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f North America and Havana; the sum of five thousand pounds (L5;000) sterling; to be satisfactorily secured to him with Messrs。 Baring Brothers; of London; previous to his departure from Europe; and the said John Hall Wilton agrees further; for the said Phineas T。 Barnum; to pay all his travelling expenses from Europe; together with his hotel and travelling expenses during the time occupied in giving the aforesaid one hundred and fifty concerts or oratorioshe; the said Julius Benedict; to superintend the organization of oratorios if required。
Sixth。 And the said John Hall Wilton; at the request; selection; and for the aid of the said Jenny Lind; agrees to pay to Giovanni Belletti; barytone vocalist; to accompany the said Jenny Lind during her tour and in one hundred and fifty concerts or oratorios in the United States of North America and Havana; and in conjunction with the aforesaid Julius Benedict; the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds (L2;500) sterling; to be satisfactorily secured to him previous to his departure from Europe; in addition to all his hotel and travelling expenses。
Seventh。 And it is further agreed that the said Jenny Lind shall be at full liberty to sing at any time she may think fit for charitable institutions; or purposes independent of the engagement with the said Phineas T。 Barnum; with a view to mutually agreeing as to the time and its propriety; it being understood that in no case shall the first or second concert in any city selected for the tour be for such purpose; or wherever it shall appear against the interests of the said Phineas T。 Barnum。
Eighth。 It is further agreed that should the said Jenny Lind; by any act of God; be incapacitated to fulfil the entire engagement before mentioned; that an equal proportion of the terms agreed upon shall be given to the said Jenny Lind; Julius Benedict; and Giovanni Belletti; for services rendered to that time。
Ninth。 It is further agreed and understood; that the said Phineas T。 Barnum shall pay every expense appertaining to the concerts or oratorios before mentioned; excepting those for charitable purposes; and that all accounts shall be settled and rendered by all parties weekly。
Tenth。 And the said Jenny Lind further agrees that she will not engage to sing for any other person during the progress of this said engagement with the said Phineas T。 Barnum; of New York; for one hundred and fifty concerts or oratorios; excepting for charitable purposes as before mentioned; and all travelling to be first and best class。
In witness hereof to the within written memorandum of agreement we set hereunto our hand and seal。
'L。 S。' JOHN HALL WILTON; Agent for Phineas
T。 Barnum; of New York; U。 S。
'L。 S。' JENNY LIND。
'T。 S。' JULIUS BENEDICT。
'L。 S。' GIOVANNI BELLETTI。
In the presence of C。 ACHILLING; Consul of His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway。
Extract from a letter addressed to John H。 Wilton by Phineas T。 Barnum; and referred to in paragraph No。 4 of the annexed agreement:
NEW YORK; November 6; 1849。
MR。 J。 HALL WILTON:
Sir。 In reply to your proposal to attempt a negotiation with Mlle。 Jenny Lind to visit the United States professionally; I propose to enter into an arrangement with her to the following effect: I will engage to pay all her expenses from Europe; provide for and pay for one principal tenor; and one pianist; their salaries not exceeding together one hundred and fifty dollars per night; to support for her a carriage; two servants; and a friend to accompany her and superintend her finances。 I will furthermore pay all and every expense appertaining to her appearance before the public; and give her half of the gross receipts arising from concerts or operas。 I will engage to travel with her personally; and attend to the arrangements; provided she will undertake to give not less than eighty; nor more than one hundred and fifty concerts; or nights' performances。 PHINEAS T。 BARNUM。
I certify the above to be a true extract from the letter。 J。 H。 WILTON。
There was no Atlantic cable in those days; and Barnum did not know the result of Wilton's embassy until the latter returned to America。 Barnum was in Philadelphia when Wilton landed in New York; on February 19。 Wilton at once telegraphed to him that he had secured the singer; who was to come over and begin her concerts in September。 The great showman was startled; and felt pretty nervous; and as so long a time was to elapse before she came over; he thought it best to keep the whole matter a secret for a time。
When we reflect how thoroughly Jenny Lind; her musical powers; her character; and wonderful successes; were subsequently known by all classes in this country as well as throughout the civilized world; it is difficult to realize that; at the time this engagement was made; she was comparatively unknown on this side the water。 We can hardly credit the fact that millions of persons in America had never heard of her; that other millions had merely read her name; but had no distinct idea of who or what she was。 Only a small portion of the public were really aware of her great musical triumphs in the Old World; and this portion was confined almost entirely to musical people; travellers who had visited the Old World; and the conductors of the press。
Barnum telegraphed to Wilton to keep the matter secret; and next morning set out for New York。 But it was too late。 When he got to New York; he found the news of the engagement in full in all the papers。 Everybody was talking about it; and wondering who Jenny Lind was; and Barnum soon perceived that he must improve the time; from then to September; in educating the public up to an approximate appreciation of her worth。
His first act was to send; as per agreement; the sum of 187;000 to Miss Lind's bankers in London。 It was not altogether easy for him to do this。 After he had scraped together all his available cash he was still short a large sum。 He had plenty of securities in the form of second mortgages that were perfectly good; but no one in Wall street would lend him a dollar on them。
In his extremity; he at last went to the president of the bank where he had transacted his business for the past eight years。 〃I offered him;〃 said Barnum afterward; 〃as security for a loan; my second mortgages; and; as additional security; I offered to make over to him my contract with Jenny Lind; with a written guaranty that he should appoint a receiver; who; at my expense; should take charge of all the receipts over and above 3;000 per night; and appropriate them toward the payment of my loan He laughed in my face; and said: 'Mr。 Barnum; it is generally believed in Wall street that your engagement with Jenny Lind will ruin you。 I do not think you will ever receive so much as 3;000 at a single concert。' I was indignant at his want of appreciation; and answered him that I would not at that moment take 150;000 for my contract; nor would I。 I found; upon further inquiry; that it was useless in Wall street to offer the 'Nightingale' in exchange for 'Goldfinches。' I finally was introduced to Mr。 John L。 Aspinwall; of the firm of M