Almighty if I get out of here with a sound taste."

(Paris, May 1, 1778.)

114. "How popular I would be if I were to lift the national
German stage to recognition in music! And this would surely
happen for I was already full of desire to write when I heard the
German Singspiel."

(Munich, October 2, 1777. [A Singspiel is a German opera with
spoken dialogue. H.E.K.])

115. "If there were but a single patriot on the boards with me, a
different face would be put on the matter. Then, mayhap, the
budding National Theatre would blossom, and that would be an
eternal disgrace to Germany,--if we Germans should once begin to
think German, act German, speak German, and--even sing German!!!"

(Vienna, March 21, 1785, to the playwright Anton Klein of
Mannheim. It was purposed to open the Singspiel theatre in
October.)

116. "The German Opera is to be opened in October. For my part I
am not promising it much luck. From the doings so far it looks as
if an effort were making thoroughly to destroy the German opera
which had suspended, perhaps only for a while, rather than to
help it up again and preserve it. Only my sister-in-law Lange has
been engaged for the German Singspiel. Cavalieri, Adamberger,
Teyber, all Germans, of whom Germany can be proud, must remain
with the Italian opera, must make war against their countrymen!"