Jomelli’s opera is to be given on the 30th.  We saw the king and queen at mass in the court chapel at Portici, and we also saw Vesuvius.  Naples is beautiful, but as crowded with people as Vienna or Paris.  As for London and Naples, I think that in point of insolence on the part of the people Naples almost surpasses London; because here the lazzaroni have their regular head or leader, who receives twenty-five ducati d’argento monthly from the king for keeping the lazzaroni in order.

Madame de’ Amicis sings in the opera—­we were there.  Caffaro is to compose the second opera, Ciccio di Majo the third, but who is to compose the fourth is not yet known.  Be sure you go regularly to Mirabell, to hear the Litanies, and listen to the “Regina Coeli” or the “Salve Regina,” and sleep sound, and take care to have no evil dreams.  My most transcendent regards to Herr von Schiedenhofen—­tralaliera! tralaliera!  Tell him to learn the repetition minuet on the piano, to be sure to do so, and do not let him forget it.  He must do this in order to do me the favor to let me accompany him some day or other.  Do give my best compliments to all my friends, and do continue to live happily, and do not die, but do live on, that you may be able to do another letter for me, and I do one for you, and thus we shall go on doing till we can do something worth doing; but I am one of those who will go on doing till all doings are at an end.  In the mean time I do subscribe myself

Your W. M.

13.

Naples, May 29, 1770.

Jeri l’altro fummo nella prova dell’ opera del Sign.  Jomelli, la quale e una opera che e ben scritta e che me piace veramente.  Il Sign.  Jomelli ci ha parlato ed era molto civile.  E fummo anche in una chiesa a sentir una Musica la quale fu del Sign.  Ciccio di Majo, ed era una bellissima Musica.  Anche lui ci parlci ed era molto compito.  La Signora de’ Amicis canto a meraviglia.  Stiamo Dio grazia assai bene di salute, particolarmente io, quando viene una lettera di Salisburgo.  Vi prego di scrivermi tutti giorni di posta, e se anche non avete niente da scrivermi, solamente vorrei averlo per aver qualche lettera tutti giorni di posta.  Egli non sarebbe mal fatto, se voi mi scriveste qualche volta una letterina italiana.

[Footnote:  “The other day we attended the rehearsal of Signor Jomelli’s opera, which is well written and pleases me exceedingly.  Signor Jomelli spoke to us and was very civil.  We also went to a church to hear a mass by Signor Ciccio di Majo, and it was most beautiful music.  Signora de’ Amicus sang incomparably.  We are, thank God, very well, and I feel particularly so when a letter from Salzburg arrives.  I beg you will write to me every post-day, even if you have nothing to write about, for I should like to have a letter by every post.  It would not be a bad idea to write me a little letter in Italian.”]