e life. Spiegelberg, Schweitzer, Hermann,
are, in the strictest sense, personages for the stage; in a
less degree, Amelia and the Father.

'Written and oral criticisms I have endeavoured to turn to
advantage. The alterations are important; certain scenes are
altogether new. Of this number, are Hermann's counter-plots
to undermine the schemes of Franz; his interview with that
personage, which, in the first composition of the work, was
entirely and very unhappily forgotten. His interview with
Amelia in the garden has been postponed to the succeeding
act; and my friends tell me that I could have fixed upon no
better act than this, no better time than a few moments prior
to the meeting of Amelia with Moor. Franz is brought a little
nearer human nature; but the mode of it is rather strange. A
scene like his condemnation in the fifth act has never, to my
knowledge, been exhibited on any stage; and the same may be
said of the scene where Amelia is sacrificed by her lover.

'If the piece should be too long, it stands at the discretion
of the manager to abbreviate the speculative parts of it, or
here and there, without prejudice to the general impression,
to omit them altogether. But in the _printing_, I use the
freedom humbly to protest against the leaving out of
anything. I had satisfactory reasons of my own for all that I
allowed to pass; and my submission to the stage does not
extend so far, that I can leave _holes_ in my work, and
mutilate the characters of men for the convenience of actors.

'In regard to the selection of costume, without wishing to
prescribe any rules, I may be permitted to remark, that
though in nature dress is unimportant, on the stage it is
never so. In this particular, the taste of my Robber Moor
will not be difficult to hit. He wears a plume; for this is
mentioned expressly in the play, at the time when he
abdicates his office. I have also given him a baton. His
dress should always be noble without ornament, unstudied but
not negligent.

'A young but excellent composer is working at a symphony for
my unhappy prodigal: I know it will be masterly. So soon as
it is finished, I shall take the liberty of offering it to
you.

'I must also beg you to excuse the irregular state of the
manuscript, the inc