"Rome, mistress of the world: April 25, 1770."]



12.

Naples, May 19, 1770.

CARA SORELLA MIA,--

Vi prego di scrivermi presto e tutti i giorni di posta. Io vi
ringrazio di avermi mandata questi "Art of Ciphering," [FOOTNOTE:
"I beg you will write to me soon, indeed every post-day. I thank
you for having sent me the 'Art of Ciphering.'"] e vi prego, se
mai volete avere mal di testa, di mandarmi ancora un poco di
questi "books." [FOOTNOTE: "And I beg if you ever want to have a
headache, that you will send me some more."] Perdonate mi che
scrivo si malamente, ma la razione e perche anche io ebbi un poco
mal di testa. [FOOTNOTE: "of the same kind. Excuse my writing so
badly, but the reason is that I have a bit of a headache
myself."]

Haydn's twelfth minuet, which you sent me, pleases me very much;
you have composed an inimitable bass for it, and without the
slightest fault. I do beg that you will often exercise yourself
in such things. Mamma must not forget to see that the guns are
both polished up. Tell me how Master Canary is? Does he still
sing? and still whistle? Do you know why I am thinking about the
canary? Because we have one in our ante-room that chirps out a G
sharp just like ours. [Footnote: Mozart was extremely fond of