I am to dine with Madame and Madlle. de Branca, the latter being a kind of half pupil of mine, for Sigl seldom comes, and Becke, who usually accompanies her on the flute, is not here.  On the three days that I was at Count Salern’s I played a great many things extempore—­two Cassations [Divertimentos] for the Countess, and the finale and Rondo, and the latter by heart.  You cannot imagine the delight this causes Count Salern.  He understands music, for he was constantly saying Bravo! while other gentlemen were taking snuff, humming and hawing, and clearing their throats, or holding forth.  I said to him, “How I do wish the Elector were only here, that he might hear me play!  He knows nothing of me—­he does not know what I can do.  How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what any one tells them, and do not choose to judge for themselves!  But it is always so.  Let him put me to the test.  He may assemble all the composers in Munich, and also send in quest of some from Italy and France, Germany, and England and Spain, and I will undertake to write against them all.”  I related to him all that had occurred to me in Italy, and begged him, if the conversation turned on me, to bring in these things.  He said, “I have very little influence, but the little that is in my power I will do with pleasure.”  He is also decidedly of opinion that if I could only remain here, the affair would come right of itself.  It would not be impossible for me to contrive to live, were I alone here, for I should get at least 300 florins from Count Seeau.  My board would cost little, for I should be often invited out; and even were it not so, Albert would always be charmed to see me at dinner in his house.  I eat little, drink water, and for dessert take only a little fruit and a small glass of wine.  Subject to the advice of my kind friends, I would make the following contract with Count Seeau:—­I would engage to produce every year four German operas, partly buffe and partly serie; from each of these I should claim the profits of one performance, for such is the custom here.  This alone would bring me in 500 florins, which along with my salary would make up 800 florins, but in all probability more; for Reiner, an actor and singer, cleared 200 florins by his benefit, and I am very much beloved here, and how much more so should I be if I contributed to the elevation of the national theatre of Germany in music!  And this would certainly be the case with me, for I was inspired with the most eager desire to write when I heard the German operettas.  The name of the first singer here is Keiserin; her father is cook to a count here; she is a very pleasing girl, and pretty on the stage; I have not yet seen her near.  She is a native of this place.  When I heard her it was only her third appearance on the stage.  She has a fine voice, not powerful, though by no means weak, very pure, and a good intonation.