Münich/Augsburg/Mannheim Sept. 1777-March 1778

SECOND PART.
MUNICH, AUGSBURG, MANNHEIM.
SEPTEMBER 1771 TO MARCH 1778.



PART II.



On the 22d of December, 1777, Mozart's father wrote as follows to
Padre Martini in Bologna:--"My son has been now five years in the
service of our Prince, at a mere nominal salary, hoping that by
degrees his earnest endeavors and any talents he may possess,
combined with the utmost industry and most unremitting study,
would be rewarded; but in this hope we find ourselves deceived. I
forbear all allusion to our Prince's mode of thinking and acting;
but he was not ashamed to declare that my son knew nothing, and
that he ought to go to the musical training school in Naples to
learn music. And why did he say all this? In order to intimate
that a young man should not be so absurd as to believe that he
deserved a rather higher salary after such a decisive verdict had
issued from the lips of a prince. This has induced me to sanction
my son giving up his present situation. He therefore left
Salzburg on the 23d of September" [with his mother].



59.

Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777.

Mon Tres-Cher Pere,--

God be praised! we reached Waging, Stain, Ferbertshaim, and
Wasserburg safely. Now for a brief report of our journey. When we
arrived at the city gates, we were kept waiting for nearly a
quarter of an hour till they could be thrown open for us, as they
were under repair. Near Schinn we met a drove of cows, and one of
these very remarkable, for each side was a different color, which
we never before saw. When at last we got to Schinn, we met a
carriage, which stopped, and ecce, our postilion called out we
must change. "I don't care," said I. Mamma and I were parleying,
when a portly gentleman came up, whose physiognomy I at once
recognized; he was a Memmingen merchant. He stared at me for some
time, and at last said, "You surely are Herr Mozart?" "At your
service," said I; "I know you, too, by sight, but not your name.
I saw you, a year ago, at Mirabell's [the palace garden in
Salzburg] at a concert." He then told me his name, which, thank
God! I have forgotten; but I retained one of probably more
importance to me. When I saw this gentleman in Salzburg, he was
accompanied by a young man whose brother was now with him, and
who lives in Memmingen. His name is Herr Unhold, and he pressed
me very much to come to Memmingen if possible. We sent a hundred
thousand loves to papa by them, and to my sister, the madcap,
which they promised to deliver without fail. This change of
carriages was a great bore to me, for I wished to send a letter
back from Waging by the postilion. We then (after a slight meal)
had the honor of being conveyed as far as Stain, by the aforesaid
post-horses, in an hour and a half. At Waging I was alone for a
few minutes with the clergyman, who looked quite amazed, knowing
nothing of our history. From Stain we were driven by a most
tiresome phlegmatic postilion--N. B., in driving I mean; we
thought we never were to arrive at the next stage. At last we did
arrive, as you may see from my writing this letter. (Mamma is
half asleep.) From Ferbertshaim to Wasserburg all went on well.
Viviamo come i principi; we want nothing except you, dear papa.
Well, this is the will of God; no doubt all will go on right. I
hope to hear that papa is as well as I am and as happy. Nothing
comes amiss to me; I am quite a second papa, and look after
everything.[Footnote: The father had been very uneasy at the idea
of allowing the inexperienced youth, whose unsuspicious good-
nature exposed him still more to danger, to travel alone; for the
mother also was not very expert in travelling.] I settled from
the first to pay the postilions, for I can talk to such fellows
better than mamma. At the Stern, in Wasserburg, we are capitally
served; I am treated here like a prince. About half an hour ago
(mamma being engaged at the time) the Boots knocked at the door
to take my orders about various things, and I gave them to him
with the same grave air that I have in my portrait. Mamma is just
going to bed. We both beg that papa will be careful of his
health, not go out too early, nor fret, [Footnote: The Father was
strongly disposed to hypochondria.] but laugh and be merry and in
good spirits. We think the Mufti H. C. [the Archbishop Hieronymus
Colloredo] a MUFF, but we know God to be compassionate, merciful,
and loving. I kiss papa's hands a thousand times, and embrace my
SISTER MADCAP as often as I have to-day taken snuff. I think I
have left my diplomas at home? [his appointment at court.] I beg
you will send them to me soon. My pen is rude, and I am not
refined.



