SCHUMANN, Robert [1810-1856]: Autograph letter with place, date and signature. Vienna, 16. Oct[ober] [18]38. Octavo. 1 page. Seal, some browning. Some tearing at the creases.

In the struggle for marriage and professional success Schumann had arrived in Vienna on October 3. Deciding to reshape his life, he wanted to prove to Friedrich Wieck that he would be able to earn enough money to start his own household. Schumann hoped to become a professor at the Vienna Conservatory and also planned to publish the "Neue Zeitschrift für Musik." Wieck had shortly before given Schumann another refusal because of the marriage with his daughter Clara. In his diary, Schumann noted on Thursday, October 18, 1838: "Great pain because of Clara. Yesterday wrote a letter to the old man [Wieck], which will certainly increase his rage to the highest." Schumann wrote this letter to his friend Josef Fischhof (1804-1857), a composer, author, and one of the city's most sought-after piano teachers, who had good contacts in Vienna and supported Schumann in his planned move to Vienna. Schumann's diary shows that he met regularly with his friend Fischhof during this period, on 8.10. (Monday) on 11.10. (Thursday), on 15.10, (Monday) and on 19.10. (Friday). His diary entries and the very personal content of this letter of October 16 are marked by professional worries and by the conflict with the father of his future wife and show how much Schumann suffered during these days. Therefore, he felt a great need to meet with his friend Fischhof and to talk to him about the issues that were occupying him very much during these days: "My dear friend, there are many things I would like to discuss with you. Let me know the hour and place, when and where we want to meet today or tomorrow. ... According to letters from Therese [Schumann, his sister-in-law, to whom Robert Schumann had a deep affection. She was married in her first marriage to Schumann's brother Eduard, the publisher] I am hungry like a dog. Today I stay at home on purpose at 12 o'clock ... Monday ... was a dear surprise to me. So one can live together in W. for moons without seeing each other, which in many cases certainly also has its good and excellent - only I hope not in relation to us". - On November 5, 1838, Schumann noted in his diary: "Firm decision to stay in Vienna with K.[lara], and to communicate it to Klara!" In March 1839, Schumann returned to Leipzig without success. Now began the hardest phase in the dispute with Wieck, for Robert and Clara filed a complaint with the Leipzig Court of Appeal. - Not printed by Jansen and Erler.