Munich, October 11th, at 1/4 to 12 at night, I write as follows:—­I have been at the Drittl comedy, but only went in time for the ballet, or rather the pantomime, which I had not before seen.  It is called “Das von der fur Girigaricanarimanarischaribari verfertigte Ei.”  It was very good and funny.  We are going to-morrow to Augsburg on account of Prince Taxis not being at Ratisbon but at Teschingen.  He is, in fact, at present at his country-seat, which is, however, only an hour from Teschingen.  I send my sister, with this, four preludes; she will see and hear for herself the different keys into which they lead.  My compliments to all my kind friends, particularly to young Count Arco, to Madlle.  Sallerl, and to my best of all friends, Herr Bullinger; I do beg that next Sunday at the usual eleven-o’clock music he will be so good as to make an authoritative oration in my name, and present my regards to all the members of the orchestra and exhort them to industry, that I may not one day be accused of being a humbug, for I have everywhere extolled their orchestra, and I intend always to do so.

65.

Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777.

I have made no mistake in my date, for I write before dinner, and I think that next Friday, the day after to-morrow, we shall be off again.  Pray hear how generous the gentlemen of Augsburg are.  In no place was I ever so overwhelmed with marks of distinction as here.  My first visit was to the Stadtpfleger Longo Tabarro [Burgomaster Langenmantl].  My cousin, [Footnote:  Leopold Mozart had a brother in Augsburg, a bookbinder, whose daughter, “das Basle” (the cousin), was two years younger than Mozart.] a good, kind, honest man and worthy citizen, went with me, and had the honor to wait in the hall like a footman till my interview with the high and mighty Stadtpfleger was over.  I did not fail first of all to present papa’s respectful compliments.  He deigned graciously to remember you, and said, “And pray how have things gone with him?” “Vastly well, God be praised!” I instantly rejoined, “and I hope things have also gone well with you?” He then became more civil, and addressed me in the third person, so I called him “Sir”; though, indeed, I had done so from the first.  He gave me no peace till I went up with him to see his son-in-law (on the second floor), my cousin meanwhile having the pleasure of waiting in the staircase-hall.  I was obliged to control myself with all my might, or I must have given some polite hint about this.  On going upstairs I had the satisfaction of playing for nearly three-quarters of an hour on a good clavichord of Stein’s, in the presence of the stuck-up young son, and his prim condescending wife, and the simple old lady.  I first extemporized, and then played all the music he had, prima, vista, and among others some very pretty pieces of Edlmann’s.  Nothing could be more polite than they all were, and I was equally so, for my rule is to behave to people just as they behave to me; I find this to be the best