not.  Indeed, Cannabich spoke to the Elector on the subject before the Count did so; and now I must wait to hear the result.  I am going to call on Herr Schmalz to draw my 150 florins, for my landlord would no doubt prefer the sound of gold to that of music.  I little thought that I should have the gift of a watch here, [see No. 74,] but such is again the case.  I would have been off long ago, but every one says to me, “Where do you intend to go for the winter?  Travelling is detestable in such weather; stay here.”  Cannabich also wishes it very much; so now I have taken steps to do so, and as such an affair cannot be hurried, I must wait with patience, and I hope soon to be able to send you good news.  I have already two pupils certain, besides the arch ones, who certainly won’t give me less than a louis each monthly.  Without these I could not indeed manage to remain.  Now let the matter rest as it is, or as it may be, what avail useless speculations?  What is to occur we do not know; still in so far we do! what God wills!

Now for a cheerful allegro—­non siete si pegro. [Footnote:  “Don’t be so desponding.”] If we do leave this, we shall go straight to—­where?  To Weilburg, or whatever the name of the place may be, to the Princess, sister of the Prince of Orange, whom we knew so well at the Hague.  There we shall stay—­N.  B., so long as we like the officers’ table, and no doubt receive at least six louis-d’or.

A few days ago Herr Sterkel came here from Wurzburg.  The day before yesterday, the 24th, I dined with Cannabich’s, and again at Oberstjager von Hagen’s, and spent the evening al solito with Cannabich, where Sterkel joined us, [Footnote:  Abbe Sterkel, a favorite composer and virtuoso on the piano, whom Beethoven, along with Simrock, Ries, and the two Rombergs, visited in the autumn of 1791, in Aschaffenberg.] and played five duets [sonatas with violin], but so quick that it was difficult to follow the music, and neither distinctly nor in time.  Every one said the same.  Madlle.  Cannabich played my six sonatas, and in fact better than Sterkel.  I must now conclude, for I cannot write in bed, and I am too sleepy to sit up any longer.

80.

Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777.

I received this morning your letter of the 24th, and perceive that you cannot reconcile yourself to the chances of good or bad fortune, if, indeed, the latter is to befall us.  Hitherto, we four have neither been very lucky nor very unlucky, for which I thank God.  You make us many reproaches which we do not deserve.  We spend nothing but what is absolutely necessary, and as to what is required on a journey, you know that as well or better than we do.  No one but myself has been the cause of our remaining so long in Munich; and had I been alone I should have stayed there altogether.  Why were we fourteen days in Augsburg?  Surely you cannot have got my letters from there?  I wished to give a concert.  They played me false,