What further occurred, your Excellency will see from these papers.”  And after showing him the diplomata, I added, “I only show these and say this to your Excellency that, in the event of my being spoken of, and any injustice done me, your Excellency may with good grounds take my part.”  He asked me if I was now going to France.  I said I intended to remain in Germany; by this, however, he supposed I meant Munich, and said, with a merry laugh, “So you are to stay here after all?” I replied, “No! to tell you the truth, I should like to have stayed, if the Elector had favored me with a small sum, so that I might then have offered my compositions to your Excellency devoid of all interested motives.  It would have been a pleasure to me to do this.”  At these words he half lifted his skull-cap.

At ten o’clock I went to court to call on Countess Salern.  I dined afterwards with the Brancas.  Herr Geheimrath von Branca, having been invited by the French Ambassador, was not at home.  He is called “your Excellency.”  Countess Salern is a Frenchwoman, and scarcely knows a word of German; so I have always been in the habit of talking French to her.  I do so quite boldly, and she says that I don’t speak at all badly, and that I have the good habit of speaking slowly, which makes me more easily understood.  She is a most excellent person, and very well-bred.  The daughter plays nicely, but fails in time.  I thought this arose from want of ear on her part, but I find I can blame no one but her teacher, who is too indulgent and too easily satisfied.  I practised with her to-day, and I could pledge myself that if she were to learn from me for a couple of months, she would play both well and accurately.

At four o’clock I went to Frau von Tosson’s, where I found mamma and also Frau von Hepp.  I played there till eight o’clock, and after that we went home; and at half-past nine a small band of music arrived, consisting of five persons—­two clarionet-players, two horns, and one bassoon.  Herr Albert (whose name-day is to-morrow) arranged this music in honor of me and himself.  They played rather well together, and were the same people whom we hear during dinner at Albert’s, but it is well known that they are trained by Fiala.  They played some of his pieces, and I must say they are very pretty:  he has some excellent ideas.  To-morrow we are to have a small musical party together, where I am to play. (Nota bene, on that miserable piano! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear!) I beg you will excuse my horrid writing, but ink, haste, sleep, and dreams are all against me.  I am now and forever amen, your dutiful son,

A. W. Mozart.

63.

Munich, Oct. 6, 1777.