Legation of the United States of America at Vienna June 20, 1863 My dear Graham, Your dispatch of the 8th was taken to the Legation, so that I just saw it yesterday on reaching the office. I wrote a dispatch in reply but we all thought that as Fiske would probably be in Heide[l]berg nearly as soon as the dispatch, it was hardly worth while & cost to send it. I had a note from Fiske [crossed out: Saturd] a few days since saying he thought he stay in Munich over Sunday, whence as, I suppose, he will push on to Heidelberg. I am all in confusion about him and his letters, I am afraid – for there came one from Bayard Taylor (judging from handwriting and postmark, “Gotha’) – which I forwarded under cover to Webster, consul at Munich – Now from Fiske’s letter I learn that Webster was suddenly taken very severely ill, and who knows but that my letter, enclosing Taylor’s, is still lying unopened! I wrote to Taylor, so I suppose his next will be sent to Heidelberg. – My mind is so taken up now with my Beethoven work that I have hardly common sense for anything else and if I make great falls and blunders in other matters pl[e]ase forgive and forget if you can. Do you know what I wish? No? Will it is that you had come hither, and taken summer lodgings in some one of the exquisitely situated villages near Vienna. I know nothing like it near any large city – smaller places, Salzburg, the Swiss towns, & so on, are amid still grander scenery but for beauty of hill & valley, together with the advantage of being near a large center[e] – nothing equals Vienna. I am slowly but I think surely working my way into Beethoven’s life and really have hopes that the child will be born sometime or other. Are you glad?! – I am. I have given Fiske a quantity of “researching” to do for me, if it is in his power – it not, I shall accept his good will for the deed. I suppose, saving the illness of which you wrote Fiske (didn’t you?), you must have had a wondrously good time [in] Italy – I do not envy, but will [crossed out: whi] wish from my hea[r]t I could imitate you! With all the good wishes in the world to your best of wives I am yours With sincerest regard Alexr. W. Thayer
