Milan, 6 December [18]88

Sig. F. Paolo Tosti

12. Mandeville Place

W.

London

My dearest Tosti ,

   I have received your letter from the 2^nd of this month, and I want to begin, first and foremost, with my cordial and sincere thanks.

   At this time I would have no one suitable to send there in a position so important – thus, broadly speaking, I find your proposals wise and I accept them. I am happy to hear your excellent information regarding Bossetti . Certainly I cannot say that he corresponds to the type that I would like: not that he lacks honesty and dedication, but that his demeanor and education are wanting. But sometimes in searching for something better we only find ourselves beguiled by something worse. Consequently, on the whole I accept your proposal because it is truly appropriate. However I would impose the following conditions: I would name Bossetti to replace poor Lisei but provisionally so, reserving the right to see how he works out in this important position. Given my looming sense of responsibility, I would naturally furnish him with more limited powers as procurator than Lisei had. I should also tell you that while the English branch of the Company has enjoyed a fair degree of growth, the fact remains that it is still not profitable today!!... it is incredible...  but true. As a result I prefer not to shoulder the weight of additional expenses again, but rather the contrary; and if Bossetti ’s energy and enthusiasm are such that he can make do with the current employees, I will immediately accord him 4 lire per week. There is one important observation to make, and that is that he lives far away. How will he be able to arrive precisely on time and every day to open the store?.... and when Bossetti remains home, who will be responsible for the store, and the lodging, and the cash box?.... These questions must be resolved in order for me to be positively reassured. I agree that it would be unseemly to rent out the rooms previously occupied by Lisei ; and it will be more convenient to utilize them in one manner or another, whether as an auxiliary space for the store or as you have suggested.

   You can imagine how heartily I embrace your proposal that the personnel be strictly monitored, for which you have my infinite gratitude.

   I must also think about finding a correspondent for the Gazzetta ; but I would like brilliant writing that goes beyond theatrical news to give a general idea of artistic life in London – in other words, submissions that in addition to correspondence have the character of genuine reporting, which requires a person familiar with high society, etc. etc.

Incidentally, I have received the enclosed: who is it?.... what merits might the person who addressed it to me have?....

   As you can see, I am burdening you with a good bit of bother; but to whom can I turn if not to you?... so you must suffer the consequences of your current position and forgive me.

   I have no need to repeat how much it would please me to reach an agreement with Chappell , and I also need not repeat the reasons which I already explained to you at length: I have never liked to haggle, let alone doing it over your work!... but I am also forced to consider the circumstances. I understand how Chappell must have found the reduction from 60 to an offer of 10 to be incredible, and it does not surprise me that it could also have been interpreted as une fin de non recevoir [a deliberate snub]. It was an offer made in completely good faith, one which I did not relish in the least but which Chappell would himself have made if he were in my position. In any case, since you are involved I have no intention of remaining firm at 10 and therefore double my offer to 20 because, I repeat, we are dealing with you and because I find it an honor to have the exclusive rights to your name in our catalogues.

   Keep me informed, and meanwhile thanks to you many times over and fond greetings until we meet again from

Yours most warmly,

Giulio Ricordi