Charles GOUNOD. L.A.S., 23 January 1875, to Richard Peyton; 4 pages in-8; in English. Interesting letter about his manuscripts sequestered by Georgina Weldon. The letter is addressed to Richard Peyton (1825-1910), music lover and patron of the arts, organizer of the Birmingham Musical Festival. He regrets not being able to come to the next Birmingham Festival, due to his current commitments and work. He explains that he has been the blind victim of all the unfortunate events in his life during the three years he has been in England. He is at last out of this dark hell, and back in his own country, among his family, his dear children and his true friends ("Now, by God's grace, I am, at last, out of this dark Hell, and again in my own country, in my family, with my dear children, among my true and sincere friends"). But alas! a considerable body of work and manuscripts remained there ("in the hands of a friend not of mine but of oneself"), notably the score of L'Annonciation dedicated to the Queen, and the libretto of Rédemption, with Polyeucte and Georges Dandin (both half-composed), as well as the scores of his Requiem, of his Messe Angeli Custodes, the first pieces of a Symphonic Mass, the Marche funèbre d'une marionnette, etc, as well as correspondence, articles, clothes, etc., which his former hostess obstinately refused to return to him... But it does not matter, she has taken neither his soul nor his brain... Another L.A.S. in English is enclosed, 19 June 1879, to Mrs Field (3 p. in-8 with her initials), thanking her for her wishes; despite his poor health, life will be acceptable, as long as he is able to work, think, write...