“The members of the Chapel, almost without exception, are in their best years, glowing with health, men of culture and fine personal appearance.  They form truly a fine sight, when one adds the splendid uniform in which the Elector has clothed them,—­red, and richly trimmed with gold.”

And now for the impression which Beethoven, just completing his twenty-first year, made upon him.

“I heard also one of the greatest of pianists,—­the dear, good Beethoven, some compositions by whom appeared in the Spires ‘Blumenlese’ in 1783, written in his eleventh year.  True, he did not perform in public, probably because the instrument here was not to his mind.  It is one of Spath’s make, and at Bonn he plays upon one by Steiner.  But, what was infinitely preferable to me, I heard him extemporize in private; yes, I was even invited to propose a theme for him to vary.  The greatness of this amiable, light-hearted man, as a virtuoso, may, in my opinion, be safely estimated from his almost inexhaustible wealth of ideas, the altogether characteristic style of expression in his playing, and the great execution which he displays.  I know, therefore, no one thing which he lacks, that conduces to the greatness of an artist.  I have heard Vogler upon the piano-forte,—­of his organ-playing I say nothing, not having heard him upon that instrument,—­have often heard him, heard him by the hour together, and never failed to wonder at his astonishing execution; but Beethoven, in addition to the execution, has greater clearness and weight of idea, and more expression,—­in short, he is more for the heart,—­equally great, therefore, as an adagio or allegro player.  Even the members of this remarkable orchestra are, without exception, his admirers, and all ear whenever he plays.  Yet he is exceedingly modest and free from all pretension.  He, however, acknowledged to me, that, upon the journeys which the Elector had enabled him to make, he had seldom found in the playing of the most distinguished virtuosos that excellence which he supposed he had a right to expect.  His style of treating his instrument is so different from that usually adopted, that it impresses one with the idea, that by a path of his own discovery he has attained that height of excellence whereon he now stands.

“Had I acceded to the pressing entreaties of my friend Beethoven, to which Herr Winneberger added his own, and remained another day in Mergentheim, I have no doubt he would have played to me hours; and the day, thus spent in the society of these two great artists, would have been transformed into a day of the highest bliss.”

Doubtless, Herr Junker, judging from the enthusiasm with which you have written, it would have been so; and for our sake, as well as your own, we heartily wish you had remained!