had an opportunity to prove it.  Remember, my loved ones both, that you have a son and a brother anxious to devote all his powers to make you happy, knowing well that the day must come when you will not be hostile to his wish and his desire,—­not certainly such as to be any discredit to him,—­and that you will do all that lies in your power to make him happy.  Oh! then we shall all live together as peacefully, honorably, and contentedly as it is possible to do in this world, and at last in God’s good time all meet again above—­the purpose for which we were destined and created.

I received your last letter of the 29th, and see with pleasure that you are both, thank God! in good health.  I could not help laughing heartily at Haydn’s tipsy fit.  Had I been there, I certainly should have whispered in his ear “Adlgasser!” It is really disgraceful in so clever a man to render himself incapable by his own folly of performing his duties at a festival instituted in honor of God; when the Archbishop too and his whole court were present, and the church full of people, it was quite abominable.[Footnote:  The father had written, “Haydn (organist of the church of the Holy Trinity) played the organ in the afternoon at the Litany, and the Te Deum laudamus, but in such a dreadful manner that we were quite startled, and thought he was about to undergo the fate of the deceased Adlgasser [who was seized with paralysis when playing the organ] It turned out, however, that he was only rather intoxicated, so his head and hands did not agree”] This is one of my chief reasons for detesting Salzburg—­ those coarse, slovenly, dissipated court musicians, with whom no honest man of good breeding could possibly live! instead of being glad to associate with them, he must feel ashamed of them.  It is probably from this very cause that musicians are neither loved nor respected with us.  If the orchestra were only organised like that at Mannheim!  I wish you could see the subordination that prevails there—­the authority Cannabich exercises; where all is done in earnest.  Cannabich, who is the best director I ever saw, is both beloved and feared by his subordinates, who, as well as himself, are respected by the whole town.  But certainly they behave very differently, have good manners, are well dressed (and do not go to public-houses to get drunk).  This can never be the case in Salzburg, unless the Prince will place confidence either in you or me and give us full powers, which are indispensable to a conductor of music; otherwise it is all in vain.  In Salzburg every one is master—­so no one is master.  If I were to undertake it, I should insist on exercising entire authority.  The Grand Chamberlain must have nothing to say as to musical matters, or on any point relating to music.  Not every person in authority can become a Capellmeister, but a Capellmeister must become a person of authority.