I beg, dearest father, that you will make use of this affair at Salzburg, and speak so strongly and so decidedly, that the Archbishop may think it possible I may not come after all, and thus be induced to give me a better salary, for I declare I cannot think of it with composure.  The Archbishop cannot pay me sufficiently for the slavery of Salzburg.  As I said before, I feel the greatest pleasure at the thought of paying you a visit, but only annoyance and misery in seeing myself once more at that beggarly court.  The Archbishop must no longer attempt to play the great man with me as he used to do, or I may possibly play him a trick,—­this is by no means unlikely,—­and I am sure that you would participate in my satisfaction.

118.

Mannheim, Nov. 24, 1778.

My dear Baron von Dalberg,—­

I called on you twice, but had not the good fortune to find you at home; yesterday you were in the house, but engaged, so I could not see you.  I hope you will therefore excuse my troubling you with these few lines, as it is very important to me to explain myself fully.  Herr Baron, you are well aware that I am not an interested man, particularly when I know that it is in my power to do a service to so great a connoisseur and lover of music as yourself.  On the other hand, I also know that you certainly would not wish that I should be a loser on this occasion; I therefore take the liberty to make my final stipulations on the subject, as it is impossible for me to remain here longer in uncertainty.  I agree to write a monodrama for the sum of twenty-five louis-d’or, and to stay here for two months longer to complete everything, and to attend all the rehearsals, &c., but on this condition, that, happen what may, I am to be paid by the end of January.  Of course I shall also expect free admission to the theatre.  Now, my dear Baron, this is all that I can do, and if you consider, you will admit that I certainly am acting with great discretion.  With regard to your opera, I do assure you I should rejoice to compose music for it, but you must yourself perceive that I could not undertake such a work for twenty-five louis-d’or, as it would be twice the labor of a monodrama (taken at the lowest rate).  The chief obstacle would be your having told me that Gluck and Schweitzer are partially engaged to write this work.  But were you even to give me fifty louis-d’or, I would still as an honest man dissuade you from it.  An opera without any singers! what is to be done in such a case?  Still, if on this occasion there is a prospect of its being performed, I will not hesitate to undertake the work to oblige you; but it is no trifling one—­of that I pledge you my word.  I have now set forth my ideas clearly and candidly, and request your decision.

119.

Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1778.