in company with two ladies and that you have traveled five posts to see
the Emperor [Joseph II] . . . . You say that your fortune consists of one
sequin . . . . I hope that you obtained permission to print your book,
that you will send me the two hundred copies, and that I may be able to
sell them. . . ."

14th April 1784. "You say that a man without money is the image of death,
that he is a very wretched animal. I learn with regret that I am unlikely
to see you at the approaching Festival of the Ascension . . . that you
hope to see me once more before dying . . . . You make me laugh, telling
me that at Vienna a balloon was made which arose in the air with six
persons and that it might be that you would go up also."

28th April 1784. "I see, to my lively regret, that you have been in bed
with your usual ailment [hemorrhoids]. But I am pleased to know that you
are better. You certainly should go to the baths . . . . I have been
discouraged in seeing that you have not come to Venice because you have
no money .... P. S. Just at this moment I have received a good letter,
enclosing a bill of exchange, which I will go and have paid . . . ."

5th May 1784. "I went to the house of M. Francesco Manenti, at S. Polo di
Campo, with my bill of exchange, and he gave me at once eighteen pieces
of ten lires each . . . . I figure that you made fun of me saying
seriously that you will go up in a balloon and that, if the wind is
favorable, you will go in the air to Trieste and then from Trieste to
Venice."

19th May 1784. "I see, to my great regret, that you are in poor health
and still short of money .... You say that you need twenty sequins and
that you have only twenty trari . . . . I hope that your book is printed.