Liszt, Franz.

written on a steamboat on the River Loire, en route to a concert that night in Angers, reporting that he has mislaid the verses by [Félicien] Mallefille [for Sardanapale?], having probably left them at Paris, describing his four performances at Nantes, including a charity concert, informing him of a forthcoming soirée the following week in Paris ("...Notre grand soirée—Oh! oh! Ah! Ah!..."), where he has made all the arrangements but will not play a note himself, assuring him of the safe arrival of Le berger et la bergère, promising to send Madame Janin a version of his "[?valse] mélancholique" adapted for her small upright piano



...Je cherche tout le jour les 8 vers de Mallefille qui je comptait ajouter au Post-scriptu[m], mais il m'a été impossible de les retrouver...Hier soir j'ai donné un 4me concert [at Nantes] dans les Salons du Conservatoire, pour la fondation d'une Crêche!, avec quête entre les deux parties: quelqu'un m'ait donné beaucoup de pièces de 10 sous il y a pourtant en un miller de francs totale...



4 pages, 8vo (c.19.7 x 10.5cms), "Batteau à Vapeur de Nantes à Anger[s]", 30 December 1845, splitting at hinge, small stain to first page,

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In 1845, Liszt decided to write an opera called Sardanapale for Vienna. Jean-Pierre-Félicien Mallefille wrote a scenario for it, but his work was so late and unacceptable that Liszt began to compose it to a libretto by someone else, and in the end he never completed the opera.  Liszt gave four concerts in Nantes in December 1845 and two concerts at Angers on 27 and 30 December, travelling back and forth on the Loire steamship; he played the reminiscences on Lucia di Lammermoor, Norma and I puritani and improvised on themes submitted by the audience.  By the 1840s, steamboats made the trip from Nantes to Angers and back in a day, carrying 250 passengers.