who is to give me 200 florins for it.  I can remain here as long as I please, and neither board nor lodging cost me anything.  In the meantime Herr Weber will endeavor to make various engagements for concerts with me, and then we shall travel together.  If I am with him, it is just as if I were with you.  This is the reason that I like him so much; except in personal appearance, he resembles you in all respects, and has exactly your character and mode of thinking.  If my mother were not, as you know, too comfortably lazy to write, she would say precisely what I do.  I must confess that I much enjoyed my excursion with them.  We were pleased and merry; I heard a man converse just like you; I had no occasion to trouble myself about anything; what was torn I found repaired.  In short, I was treated like a prince.  I am so attached to this oppressed family that my greatest wish is to make them happy, and perhaps I may be able to do so.  My advice is that they should go to Italy, so I am all anxiety for you to write to our good friend Lugiati [impresario], and the sooner the better, to inquire what are the highest terms given to a prima donna in Verona—­the more the better, for it is always easy to accept lower terms.  Perhaps it would be possible to obtain the Ascensa in Venice.  I will be answerable with my life for her singing, and her doing credit to my recommendation.  She has, even during this short period, derived much profit from me, and how much further progress she will have made by that time!  I have no fears either with regard to her acting.  If this plan be realized, M. Weber, his two daughters, and I, will have the happiness of visiting my dear papa and dear sister for a fortnight, on our way through Salzburg.  My sister will find a friend and companion in Madlle.  Weber, for, like my sister in Salzburg, she enjoys the best reputation here, owing to the careful way in which she has been brought up; the father resembles you, and the whole family that of Mozart.  They have indeed detractors, as with us, but when it comes to the point they must confess the truth; and truth lasts longest.  I should be glad to go with them to Salzburg, that you might hear her.  My air that De’ Amicis used to sing, and the bravura aria “Parto m’ affretto,” and “Dalla sponda tenebrosa,” she sings splendidly.  Pray do all you can to insure our going to Italy together.  You know my greatest desire is—­to write operas.

I will gladly write an opera for Verona for thirty zecchini, solely that Madlle.  Weber may acquire fame by it; for, if I do not, I fear she may be sacrificed.  Before then I hope to make so much money by visiting different places that I shall be no loser.  I think we shall go to Switzerland, perhaps also to Holland; pray write to me soon about this.  Should we stay long anywhere, the eldest daughter [Josepha, afterwards Madaine Hofer, for whom the part of the Queen of the Night in the “Flauto magico” was written] would be of the greatest use to us; for we could have our own menage, as she understands cooking.