Herr esser came to call on me yesterday for the first time.  Did he go about on foot in Salzburg, or always drive in a carriage, as he does here?  I believe his small portion of Salzburg money will not remain long in his purse.  On Sunday we are to dine together at Cannabich’s, and there he is to let us hear his solos, clever and stupid.  He says he will give no concert here, nor does he care to appear at court; he does not intend to seek it, but if the Elector wishes to hear him,—­“Eh, bien! here am I; it would be a favor, but I shall not announce myself.”  But, after all, he may be a worthy fool—­deuce take it! cavalier, I meant to say.  He asked me why I did not wear my Order of the Spur.  I said I had one in my head quite hard enough to carry.  He was so obliging as to dust my coat a little for me, saying, “One cavalier may wait upon another.”  In spite of which, the same afternoon—­from forgetfulness, I suppose—­he left his spur at home, (I mean the outward and visible one,) or at all events contrived to hide it so effectually that not a vestige of it was to be seen.  In case I forget it again, I must tell you that Madame and Madlle.  Cannabich both complain that their throats are daily becoming larger owing to the air and water here, which might at last become regular goitres.  Heaven forbid!  They are indeed taking a certain powder—­how do I know what?  Not that this is its name; at all events, it seems to do them no good.  For their sakes, therefore, I took the liberty to recommend what we call goitre pills, pretending (in order to enhance their value) that my sister had three goitres, each larger than the other, and yet at last, by means of these admirable pills, had got entirely rid of them!  If they can be made up here, pray send me the prescription; but if only to be had at Salzburg, I beg you will pay ready money for them, and send a few cwt. of them by the next diligence.  You know my address.

There is to be another rehearsal this afternoon of the first and second acts in the Count’s apartments; then we shall only have a chamber rehearsal of the third, and afterwards go straight to the theatre.  The rehearsal has been put off owing to the copyist, which enraged Count Seinsheim to the uttermost.  As for what is called the popular taste, do not be uneasy, for in my opera there is music for every class, except for the long-eared.  A propos, how goes on the Archbishop?  Next Monday I shall have been six weeks away from Salzburg.  You know, dear father, that I only stay there to oblige you, for, by heavens! if I followed my own inclinations, before coming here I would have torn up my last diploma; for I give you my honor that not Salzburg itself, but the Prince and his proud nobility, become every day more intolerable to me.  I should rejoice were I to be told that my services were no longer required, for with the great patronage that I have here, both my present and future circumstances would be secure, death excepted, which no one can guard against, though