friends in the house and out of the house. I wish I were likely
soon to hear the Berchtesgadner symphonies, and perhaps blow a
trumpet or play a fife in one myself. I saw and heard the great
festival of St. Petronius in Bologna. It was fine, but long. The
trumpeters came from Lucca to make the proper flourish of honor,
but their trumpeting was detestable.



25.

Milan, Oct. 20, 1770.

MY DEAR MAMMA,--

I cannot write much, for my fingers ache from writing out such a
quantity of recitative. I hope you will pray for me that my opera
["Mitridate Re di Ponto"] may go off well, and that we soon may
have a joyful meeting. I kiss your hands a thousand times, and
have a great deal to say to my sister; but what? That is known
only to God and myself. Please God, I hope soon to be able to
confide it to her verbally; in the mean time, I send her a
thousand kisses. My compliments to all kind friends. We have lost
our good Martherl, but we hope that by the mercy of God she is
now in a state of blessedness.



26.