”added in the margin
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“in”“upon” crossed out and replaced with “in”
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“e”crossed out
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“your”crossed out
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“July”“Juny” crossed out and replaced with “July”
Commentary
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“… it on the same conditions”Diese Forderungen entsprechen exakt den von Carl Beral vorgeschlagenen; vgl. Webers Brief an Hinrich Lichtenstein vom 9. Juni 1826.
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“… M r Simrock for you”Zu dem durch Livius verursachten Missverständnis vgl. die Briefe Webers an C. Kemble, N. Simrock und B. Livius vom 30. Juni 1825.
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“… Abu Hassan has been performed”Der Abu Hassan hatte am 4. April 1825 am Drury Lane Theatre in London in der englischen Übertragung von William Dimond und der musikalischen Einrichtung von Thomas Cooke Premiere; vgl. u. a. die Briefe von Franz Weber an F. W. Jähns vom 20. Oktober 1879 und 18. April 1881.
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“… Dresden 22 of June 1825.”Entwurf datiert 21. Juni.
Readings
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Text Source 1: “at that”Text Source 2: “on at your that”
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Text Source 1: “though”Text Source 2: “if though”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “always”
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Text Source 1: “hands”Text Source 2: “orders hands”
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Text Source 1: “Physiccian”Text Source 2: “Physician”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “to”
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Text Source 1: “do not”Text Source 2: “dont do not”
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Text Source 1: “the”Text Source 2: “at the”
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Text Source 1: “practice”Text Source 2: “cortumers custome /:habit:/ practice”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “the man time that”
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Text Source 1: “take”Text Source 2: “give me take”
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Text Source 1: “the reasons of which I do not state”Text Source 2: “of which I display not all their reasons the […] reasons of which I do not state”
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Text Source 1: “they will be surely”Text Source 2: “they are sufficiently /:hervorspringend:/they will be surely”
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Text Source 1: “Discernment”Text Source 2: “Spirit Discernment”
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Text Source 1: “my”Text Source 2: “mine y”
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Text Source 1: “first of all”Text Source 2: “firsty first of all”
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Text Source 1: “at”Text Source 2: “on at”
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Text Source 1: “For the first five Representations”Text Source 2: “for every night you will give me an For the first five former Representations”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “for”
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Text Source 1: “pecuniary compensation”Text Source 2: “Fee /:pecuniary compensation:/”
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Text Source 1: “Pounds”Text Source 2: “Pound”
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Text Source 1: “night”Text Source 2: “Represent. night”
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Text Source 1: “at”Text Source 2: “on at”
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Text Source 1: “first Six”Text Source 2: “former first Six”
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Text Source 1: “on”Text Source 2: “under on”
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Text Source 1: “Moreover”Text Source 2: “Besides moreover”
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Text Source 1: “within three months at farthest, otherwise I should claim an adequate indemnification.”Text Source 2: “within three months time altmost farthest otherwise I should pretend claim an adequate indemnification.”
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Text Source 1: “go to”Text Source 2: “come to go to”
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Text Source 1: “in conformity”Text Source 2: “in conformity”
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Text Source 1: “—”Text Source 2: “is yours then”
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Text Source 1: “is then your Property for”Text Source 2: “for is then your Property for”
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Text Source 1: “the 8th of this month”Text Source 2: “some days […] the 8th of this month”
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Text Source 1: “Pounds”Text Source 2: “Pound”
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Text Source 1: “from London by Mr Bassenge”Text Source 2: “by Mr Bassenge from London”
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Text Source 1: “of”Text Source 2: “from of”
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Text Source 1: “at”Text Source 2: “on at”
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Text Source 1: “on account”Text Source 2: “in reference to our discount on account”
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Text Source 1: “to send”Text Source 2: “the to send the”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “to also”
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Text Source 1: “done”Text Source 2: “done”
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Text Source 1: “has”Text Source 2: “has me”
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Text Source 1: “through”Text Source 2: “[…] through”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “pp”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “at”
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Text Source 1: “the”Text Source 2: “the”
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Text Source 1: “intentions”Text Source 2: “will intentions”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “[…]”
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Text Source 1: “by and by”Text Source 2: “in few time by and by”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “yet”
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Text Source 1: “required”Text Source 2: “[…]required”
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Text Source 1: “?”Text Source 2: “.”
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Text Source 1: “polite”Text Source 2: “polite”
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Text Source 1: “do”Text Source 2: “do”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “[…]”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “[…]”
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Text Source 1: “In general however, let me pronounce the wish, that we may have henceforth our intercourse without undermeddling.”Text Source 2: “In generally however, let me pronounce the wish, that we might may have henceforth our intercourse together without any other mediation undermedling.”
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Text Source 1: “give”Text Source 2: “[…] give”
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Text Source 1: “during this Summer”Text Source 2: “during this summer”
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Text Source 1: “to”Text Source 2: “too”
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Text Source 1: “shall”Text Source 2: “shall”
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Text Source 1: “in”Text Source 2: “upon in”
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Text Source 1: “Ems”Text Source 2: “Embs”
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Text Source 1: “assurance”Text Source 2: “assurance”
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Text Source 1: No text present.Text Source 2: “your”
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Text Source 1: “CMvonWeber”Text Source 2: “CMvW”
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Text Source 1: “July”Text Source 2: “Juny July”