stayed, if the Elector had favored me with a small sum, so that I
might then have offered my compositions to your Excellency devoid
of all interested motives. It would have been a pleasure to me to
do this." At these words he half lifted his skull-cap.

At ten o'clock I went to court to call on Countess Salern. I
dined afterwards with the Brancas. Herr Geheimrath von Branca,
having been invited by the French Ambassador, was not at home. He
is called "your Excellency." Countess Salern is a Frenchwoman,
and scarcely knows a word of German; so I have always been in the
habit of talking French to her. I do so quite boldly, and she
says that I don't speak at all badly, and that I have the good
habit of speaking slowly, which makes me more easily understood.
She is a most excellent person, and very well-bred. The daughter
plays nicely, but fails in time. I thought this arose from want
of ear on her part, but I find I can blame no one but her
teacher, who is too indulgent and too easily satisfied. I
practised with her to-day, and I could pledge myself that if she
were to learn from me for a couple of months, she would play both
well and accurately.

At four o'clock I went to Frau von Tosson's, where I found mamma
and also Frau von Hepp. I played there till eight o'clock, and
after that we went home; and at half-past nine a small band of
music arrived, consisting of five persons--two clarionet-players,
two horns, and one bassoon. Herr Albert (whose name-day is to-
morrow) arranged this music in honor of me and himself. They
played rather well together, and were the same people whom we
hear during dinner at Albert's, but it is well known that they
are trained by Fiala. They played some of his pieces, and I must