60.

Munich, Sept. 26, 1777.

WE arrived safely in Munich on the afternoon of the 24th, at
half-past four o'clock. A complete novelty to me was being
obliged to drive to the Custom House, escorted by a grenadier
with a fixed bayonet. The first person we knew, who met us when
driving, was Signor Consoli; he recognized me at once, and showed
the utmost joy at seeing me again. Next day he called on us. I
cannot attempt to describe the delight of Herr Albert [the
"learned landlord" of the Black Eagle, on the Kaufinger Gasse,
now Hotel Detzer]; he is indeed a truly honest man, and a very
good friend of ours. On my arrival I went to the piano, and did
not leave it till dinner-time. Herr Albert was not at home, but
he soon came in, and we went down to dinner together. There I met
M. Sfeer and a certain secretary, an intimate friend of his; both
send their compliments to you. Though tired by our journey, we
did not go to bed till late; we, however, rose next morning at
seven o'clock. My hair was in such disorder that I could not go
to Count Seeau's till half-past ten o'clock. When I got there I
was told that he had driven out to the chasse. Patience! In the
mean time I wished to call on Chorus-master Bernard, but he had
gone to the country with Baron Schmid. I found Herr von Belvall
deeply engaged in business; he sent you a thousand compliments.
Rossi came to dinner, and at two o'clock Consoli, and at three
arrived Becke [a friend of Mozart's and an admirable flute-
player], and also Herr von Belvall. I paid a visit to Frau von
Durst [with whom Nannerl had lived], who now lodges with the
Franciscans. At six o'clock I took a short walk with Herr Becke.
There is a Professor Huber here, whom you may perhaps remember
better than I do; he says that the last time he either saw or
heard me was at Vienna, at Herr von Mesmer's, junior. He is
neither tall nor short, pale, with silvery-gray hair, and his
physiognomy rather like that of Herr Unterbereiter. This
gentleman is vice-intendant of the theatre; his occupation is to
read through all the comedies to be acted, to improve or to
spoil, to add to or to put them aside. He comes every evening to
Albert's, and often talks to me. To-day, Friday, the 26th, I
called on Count Seeau at half-past eight o'clock. This was what
passed. As I was going into the house I met Madame Niesser, the
actress, just coming out, who said, "I suppose you wish to see
the Count?" "Yes!" "He is still in his garden, and Heaven knows
when he may come!" I asked her where the garden was. "As I must
see him also," said she, "let us go together." We had scarcely
left the house when we saw the Count coming towards us about
twelve paces off; he recognized and instantly named me. He was
very polite, and seemed already to know all that had taken place
about me. We went up the steps together slowly and alone; I told
him briefly the whole affair. He said that I ought at once to
request an audience of his Highness the Elector, but that, if I
failed in obtaining it, I must make a written statement. I
entreated him to keep this all quite private, and he agreed to do
so. When I remarked to him that there really was room for a
genuine composer here, he said, "I know that well." I afterwards
went to the Bishop of Chiemsee, and was with him for half an
hour. I told him everything, and he promised to do all he could
for me in the matter. At one o'clock he drove to Nymphenburg, and
declared positively he would speak to the Electress. On Sunday
the Count comes here. Herr Joannes Kronner has been appointed
Vice-Concertmeister, which he owes to a blunt speech of his. He
has produced two symphonies--Deo mene liberi [God preserve me
from such]--of his own composition. The Elector asked him, "Did
you really compose these?" "Yes, your Royal Highness!" "From whom
did you learn?" "From a schoolmaster in Switzerland, where so
much importance is attached to the study of composition. This
schoolmaster taught me more than all your composers here, put
together, could teach me." Count Schonborn and his Countess, a
sister of the Archbishop [of Salzburg], passed through here to-
day. I chanced to be at the play at the time. Herr Albert, in the
course of conversation, told them that I was here, and that I had
given up my situation. They were all astonishment, and positively
refused to believe him when he said that my salary, of blessed
memory, was only twelve florins t