I HAVE made no mistake in my date, for I write before dinner, and
I think that next Friday, the day after to-morrow, we shall be
off again. Pray hear how generous the gentlemen of Augsburg are.
In no place was I ever so overwhelmed with marks of distinction
as here. My first visit was to the Stadtpfleger Longo Tabarro
[Burgomaster Langenmantl]. My cousin, [Footnote: Leopold Mozart
had a brother in Augsburg, a bookbinder, whose daughter, "das
Basle" (the cousin), was two years younger than Mozart.] a good,
kind, honest man and worthy citizen, went with me, and had the
honor to wait in the hall like a footman till my interview with
the high and mighty Stadtpfleger was over. I did not fail first
of all to present papa's respectful compliments. He deigned
graciously to remember you, and said, "And pray how have things
gone with him?" "Vastly well, God be praised!" I instantly
rejoined, "and I hope things have also gone well with you?" He
then became more civil, and addressed me in the third person, so
I called him "Sir"; though, indeed, I had done so from the first.
He gave me no peace till I went up with him to see his son-in-law
(on the second floor), my cousin meanwhile having the pleasure of
waiting in the staircase-hall. I was obliged to control myself
with all my might, or I must have given some polite hint about
this. On going upstairs I had the satisfaction of playing for
nearly three-quarters of an hour on a good clavichord of Stein's,
in the presence of the stuck-up young son, and his prim
condescending wife, and the simple old lady. I first
extemporized, and then played all the music he had, prima, vista,
and among others some very pretty pieces of Edlmann's. Nothing
could be more polite than they all were, and I was equally so,
for my rule is to behave to people just as they behave to me; I
find this to be the best plan. I said that I meant to go to